I. “Radicalizing the Digital Humanities: Reimagining Environmental Justice Research and Teaching” by Stevie Ruiz, Maira Areguin, Eduardo Estrada, Jesus Jimenez, Diane Lopez, Karla Sanchez, and Janet Valenzuela
“Leprosy disappeared, the leper vanished, or almost, from memory; these structures remained. Often, in the same places, the formulas of exclusion would be repeated, strangely similar two or three centuries later” (Foucault 5). Modern man’s life is rife with atavistic fear of being excluded from the larger structure based on various parameters like race, gender, economic status, etc. The issue of environmental injustice is prevalent across the globe because of the construction of rigid structures that intend to intentionally exclude the existence of communities who could be affected by government policies and activities. I intend to suggest the paper entitled, “Radicalizing the Digital Humanities: Reimagining Environmental Justice Research and Teaching”, to investigate race politics and environmental injustice. This paper was the outcome of the 2017 Digital Environmental Humanities college project, wherein students were keen on exploring why the municipalities were dumping urban garbage in the American neighbourhoods wherein the minorities have been living. Using digital tools like Xmind and Mind mapping, the students endeavoured in collecting data about the narratives of environmental injustice and the stories that were collected helped them understand deeply the relationship between racial politics, poverty, and environmental injustice. “Our environmental justice collective embraced the digital tools made available to us in the lab because we saw this as an opportune time to insert ourselves into digital humanities debates” (Areguin et al 33). It is also interesting to note that this paper was published in Radical Teacher, that claims to be, “A Socialist, Feminist, and Anti-Racist Journal On The Theory And Practice Of Teaching.” The students who were involved in this project were Chicana/o people and therefore, it is appropriate to study this paper, because this research paper itself is a narrative of environmental injustice. To conduct this project, the Chicana/o students were provided the facility of labs in their respective universities, wherein they worked with various digital tools to understand how the history of environment conservation mentioned only the contribution of the white community. Using Xmind software, they started collecting data and decided to revisit and re-narrate the history of environmental conservation and environmental injustice. The limitation of this paper is that it doesn’t prominently pronounce the contribution of Chicana in the activities of environment conservation. This is the sort of unavoidable limitation, since the journal claims to be feminist. And yet, it evades the contribution of Chicana in raising funds against environmental injustice, and many more such activities. I am suggesting this paper, because it cuts across the disciplines of culture, digital humanities, environmental studies, ethnography, etc. and draws the attention of the readers to the vital issues rampant in the American society. It also sheds light on the contribution of various communities, who are seeking the help of digital tools and are demanding environmental justice.
II. Juana Alicia’s website
This image is taken from Juana Alicia website, wherein the other photos of her murals are posted. Juana Alicia’s murals put up on her website are very important from the academic point as well, because it cuts across the areas of ecofeminism and Digital Humanities. The San Francisco Women’s Center, the Galeria de la Raza, Las Trenzas Latina Student and Alumnae Organization of UC Berkeley, The Potrero Nuevo Fund, The San Francisco Mayor’s Neighbourhood Beautification Fund, the Greppi and Leone family, some other generous donors helped Juana Alicia to accomplish her project called, The Women Lettuce Workers. After The Women Lettuce Worker, Alicia started working on another mural called, La Llorna. The English translation of La Llornais The Weeping Woman. “It highlights Bolivians in Cochabamba who have fought to keep Bechtel Corporation from buying the water rights in their country; Indian farm workers in the Narmada Valley protesting in the flooded waters of their homes against their government’s irresponsible dam projects; and the women in black protesting the unsolved murders of women in Juarez, in the shadow of the Rio Bravo and the maquiladoras (sweatshops)” (Alicia). Juana Alicia’s interview is posted on the same website. Her journey from being a farm worker herself to becoming a revolting artist is very inspiring. In fact, she was sent a warning by the government about the destruction of her mural. Yet, nothing stopped her from disseminating the important message on women’s contribution in protesting against several issues like worse working conditions, pesticide poisoning. I am suggesting her website to be included in the study material because through her website she has voiced out the journey of her struggle, her current and upcoming projects, etc. She is not fighting just for women belonging to local communities. Her website hints at her struggle to give voice to women across globe, through the mural. Hence, I strongly suggest this website to be included in the syllabus of Digital Humanities.
III. English Vinglish
English Vinglish was an inspiring film released in 2012. This is a film about a woman’s journey of establishing her own identity in the familial and social space around her. The protagonist of the film is Shashi Godbole, who is an entrepreneur. She sells homemade ladoos. Instead of appreciating her efforts and encouraging her to expand her business, he mocks at her and teases her that she is born to do nothing but to make ladoos. Her daughter and her husband keep mocking at her for not knowing English. This shows how a woman’s broad-mindedness depends on her knowing English. When she asks her husband why does he kiss other women while greeting them, he replies that they are not traditional like herself. He justifies his actions by saying that the women he works with, are modern and they follow modern western culture. So, in order to greet them appropriately, he has hug them and kiss them on cheeks. It is a part of professional interaction. But, the same husband becomes quite insecure and jealous when he sees Shashi’s new friends from English classes, while they are attending her niece’s wedding in America. She joins English class in America without informing anyone, either in sister’s family or her own. She realizes how her respect in the family is dependent not on her entrepreneurial skills, but on her English acquisition capability. I recommend this film to be included in the syllabus, because it is a film about an ordinary woman, with whom every ordinary girl can relate. Moreover, her journey of empowerment is symbolic. It can inspire to achieve their respective goals and firmly establish their own identity, apart from being someone’s wife, daughter, mother or friend. I think if the students of Digital Humanities are shown this film, they will be able to analyse the content and gauge the impact of the cinema on the masses.
IV. BBC Earth Website
I recommend BBC Earth blog to be a part of the syllabus of the Digital Humanities course, because the website informs the audience with the help of the articles and informative videos that demonstrate the current trends in the research for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The website invites the readers/website-users to raise questions regarding species conservation, environmental imbalance, usage of alternate sources of renewable sources of energy, etc. The website also showcases the contribution of Attenborough to inspire others to participate actively in the initiatives and programmes launches for biodiversity conservation. The website has interesting quizzes that enhance the knowledge of the readers. The website has a collection of videos that draw the attention of the audience towards the exigency required to save the coral ecosystem. The website has podcasts, archives of BBC Earth channel shows, you can also watch the TV shows live on the website. The website also a newsletter that delivers the updated information regarding environment, biodiversity, conservation laws at the global level, etc. directly to the inbox of the user’s email. This website is important because by just having an access to this website, one can access multiple facilities catered by this website and stay aware about the environmental changes. This is where a digital tool plays a vital role sensitizing the people about the environmental issues.
References
Alicia, Juana. Juana Alicia. http://www.juanaalicia.com. Accessed 1Mar 2019.
Areguin, Maira, et al. “Radicalizing the Digital Humanities: Reimagining Environmental Justice Research and Teaching.” Radical Teacher 109, 2017, pp. 29-37.
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization. New York, Routledge, 1989.
BBC Earth. https://www.bbcearth.com/newsletter/#. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.
English Vinglish. Directed by Gauri Shinde, performances by Sridevi and Adil Husain, Eros International, 2012.
* These assignments are the intellectual property of the students of DCNM 2019. The system administrator(s) have not edited the content of the assignments except for minor spelling and grammar checks. We would deeply appreciate if you could give a citation to the authors/contributors and this website in case the content is used for research, teaching and other academic purposes.
