University of Bergamo Digital Humanities, June 2023 Dashboard

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Description

This is the group for the University of Bergamo's Humanities Summer School course on Digital Humanities taught by Dr. April Patrick. 

Galleries, Timelines, and Maps

Chronology
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 10:19

This project, menaged by Anna, Caterina and Federica, is focused on the story of the Queen Elizabeth, trying to reach out the main differences between the reality of their speeched and the one reported in the TV series "The crown".

Blog entry
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 07:58

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was found that drug use is still a prevalent action, and its representations can be seen in the literary works written and published in of the US and UK during 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Statistics showed that drug use are similarly prevalent in the US and UK.

The writers lived during 18th, 19th and 20th centuries reflected their experiences and knowledge on their literary works in relation to their drug use.

Through the information obtained from distant reading and analyses, in general, it was found that their experiences were different and various.

There is a frequent use of words related to opium. For example, in the book by De Quincey, the word “opium” was repeated 172 times. In another book called “Trainspotting”, related words like “Opium”, “Drugs” and so on were also mentioned frequently.

In some parts, there were positive...

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Blog entry
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 07:56

Introduction

 

In this project, drug use and its representations in literary works are the main issues. For this reason, to show how it was common during the last three centuries and it is still a prevalent issue in modern life is the one of the main goals of the project.

In line with this, firstly, related statistics and graphs about drug use are presented. Secondly, research to decide on which books will be chosen was carried out. The article written by Day and Smith (2003) was read and the literary works mentioned in the article were chosen for analysis. Accordingly, the poem “Kubla Khan” written by Coleridge in 18th century, the book “Confessions of an Opium-Eater” written by De Quincey in 19th century, the book “Junky” written by Burroughs in 20th century and the book “Trainspotting” written by Welsh in 20th century are examined in this project.

Blog entry
Posted by Sebnem Tan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 07:37

In this section, the word cloud and analysis of the book "Confessions of an Opium-Eater by De Quincey" will be examined.

In the last part of the book, the pain caused by opium is mentioned. We can interpret this situation in the second graph. The word "opium" in the last parts of the continent is increasing. In addition, when we look at the phrases in the last table, we talk about the suffering, but in places, wings and flying are also mentioned. The reason for this situation may be mood changes and confusion due to opium use. Opium use causes changes and deterioration in mood.

Blog entry
Posted by Sebnem Tan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 07:08

In this section, the word cloud and analysis of the "TRAINSPOTTING" book can be examined.

When we look at the literary language of the book, we see that the rate of using negative words has increased. The words "pain" and "junk" are frequently used in drug addiction. The reason for this situation may actually be the desire to define the harmful and bad environment created by addictions.

 

Blog entry
Posted by Sebnem Tan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 06:44

Here, analyzes created for Kubla Khan's poetry can be examined.

From the Word Cloud and the graphics we have obtained, it can be seen that individuals have a positive approach to instant life after drug use. In word analysis, there is an increase in the use of positive words when describing the drug. These words manifest themselves as "lovers, gardens, songs, sunny". The reason for this positive word increase may be the increase in the level of endorphins caused by drugs and addictions.

Blog entry
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - 11:38

Here, word clouds and graphs related to the book called "Junky".

 

Gallery Exhibit
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - 11:28

The project can be regarded as an exemplary digital source showing that drug use is still prevalent, and its representations are commonly seen in several literary sources from 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

From scientific perspective, it can be said that drug use related to addiction and substance abuse are important health problems that have negative outcomes. Accordingly, it can be claimed that this action has become an important part of the lives of those who are addicts or constantly using.

The experiences of the users are various; and drug use and these experiences manifest themselves in different parts of their lives from social life to work life. In relation to these, it can be stated that these experiences show themselves in different ways, as well, including literature and art works.

Overview

In this project, topics of drug use and the representations of drug use in the literature in the last... more

Map
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - 11:09

The map shows where the literary materials/books about drug use were written.

Chronology
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - 10:48

This timeline is about literary works published in 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. 

