It is not, of course, that there is anything wrong with making (although it is not all that clear that the world needs more stuff ). It is that the alternative to making is usually not doing nothing — it is nearly always doing things for and with other people…
— Debbie Chachra, “Beyond Making,” in Debates in the Digital Humanities (2016).
This passage grabbed my attention because it offers a different perspective to digital arts. In a course focused on “hacking” humanities and creating digital projects, it’s easy to assume that our main goal should be creating tangible artifacts; whether that means coding a website, building a dataset, or rendering 3D models. Debbie Chachra’s essay Beyond Making, however, challenges the assumption in tech culture that physical or digital creation is the only worthwhile use of our time.
The essay reframed what happens when we aren’t actively “making”. Instead of treating non-making time as unproductive time, Chachra tells us that this time is almost always filled with “relational labor”, the work of caring for, teaching, supporting, and organizing people. In a tech ecosystem that prioritizes products over human beings, the quote serves as a key reminder that digital tools are only as valuable as the human connections and communities they sustain.
In my past work as a front desk technician at Carleton’s IT Helpdesk, I learned firsthand how much effort goes into maintaining a welcoming environment. Entering the field of Digital Humanities, I want to make sure my online presence reflects a commitment to accessibility and community building rather than just accumulating technical accomplishments.
Looking ahead at the term, I’d like to learn more about the behind-the-scenes labor that keeps the digital world running. Specifically content moderation and digital maintenance. I’d like to learn more about the work that goes on in data centers and how they work efficiently.
I appreciate your take on Chachra’s concept of ‘relational labor,’ it is good to know just how many people go into maintaining and improving both our digital systems and physical environment. I am intrigued as to whether or not everything else besides the time spent making is a form of labor though. Sometimes individuals who create must be the consumers — at least in this day of constant iteration and informational flow. This said, I agree with the purpose of ‘relational labor’ and perhaps consuming is categorized under such activities. Thank you for helping to keep us technologically afloat on campus!