Frank Norris, Bubblelines, and the Word Cloud

     Probably due to user error, I was unable to download Responsibilities of a Novelist on to my computer. To be able to produce something to share with everyone, I uploaded A Deal In the Wheat. The biggest issue I have run into is being able to control the random words that the Word Cloud generates. Last time I worked with the tool I was able to remove some of the more common words from my Cloud. Even though I tried the same method I used last time, I was not able to.

     Below is what I produced using Bubblelines. Since I have not read the story, targeting theme words was not possible. I looked into the literature's basic themes, added key words, and main characters. I think that this tool is great at highlighting themes, characters, or key elements, and where they appear and are focused on throughout the literature. 

     Here I separated the lines: Bubblelines (I think this way is easier to distinguish the words and where/when they appear.)

Here I did not: Bubblelines

    Since I was unable to remove the words I did not want from my Word Cloud, the results are not the greatest:

    However, the data can still be used. From what I gathered so far the Word Cloud generates the key words as the larger words.  Word Cloud

    I highlighted "Hardenberg", because that was one of the keywords I used on my Bubblelines and it appeared to be a keyword on my Word Cloud. Word Cloud Chart

    I understand that these can be used in as a visual tool in correlation with the novel or literature to display and highlight the main themes or word trends. What I am having trouble with is envisioning what these tools can be used for as far as measuring the data. 

Voyant Tools Exploration

     After exploring Voyant Tools for awhile, I can see this is purely trial and error. I worked with the "Stop Words List" using The Octopus. I followed the steps shown in class and was successful at removing the words I did not want on my current Word Cloud. However, a new Cloud would be generated containing different common words. After I had already saved and applied the "English (Toporware)" list with my alterations, I went  to retrieve it and add more words. I found the list had transformed into a "Custom Stop Word List". I was able to remove the words I did not want, but it would not permanently save the list. I had to create a new list each time. I also attempted to find the Bubbles tool, but could not locate it.

     Here is a link to the Word Cloud that I created. I found that the longer I worked with it, I became more familiarized with the words from the literature and was eventually able to memorize the words I did not want in my Cloud. I'm not sure this method would work for anything larger than one piece of literature.

    This one was purely for fun.  I copied and pasted a PDF of Dr.Seuss's ABC and it worked perfectly. I thought this tool would be an different way to get my daughter excited about vocabulary. Perhaps this could be used as a word-find. Fun Cloud. I will let you guys know how it works out.

   

Hopeful Expectations

     I have been at HCC for many moons and have taken an array of courses. However, none have included a balance of artistic fancy and the digital world. I hope Contemporary Humanities will expand my limited knowledge of computers and allow me to get back to my roots in art. In addition, my daughter has recently shown a great deal of interest in making her own mythical creature videos. I would love to be able to teach her some of the skills I gain from this course.

     Everything that has been discussed or presented at this point confuses me, but I am not discouraged. The material is presented well and the Matthew Jockers video was helpful in understanding the project ahead. This course will not seem so abstract after I decipher the language and have first-hand experience with the assignments.

First step down. Thanks to you, I now know how to turn on the classrooms computers! Huzzah!