Position
Coding in the humanities can be an effective tool for improving interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging innovative research approaches, and expanding access to information. Embracing coding in the humanities enables researchers to analyze and interpret massive amounts of data, opening up new possibilities for understanding complex societal issues. Furthermore, it promotes digital literacy and enables people to interact with and critique technology. In the end, coding in the humanities has enormous potential for advancing scholarship and promoting a more inclusive and informed community.
Code Sample To Support My Position

This code snippet offers a glimpse of how coding can unveil meaningful information and trends, bridging history, politics, and computer science. It’s a powerful example of the impact coding can have in extracting insights from extensive datasets.
Quotation From The Reading
“Computers should not be black boxes but rather understood as engines for creating powerful and persuasive models of the world around us”
Hello worlds (why humanities students should learn to program). Matthew G. Kirschenbaum. (2010, May 26). https://mkirschenbaum.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/hello-worlds/#:~:text=Computers%20should%20not%20be%20black%20boxes%20but%20rather%20understood%20as%20engines%20for%20creating%20powerful%20and%20persuasive%20models%20of%20the%20world%20around%20us
Prior Coding Experience
I am currently a prospective CS major at Carleton, taking courses such as Intro to CS, Data Structures, Computer Systems, and Software Design. These classes have provided me with fantastic experiences, and I am now eager to put these skills to use in a more practical and meaningful way. Hacking the humanities class appears to be the ideal opportunity to combine my skills with the interdisciplinary nature of the humanities.
As previously stated, coding has a positive impact not only in STEM but also in the humanities. Creating a space in which vast amounts of information can be easily transferred, allowing for quick interaction between people and the humanities, is an exciting prospect. I’m excited to contribute to this dynamic intersection by using my coding skills to improve accessibility and speed when engaging with humanities.
I agree with your position. I see that the ability to code can only bolster your potential and augment any aspirations you hope to achieve. The code example is an excellent example of how coding can help benefit anyone in the humanities by providing them with powerful tools to analyze data faster. I am also in Software Design at the moment and it is teaching me so much on how to write more efficient code and be a better programmer!
I think this is a good argument for why learning to code can be useful as an interdisciplinary tool. As seen in your code snippet, which I think does a good job of showing how seemingly complicated code can actually accomplish really effective tasks that help us understand the world, an understanding of coding can help people to explore their own topics and disciplines more thoroughly. I also like you rquote about a black box, because I think that if you simply understand what is happening in that box and how coding works at its basics, it can be much easier to use it for your own gain and understand the abilities and potential that it has for your own field.
Thank you for engaging with my post! I’m delighted to hear that it prompted you to reflect on the advantages of coding and appreciate your alignment with the idea of its positive impact on diverse fields, including humanities. I also appreciate your insightful comment on the code snippet. I hope it resonated with you and demonstrated the potential of codes in extracting valuable information from data, particularly showcasing their relevance in the realm of humanities.
I was amazed by your post as it was very easy to follow and had unique visuals. Your post looked nothing like everyone else. I liked your thumbnail and all the different color-coating you have in your post grabbed my attention and made me want to read this. I am totally on the same side as you for the argument as I believe that coding can have several benefits. One thing I thought was if you included some analysis of the quote, it would have been a smoother transition, and being able to hear your insights on the reading and quote could have been very interesting. Lastly, I liked your code as they are well documented and commented on.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Sho. I truly appreciate your kind words and the genuine interest you’ve shown in my post. It’s gratifying to discover that we share a common perspective on the significance of coding, recognizing it as a valuable tool that extends its benefits even into the realms of humanities. Your feedback on the analysis of the quote resonates with me, and I see it as an excellent segue into exploring other related topics. Your suggestion to delve deeper into the quote not only provides a smoother transition but also showcases a more detailed understanding of the reading. I realize now that I could have dedicated a paragraph to unpacking the quote, offering a richer perspective on its implications. Thanks for pointing that out, and I look forward to incorporating your insights into future discussions.
Great to hear that you agree with the benefits of coding. It’s amazing how coding can be applied to various fields, including humanities and social sciences. As you mentioned, it can provide powerful tools to analyze data faster and more efficiently. It’s also great to hear that you are currently studying Software Design and learning how to write more efficient code. Keep up the good work!