The project can be regarded as an exemplary digital source showing that drug use is still prevalent, and its representations are commonly seen in several literary sources from 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Pages

Individual Entries

Chronology Entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:55
Blog entry
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:54

The Goals of the Project

  1. Attracting attention to drug use and how prevalent it is.
  2. Creating a digital source for users interested in drug use representations in the literature, which is showing that several literary works from different centuries are written, regarding that drug use and several representations of drug use are seen many times in these literary works.
  3. Maintaining basic information through maps, timelines and summaries about the literary works which are “Kubla Khan”, “Confessions of an Opium-Eater”, “Junky” and “Trainspotting”.
  4. Getting the users familiarized with concepts of drug use and its representations in the literature and to combine related information in one project.

The Significance of the Project

This project is significant because:

  • it gives direct information about the drug use through statistics presented in the US and UK;
  • information about...
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Blog entry
Posted by Anna Biffi on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:46

While looking for data and answers to the question that lead us to start this project, we realized that the first thing you can see by comparing any official speech to any on The Crown, you'll see that they had to be cropped. Because of a time factor, and because the official speeches had to be long enough to get people's attention, the show only selected a little part. But the question is "which part?" because we all know that words matter, especially in such a context. Deciding whether to keep or delete a specific sentence can change the meaning of a full discourse, for this reason we believe that nothing is left to chance.

What are the main and most recurring themes in the official speeches? And what, instead, is highlighted in The Crown's ones?

 

21st Birthday Official Speech, 1947

...

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Blog entry
Posted by Firat Pehlivan on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:43

Additional sources and References

Barker, J. C., & Hunt, G. (2004). Representations of family: A review of the alcohol and drug literature. International Journal of Drug Policy15(5-6), 347-356.

Bliss, H. S., & Bliss, D. T. (1949). Coleridge's Kubla Khan. American Imago6(4), 261.

Byrne, P. (1997). Trainspotting and the depiction of addiction. Psychiatric Bulletin21(3), 173-175.

Coleridge, S. T., & Bourquin, T. (1910). Kubla khan. Queensland Braille Writing Association.

Colman, A. (2019). Drugs and the Addiction Aesthetic in Nineteenth-Century Literature. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

Daly, N. (2010). Inventing the Addict: Drugs, Race, and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century British and American Literature. Victorian Studies52(4), 655-656.

De Quincey, T. (2013). Confessions of an English opium-eater and other...

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Chronology Entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:22
Blog entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:20

Happy Christmas.

Twenty-five years ago my grandfather broadcast the first of these Christmas messages. Today is another landmark because television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television as they are this moment, and that is how I imagine you now.

I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct.

It is inevitable that I should seem a rather remote figure to many of you. A successor to the Kings and Queens of history; someone whose face may be familiar in newspapers and films but who never really touches your personal lives. But now at least for a few minutes I welcome you to the peace of my own home.

That it is possible for some of you...

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Blog entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:18

My Lord Mayor, the anniversary of any occasion is a time to reflect. But in light of the events of the last 12 months, perhaps I have more to reflect on than most. 1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. It has turned out to be an Annus Horribilis.

No institution is beyond reproach, and no member of it either. The high standards we in the monarchy are held to by the public must be the same benchmark to which we hold ourselves personally. If we can't admit the errors of our past, what hope for reconciliation can there be?

Today, I'd like to pay tribute, if I may, to my family. Throughout the four decades I have been on the throne they have quite literally been my sun and water. For all the sacrifices they have made, indeed, to all of you here whose prayers and well-wishes have been a source of strength to me these last forty years...

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Chronology Entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:18
Blog entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:12

There are homes ready to welcome us in every continent of the earth. Before I am much elder, I hope I shall come to know many of them. Although there is none of my father’s subjects, from the eldest to the youngest, whom I do not wish to greet, I am thinking especially today of all the young men and women who were born about the same time as myself and have grown up like me in the terrible and glorious years of the Second World War. Will you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birthday as your representative? 

Now that we are coming to manhood and womanhood, it is surely a great joy to us all to think that we shall be able to take some of the burden off the shoulders of our elders, who have fought and worked and suffered to protect our childhood. 

To that generation, I say we must not be daunted by the anxiety and hardships the war...

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Chronology Entry
Posted by federica dal zotto on Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:10

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