The Scout Report -- Volume 27, Number 6

The purpose of Cite Black Women is encompassed by its name. The collective works "to push people to critically rethink the politics of knowledge production by engaging in a radical praxis of citation that acknowledges and honors Black women's transnational intellectual production." In other words, "it's time to give credit where credit is due." Readers may want to begin by browsing the Our Praxis and Our Collective pages. Then, readers can dive into the organization's work. This work takes many forms, with social media platforms (@CiteBlackWomen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook), a blog (under Our Blog) sharing input from various writers, and a podcast (under Our Podcast) where guests discuss their research and citation politics generally. In addition to the Soundcloud link embedded at the site above, listeners will find the Cite Black Women podcast on Google Play, Stitcher and iTunes. The show is produced by Christen Smith (who also hosts the show and launched the collective) and Michaela Machicote, with audio engineering from Lydia Fortuna. [EMB]

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Computer science and creativity combine in Project Cornelia, a "hybrid research engine" that analyzes 17th-century art using data-based processes and tools. To begin, visitors may want to check out the Filters tab to see how the project has evolved over the past decade. Readers will also find links to publications and presentations featuring the work in this section. Visitors may also want to browse the project's Twitter account (@projectcornelia) to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements. To explore the project's browser, head over to the Live Tools tab. Here, users can conduct a search by artist name or year and filter by collection ("guild" or "parish" records). For example, a search for "1800" in "guild records" reveals a host of artists. After selecting one from the list, users will find additional details about their family, teachers, and students. The project is led by Koenraad Brosens, a professor in the Art History Department of Leuven University (Belgium), who is equally enthusiastic about computer science. [EMB]

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Recognizing that online learning creates unique obstacles and opportunities for building community, a team of educators crafted this resource kit to assist their fellow instructors in creating inclusive and engaging virtual classrooms. Though many activities are geared toward educational settings, event organizers may also appreciate this tool. The activities were curated with "intentionally equitable hospitality," in mind, a framework that emphasizes the importance of meeting people where they are at, in order to make them feel welcome, and recognizes the different needs and perspectives of those within any given classroom or group. Activities range from short exercises that give students a break during class to icebreakers that will help create respectful and relational classrooms. Clicking on an activity will reveal additional details that may include a purpose statement, preparation guide, instructions, and other resources. This activity kit is a collaboration between OneHE (an educator support organization) and Equity Unbound (a collaborative curriculum focused on principles of equity, open access, connection, and intercultural learning experiences). [EMB]

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Yesterday, February 11, the world celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day draws attention to the need for gender equality in STEM fields and recognizes the contributions that women add to the disciplines. Perhaps the celebration sparked an interest in further exploring data science through a feminist lens. If so, interested readers may enjoy Data Feminism, available as an open text through MIT Press. Authored by Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein, Data Feminism explores power dynamics within data collection and production, asking questions like "Data science by whom?"; "Data science for whom?"; and "Data science with whose interests in mind?" The pair draw on Kimberle Crenshaw's scholarship on intersectional feminism and creates a spin-off of bell hooks's idea that "feminism is for everybody," by arguing that "data feminism is for everybody." The eight main chapters cover themes including: data visualization, racism, and sexism. Though the text delves into several topics, D'Ignazio and Klein acknowledge that the book is a starting point and they invite readers to continue exploring diverse perspectives on "data, design, and justice." In addition to reading the text on the site above, readers can download chapters as PDF, Word, or EPUB files (among other options) via the right-hand corner Download box. [EMB]

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Disabled Writers strives to ensure that, when it comes to disability representation, there is "nothing about us without us." The site primarily serves as a database of disabled writers and disabled sources, eliminating any chance of the "I couldn't find anyone," excuse for lack of diversity. The database includes more than 175 writers with diverse expertise, ranging from science and technology to theater and pop culture. A chart conveniently catalogs writers by byline and area of expertise and clicking on a name reveals additional details, including a biography, portfolio links, and contact information. In addition to this database, readers may enjoy the Disabled Writers Blog. As a new project, the blog's archive is limited, but expanding. Readers will find an honest discussion about journalistic mediums and mental health, with more writing to come (and an opportunity to pitch pieces for publication). Both aspects are crucial, as "20 percent of the population, which includes media consumers and creators, is disabled, and it is important to put disabled people in charge of their own narratives." The platform is supported by Alice Wong and the Disability Visibility Project (a previously highlighted resource that made the 05-29-2020 Scout Report "Best Of 2020" issue). [EMB]

