DH-seminar: When algorithms dream: Neural networks, latent space, and cultural heritage

This talk considers the possibilities of different kinds of artificial neural networks for the digital humanities: networks that enhance interpretive ability, and networks that can be sampled to generate novel forms of expression. We consider both textual and visual datasets, with a focus on Nordic cultural heritage, and consider neural networks for their ability to produce latent spaces: theoretical realms of cultural production that spring from – but are not bounded by – the historical record. As more literary and visual collections are digitized and placed online, it seems fair to consider both the work and play of big data: what happens, in other words, when algorithms dream.