Queer Studies & DH: Values

One thing that Queer Studies values immensely is the vast diversity of experiences held amongst queer and non queer folks. By valuing this diversity in human experiences it allows for a more complete and inclusive look at what it means to be a human being. One example of this within Queer Studies can be found in the interest expressed towards indie video games produced by queer developers and designers and what they can show about queer existence, as shown in the article, “Queer Indie Games as an Alternative Digital Humanities” by Bo Ruberg. Furthermore, Ruberg argues that “these particular (queer) games and their creators model counter strategies for cultural critique that can point us toward an alternative vision of the digital humanities that is political, personal, playful, and deeply queer—one that operates as much in practice as in theory.” Thus, These games allow for a wider audience to be exposed to and experience a queer way of looking at the world. 

In Lisa Spiro’s essay “Defining the Values of the Digital Humanities,” openness, collaboration, and diversity are identified as values in DH because they “reflect the need for people with a range of skills to contribute to digital scholarship.” This showcases some of the many ways in which Queer Studies and DH intersect in a synchronous way. By viewing queer video games as a unique form of new media within DH, it showcases the values shared between Queer Studies and DH, namely that they both take interest in the diversity inherent to the human experience across different cultures. Thus, both disciplines are well-suited to each-other for future collaboration within academia and the public space.