After taking a look at the course syllabus, my main point of interest is to find out in what ways digital tools could make it easier to analyze history, culture, and social issues without losing their meaning. The very themes of data visualization, mapping, and digital storytelling capture my attention as they require both imagination and rationality. I wonder about the different ways that technology can be applied not only for the dissemination of research to more numerous audiences but also for the exploration of who is being represented and who is being muted in digital domains. Ethics and social impact of technology have also become very attractive topics of discussion, especially when it comes to injustice, inequality, and the role of digital media in both the reinforcement and challenge of these problems. I am really looking forward to the day when I will be able to do my academic work on the subject of local history, like that of St. Louis area and the surrounding regions, say, Cahokia, through digital projects. I would like to see my semester’s work involving a mix of technology, ethics, and storytelling while I sharpen my digital skills as a matter of practice for other areas beyond this class.
Ioannis Koupepides