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Readers longing for some love poems should look no further than this collection of more than fifty pieces of live-performance poetry. The array of short videos share poetic works including: "When Love Arrives" by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye; "Love Poem Medley" by Rudy Francisco; and "Weathering" by Aja Monet and featuring Amari Tims. Also included in the collection is "OCD" by Neil Hilborn, deemed "the most-viewed slam performance in history," by arts organization the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation after garnering millions of views and high praise. Most performances are under five minutes, so readers can skip around and indulge in the pieces periodically. Though, with such an impressive selection of options, it is easy to become entranced by the entire playlist in one sitting. This collection was curated by Button Poetry in 2018. Based in Minnesota, Button Poetry is a publishing company "dedicated to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for performance poetry." [EMB]

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From the University of Glasgow's Centre for Robert Burns Studies (also responsible for Editing Robert Burns for the 21st Century, as featured in the 11-13-2020 Scout Report), this course explores the poet's writings, songs, manuscripts, and objects. The course is designed for beginners; curiosity is the only prerequisite. Led by a team of literary experts and Burns enthusiasts, students will be introduced to the wondrous life and legacy of "Scotland's Poet." Included in the course is an analysis of the heart-wrenching "Ae Fond Kiss" (about lovers parting ways) and the heartwarming yet bittersweet "Auld Lang Syne" (a popular New Year's hymn). The three week course invites learners to progress at their own pace (note that an average of four hours of work per week is expected). To register, users will have to create a FutureLearn account. A basic account is free to create, though enhanced features are available for a fee. [EMB]

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Planets, the Periodic Table of Elements, and poetry may seem like an eclectic mix. However, scientific breakthroughs were a major influence on Romantic-period writing. This short read and listen from a September 2009 episode of National Public Radio's All Things Considered provides some insight. The clip features Richard Holmes, author of the book The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science. Holmes highlights revelations from his research, noting that the connections between science, art, and romance are exemplified in the work of famous Romantic poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Keats, who sought inspiration from scientific disciplines. Readers will also find an excerpt of Holmes's book at the link above. Here, Holmes continues to expand on his thesis, noting, "In effect there is Romantic science in the same sense there is Romantic poetry, and often for the same enduring reasons." [EMB]

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Romantic poetry enthusiasts will delight in the trove of works cataloged by the Jackson Bibliography of Romantic Poetry, housed within the University of Toronto Library System. The bibliography contains information about more than 23,000 books of poetry from the years 1770-1835. The structure of the bibliography seeks to create "a history of poems rather than of poets," and places "canonical works in the context of their contemporary rivals." Users have a variety of browsing options, with filters to search by author, title, publisher, publication city, publication date, and holding library. For more information on browsing options, readers should consult the User Guide. Searches reveal records with basic information about when and where books were published, as well as details on where the books can be found today. This project, which is ever-evolving, has received support from the Government of Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Victoria College, and the Department of English at the University of Toronto. [EMB]

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Roses are red. Violets are blue. New to romantic poetry? Here is a perfect resource for you. This curation of romantic poetry allows readers to delve into some of the most famous works and writers of the Romantic Period (1780 to 1850). These poems include: "Sunset" by Ann Radcliffe (infused with imagery from nature), "A Mother to Her Waking Infant" by Joanna Baillie (surveying the trials and joys of motherhood), and a selection of John Keats's poetic resume (known to explore the dichotomy between love and suffering). While the showcase defaults to organizing by poet, the "Find a poem" button near the top of the page provides other filter options (for example, theme or keyword search). In addition to fantastic poetry, readers will find brief biographies about each poet. The resource is provided by Poetry by Heart, a UK-based youth poetry competition designed to "re-ignit[e] the nation's love of poetry," in collaboration with several other UK-based humanities organizations. [EMB]

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Return to this literary magazine featured in the 12-15-2017 Scout Report to find a plethora of poems and commentary, with many pieces (more than 3,000) including themes of love and romance.

Made for poetry lovers, Jacket2 is an online magazine dedicated to "modern and contemporary poets and poetics." Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, the magazine is edited by poetry scholars and poets from across the United States. Jacket 2 began as a print magazine, published between 1997 and 2010. Visitors can check out the print magazine's archives via a link in the About Us section. Today, the magazine publishes reviews, interviews, essays, and a podcast (PoemTalk). Readers may be interested in browsing recent pieces including "Jeffrey C. Robinson: Reconfiguring Romanticism." This commentary, posted in December 2020, muses about the "poetic past from the point of view of the present." Readers with a specific topical interest may want to use the search bar in the top right corner to find relevant pieces. [MMB] [EMB]

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