chapter 2

炸鱼饼

Reading Time:
about 45 minutes
Reading Task:
Understand the basic workflow of humanities research and analyze how digital technologies have changed the way humanities researchers organize, process and analyze research materials.
Summary of the Content:
This chapter systematically expounds the workflow of humanities research and reexamines it in the digital environment. The author first compares the fundamental differences between humanities research and natural sciences and social sciences in terms of research materials and methodologies: humanities research focuses on unique and specific cultural products (such as a piece of art, a manuscript, or a historical record), rather than quantifiable group data.
Then, the author elaborately analyzes the impact of digital technology on six core aspects of humanities research:
1. Data collection: Digital libraries, online archives, and databases have greatly expanded the accessibility of research materials.
2. Classification and documentation: Databases and spreadsheets have replaced traditional index cards, allowing for more flexible information organization and tagging.
3. Material processing: Digital conversion makes research materials more "objectified", and researchers need to be more aware of this process.
4. Analysis: Digital tools can accelerate the analysis process, but it is necessary to be vigilant about the possible loss of the "texture" and particularity of the materials.
5. Interpretation: Large-scale digitized materials provide a new empirical basis for theoretical verification.
6. Aggregation and preservation: The sustainability and interoperability of digital projects have become key considerations.
Case Analysis:
The Darwin Online Archive: Demonstrates how digital archives enable researchers to access original materials scattered around the world without the need for long-distance travel.
The Marenzio Project: Illustrates how the digitization of musical works opens up new analytical possibilities, but also raises questions about what is lost in the process of digitization.
The Valley of the Shadow Project: Shows how the digital environment allows researchers to draw multiple interpretations from the same set of materials, breaking the monopoly of a single narrative.
Reflection:
This chapter has profoundly made me realize that digital technology is not merely accelerating humanities research but is redefining the essence of research. The author's discussion on the issue of "representation" is particularly thought-provoking - when we can obtain nearly "complete" historical records, does this mean we are closer to "truth"? Or does it create a new, digital "reality"?
I particularly noticed the author's concern about the loss of "materiality" in the digital environment. When a piece of music becomes a data file and a painting turns into a pixel array, do we lose that direct, material connection with the research object? Does this lack of materiality affect our understanding and interpretation?

At the same time, the digital environment has also given rise to new research ethics and skill requirements. Researchers not only need traditional humanistic qualities but also need to understand technical issues such as database design and metadata standards. This cross-disciplinary ability requirement is reshaping the professional identity of humanities researchers.