Simone's DH Project Idea
- Simone Durbin
- May 2, 2020
- 1 min read
Pretty sure I will be using an archival approach to investigate the methods in which social media unites and divides people (such as hate culture and tribalism, and possibly even some astroturfing), including targeting people’s emotions, omitting facts, or even dramatizing the facts. I would like to use images and texts/messages posted by people on social media to further my investigation. I am still working on finding specific examples to use (although the most obvious one would be the influx in fear and paranoia directed at persons that “look Asian”).
For the layout of my project, I haven't thought much into making it interactive; instead I have planned on using the aforementioned posts with my interpretations written beside/below them (with all images to the side of my main body of writing, which will be further elaborations of my interpretations and specific example(s)). Mainly, I want people to simply read and explore the images and my thoughts pinned to them, and beyond that, I haven't clearly visualized it yet. I'm sure I'll get a shot of creativity later and end up making my project layout/navigation more wild than it needs to be though.
Honestly, my inspiration for this project came a lot earlier than the pandemic. For a long time I've been really annoyed by arguments/bashings via social media that a lot of the time twisted the facts (or omitting them) in favor of gathering an opposition against something. To add to that, I'm hoping that by investigating and presenting this issue, those who have previously thought it wasn't a problem will realize that it truly is.
Of course, I love this idea, since it hits right in my technoskeptic sweet spot. I wonder whether it is time to rethink, as members of digital communities, whether we are using these technological interventions to address problems or frustrations they were were not designed to handle -- or possibly whether these interventions are just designed badly. Regardless, I think we are ethically obligated to consider whether our deployment of these technological interventions are having unintended consequences...
Sim I really like this. It's so you. Seems like you aim to provide an archive that will allow reflection on back-burner issues like targeted bullying or politically - motivated exaggeration.
I think that since you have multiple areas of interest, it would probably be beneficial to have headers that outline your position on each topic, maybe produce a template if possible. And then, like, talk to us. Can't wait to hear it.
It would also be interesting if your posts could have a comment section. I think that if you are interested in criticizing news reports and specific social media posts, providing a platform for other evaluations is a good move.