But before she left the U, we asked her to share why she believes the humanities matter. However, the U printed 2” thick book of required reading was interesting. Titled "The Heart of the Matter," the report states: "As we strive to create a more civil public discourse, a more adaptable and creative workforce, and a more secure nation, the humanities … Shame on you!! Every road trip with my father turned into some sort of teachable moment that wove together the history of the earth with the history of the people living on the planet. And they reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual and intellectual sense of the world. During one of my many moves, I tossed that text and today, I would like to be able to re-read some of that material. It always reflects the marginal interest of the policymakers, therefore it’s always the adjunct part of any university But I’m also recurringly struck by the ways in which we consistently and necessarily turn to the humanities and arts for answers, for healing, and for resolution in the most difficult and trying of times. A student who put an effort in will likely work harder in the job place as well; someone who is okay with putting in the minimal effort will probably do the same at work. We need to strive for a population that is as widely educated as possible in the critical realms of knowledge that are not simply aimed at problem-solving, but that instead permit our citizens to understand how to frame the most pressing problems that exist now, and to forecast what those will be in the future. However, she does not make a persuasive argument. Even higher education is now driven by the market, as is religion, and government, the other anchors to what we traditionally viewed as “the town square.” Unless something can be measured as valuable by the market, or has a quantifiable (read: monetary) value, then the warrants aren’t there for what he refers to as “a persuasive argument” for the humanities in education and everyday life. Copyright Complaints, Stanford scholar unpacks the rhetoric behind extremist politician's mainstream success, Stanford historian explores how gender analysis leads to innovation, Stanford historian unearths greed-drenched origins of Mexico's groundwater crisis. Technology will move forwards always, but the humanities are what make each society unique. Exposure and understanding is important, at the very least because we decide whether to fund the humanities, or the arts, or even public science. Message from UWM’s Associate Dean of the Humanities, Jasmine Alinder: ... Why the Humanities are Cost Effective. U medical students visit remote high schools around the state to promote health care as a career. HOW DO THE HUMANITIES BENEFIT US AS A SOCIETY? Harris: Like many, I was fortunate to have parents who read to me when I was very young, and who frequently took me to the local public library when I was a child. Harris recently left the U after serving two years as dean to take an impressive position as senior program officer in higher education and scholarship in the humanities with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City, which is committed to the humanities, the arts, and higher education. Many claim that it sounded the death knell for history, art, ideology, science, possibly all of Western philosophy, and certainly for the concept of reality itself. Responding to essential questions regarding whether the humanities can remain politically and academically relevant amid this twenty-first-century uncertainty, Why the Humanities Matter offers a guided tour of the modern condition, calling upon thinkers in a variety of disciplines to affirm essential concepts such as truth, goodness, and beauty. WHAT WAS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF FIRST REALIZING THE VALUE OF THE HUMANITIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? While the exact sciences are unrivaled in their ability to reveal objective facts about the universe, they are curiously silent when it … The persuasive argument that LM Jennings feels is missing here might be more of an indicator of how in late era American capitalism, there is only one civilizing force: the market. University Marketing & Communications75 Fort Douglas Blvd., Building 601Salt Lake City, Utah, 84113801.581.6773. We also look to those same humanities and arts disciplines when seeking how best to express joy and to celebrate human achievement. Meanwhile, and probably not coincidentally, employers across the country express concern that newer hires often lack the very skills learned through humanities courses, such as critical thinking, contextual understanding, and the ability to write well. The original culture in this state was one that celebrated the arts. Humanities Why are the Humanities Important? Comments are moderated, so there may be a slight delay before approved comments are posted. Those early conversations forever shaped my sense that we are responsible to and for other humans and for the planet. Your email address will not be published. I have always loved the humanities. In framing our argument this way, advocates of the arts and humanities are conceding the larger point: that education exists solely to produce hands for industry. Welcome to "Why the Humanities Matter" I am trying to make the case that literature, the arts, the study of languages are indeed important in today's society. At first, reading was simple entertainment, but books quickly became an entry point into entirely unknown worlds of adventure, mystery, fantasy, history, and more. Two students of about sixty explicitly said that they only wanted to get a D (and I assume from the consistent low C high D performance of others that that was the case for others too). Humanities Matter. The humanities are especially vital in an interconnected, restless world. It pains me to go to the symphony and ballet and see only half the seats filled much of the time. One 2017 study found that the fastest-growing jobs in the US in the last 30 years have almost all specifically required a high level of social skills. Campion College’s new 2020 cohort being matriculated into … I sent out emails telling them how to easily get full points for their weekly assignments, but the ones that complained grading was too tough. I subscribe to the thought that “If all I had was a loaf of bread, I would sell half to buy white hyacinths to feed my soul.” However, I also agree with the comments of Thomas Johnson, above, that to be well rounded one must also have a grasp of math and other sciences. Responding to essential questions regarding whether the humanities can remain politically and academically relevant amid this twenty-first-century uncertainty, Why the Humanities Matter offers a guided tour of the modern condition, calling upon thinkers in a variety of disciplines to affirm essential concepts such as truth, goodness, and beauty. Their efforts preserve the great accomplishments of the past, help us understand the world we live in, and give us tools to imagine the future. Why the Humanities matter. They often report study results listing the number of people responding to a survey in a particular way without giving the context of how many people are included in the sample. Harris: The humanities are crucial to a healthy democracy, just as they also provide opportunities for fulfilled and gainful employment and an enriched life. What humanities? You are torturing animals in the most inhumane and unimaginable ways with taxpayer money. Why Do Humanities Matter? Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*). Book Description: Is there life after postmodernism? THE HUMANITIES are about what it is to be human. The humanities offer a careful assessment of different cultures and languages, and allows us, as persons, to identify commonalities and positive difference in other cultural texts, religious practices, and discussion of certain customs groups of people have. The humanities are the study of what makes us human, of what it means to be human. That requires creative thinking, not just problem-solving capabilities. WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERNS SOME STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAVE ABOUT THE EARNING POTENTIAL OR JOB PROSPECTS OF STUDENTS WHO STUDY HUMANITIES? Harris began in her new role November 1. Tips for choosing a major and navigating the academic journey. They foster a genuine and deep understanding of individual and social justice, an authentic appreciation and admiration for difference, and a thrilling and life-enhancing recognition of beauty in its many forms. MATTER! I think it’s also important to consider the level of education that comes with a bachelor’s in any topic. Because these skills allow us to gain new insights into everything from poetry and paintings to business models and politics, humanistic subjects have been at the heart of a liberal arts education since the ancient Greeks first used  them to educate their citizens. This is from Why the Humanities Matter: In Defense of Liberal Education. I did read it all. Through a historical analysis of agrarian reform and hydraulic technology, Stanford professor Mikael Wolfe discovers how politically well-connected business interests helped put Mexico's groundwater supply on a path toward unsustainability. I can’t imagine, nor do I wish to do so, a life without the beauty of artfully crafted texts, images, and sounds. History, literature, languages, philosophy, and more… these subjects have always occupied a place of central importance at the University of Utah. A pioneering textual analysis of French political speeches led by Stanford Professor of French Cécile Alduy reveals how Marine Le Pen, leader of France's surging far-right National Front, has made extremism palatable in a land of republican values. But just as important, we also know from that data that humanities degree holders have among the highest rates of lifelong job satisfaction and fulfillment because they are pursuing meaningful work and enriching their lives—and the lives of others—by using the skills they acquired through their humanities majors. Research into the human experience adds to our knowledge about our world. They are like a flat tire. The humanities teach empathy. Nevertheless, during these tumultuous times their importance is thrown into greater relief. Far from being degrees to nowhere, humanities degrees—as all the data show us—are degrees to everywhere. The earliest curricula at the U focused on liberal arts and classics, and the College of Humanities will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a free-standing college in 2020. Reading a book from another region of the world, might help you think about the meaning of democracy. “The arts and humanities matter today because they always matter. These trends and ongoing discussions are paramount to those who champion the humanities, including Dianne Harris, a history professor and former dean of the U’s College of Humanities. I studied Metallurgical Engineering and a class in humanities was required. The Humanities are academic disciplines that seek to understand and interpret the human experience, from individuals to entire cultures, engaging in the discovery, preservation, and communication of the past and present record to enable a deeper … The reality is that a BA can mean anything from “a student put in a minimum of effort and passed with D’s and C’s” to “this is a person who is really motivated to learn and apply the information made available to them through their education.” There is only so much teachers can do if students aren’t interested. If that is true, then logically all intellectual disciplines should ultimately be judged by the same measures. Bringing Clarity to the Future Artists who don’t understand economics do not make good citizens. is part of the 4Humanities Humanities Infographics initiative, including Infographics Friday online posts. Today, humanistic knowledge continues to provide the ideal foundation for exploring and understanding the human experience. Take a poetry class. A person cannot be well rounded without a basic knowledge of math to include statistics and the basic ideas of Calculus. Contact. We orient ourselves exclusively to the marketplace at our peril. Contemplating a sculpture might make you think about how an artist's life affected her creative decisions. I do believe the humanities matter but the concept of being a well rounded person encompassed in non-stem degrees really isn’t well rounded. But in the absence of a strong background in the humanities, STEM education alone will leave our society impoverished and ill-prepared for the rapidly changing world ahead. Arizona State University Humanities Lab We need both areas of understanding. YOU OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITIES BEYOND THE WALLS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. Through the work of humanities scholars, we learn about the values of different cultures, about what goes into making a work of art, about how history is made. In the wake of national trauma, we look to the poets and writers, to artists, historians, musicians, and philosophers… to help us ease the pain.”. If we don’t ensure such an educated citizenry, one that is steeped in a humanities education, our future looks far less bright, and our democracy will be increasingly destabilized. YOU RECENTLY WROTE IN AN OP-ED, “WE NEED THE HUMANITIES NOW MORE THAN EVER.” WHY IS THAT? The humanities seek to understand the broad range of human experience. Why the Digital Humanities Matter Mark Bowles | Professor, American Public University System As more and more information becomes available online, students — especially non-traditional students — should be well-versed in digital humanities. This is only a little off the main course of the subject. The Humanities Matter! The BA graduates who write our news and report on the media clearly do not understand basic differences like confusing the national debt with a balanced annual budget. Artwork comprises portions of several paintings by Pilar Pobil displayed throughout the U's Humanities Building. Ah, the humanities. Learning another language might help you gain an appreciation for the similarities in different cultures. Dr. Adam L. Tate Chair, Department of Humanities G-210 Arts & Sciences Bldg AdamTate@clayton.edu (678) 466-4809. I graduated from the University in history, but wound up in a business career as a real estate appraiser, where an understanding of math as well as the ability to write a coherent sentence was essential. The future of our democracy depends on a citizenry that deeply understands its past; that communicates clearly and effectively; that is able to read texts with care and discernment so that fact can be sorted from fiction; that understands ethics and the underpinnings of logic and what is at stake in the leading of an ethical life; that understands how to frame a clear and compelling argument based in rigorously produced research; that embraces the rich mosaic of difference in all its forms and understands that our differences are what make us great; that is multilingual and values diverse modes of communication. 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