Department of English

Artificial intelligence, big data, and the internet of things are changing every aspect of our lives. The methods and questions of the humanities are critical to understanding these shifts. Run like a workshop, this course will explore various sites at Penn and around Philadelphia where humanists and artists are collaborating with scientists and engineers to solve the big problems facing our planet and our species. We’ll visit museums and special collections in search of the future of past. We’ll learn how scholars of race and gender are combating algorithmic bias in our search engines. And we’ll collaborate across disciplines to develop research questions in digital humanities. Students will acquire basic facility and literacy with key digital tools and platforms while gaining a critical, historical framework for understanding technology’s impact on our lives. No prior coding experience is required. Coursework will involve regular 4-6 short design exercises outside of class and a portfolio of digital work.