While the first two sections of my second reading list focus on archival theory, the last group of readings have focused on digital humanities. I added these readings because DH is a field I’ve gotten really interested in since taking a seminar on it during my first semester at William and Mary. Like the archival… Continue reading Thinking (and Reading) about Digital Humanities I
Category: Academics
Messy Archives
Last week I talked about a variety of readings that explored the allure of archival research, from the tantalizing yet ultimately impossible pursuit of origins as detailed by Derrida’s Archive Fever, to the seductive yet deceptive appeal of historical artifacts providing an unmitigated connection to the past, as explored in Carolyn Steedman’s Dust. Other authors,… Continue reading Messy Archives
The Allure of the Archive
COVID-19 has deeply affected our lives in a variety of ways. I’ve still got exams to prep for though, and while at times it’s been difficult to focus, I’ve continued working through my reading lists. Today then, I’d like to start talking about my second reading list, which focuses on archival theory and digital humanities.… Continue reading The Allure of the Archive
Comps (and Life) in the Time of Corona
We’re living in strange times these days. I’m far from the first person to make that observation, but with my overall anxiety levels higher than usual, it’s important for me (and all of us, really) to acknowledge the extent that Covid-19 is impacting my daily life. Today then, I’m going to talk about how I’ve… Continue reading Comps (and Life) in the Time of Corona
Mobility and Power
As a scholar interested in the movement of art, I’ve been especially enjoying the texts dealing with mobility on my reading list. While I’m particularly interested in the movement of art objects, human-based travel networks also intrigue me, not least because of the travel people are willing to undertake in order to experience works of… Continue reading Mobility and Power
Thinking About Art Shipping
A few weeks ago I was reading about the history of shipping containers and their influence on society. The book, appropriately enough, was titled The Container Principle, by Alexander Klose. His central argument is that the concept of containerization, of putting things into a standard-sized box designed explicitly for moving stuff to other places, has… Continue reading Thinking About Art Shipping
Guided Creativity: A (Sort of) History
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been making an effort to be more consistent with my artistic practice. After seeing that I could make something every day with last year’s abstraction challenge, I’ve tried to draw or paint something new several times a week. I often work on these projects in the evening, as… Continue reading Guided Creativity: A (Sort of) History
Reading List Thoughts: Art and Classification
The last time I visited New York, I spent an afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History. While probably most famous for its naturalistic, taxidermied dioramas, the museum also has an extensive section on the classification system used to organize biological organisms: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. This system is rendered visually… Continue reading Reading List Thoughts: Art and Classification
Getting Into Reading Lists
As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve entered the part of the Ph.D. program known as the comprehensive exam prep. Instead of taking classes, I now stay at home and read a lot of books on subjects pertaining to my research. But what does that actually entail? Today, I’ll describe the reading process more… Continue reading Getting Into Reading Lists
So How Exactly Do You Get a Ph.D., Anyway?
“So when do you finish your degree?” I’ve been hearing a variation of that question since I arrived at William and Mary, but it’s picked up since I finished classes. It’s understandable though, because doctoral programs in the United States work differently from your standard K-12 schooling, or even undergraduate degrees. Today then, I’d like… Continue reading So How Exactly Do You Get a Ph.D., Anyway?