Literature, Arts, and Humanities - PowerPoint Presentation Example

Disciplines and Cultural Context of Humanities of affiliation: Disciplines and Cultural Context of Humanities The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language to understand and record our world. These modes of expression have become some of the subjects that traditionally fall under the humanities umbrella. Knowledge of these records of human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection to those who have come before us, as well as to our contemporaries. Importance of studying Humanities The advancements in the realms of science and technology have led to a great disregard of the importance of studying literature and humanities. Many people in the academic circles have questioned the importance of studying literature and humanities. However, literature and humanities are very instrumental in preparing an individual to fulfill the civic as well as intellectual responsibilities. In many ways, humanities have proved to be of great importance in providing an intuitive comprehension into the civility, compassion, altruism, and charity. These are virtues that can only be learnt from literature and humanities. In as much as it may not be obvious to find these characteristics being very crucial in the search of a research position in academic world or industry, they are undoubtedly keys to a complete and significant life. Disciplines of Humanities History “The calling of the humanities is to make us truly human in the best sense of the word.” J. Irwin Miller All our good deeds and bad deeds are deeply rooted in the past. Our past is the foundation upon which our present is placed. When Charles Darwin’s “Evolution of Species” was published in November 1859, it was accepted as a fine work of humanities.What are humanities? Through study of language, literature, ethics, philosophy, art, jurisprudence, history and many such faculties. We use our analytical, critical, or speculative skills to find out facts about human conditions we have never seen or about human beings we have never met. These are just a few of the ways we can use to understand our heritage. Religion Humanities is all about studying the intricacies of the human condition. The human condition is the summation of the different elements that define what a human being is other than the physical and gender-related aspects. This means that humanities are more concerned with what makes a human a human in regards to their actions, their ideals, their philosophies, reasoning or logic, and meaning or purpose in life. It is for this reason that a lot of aspects in regards to humanities is directed towards the arts and literature, logic, and religion. Looking at the Statistics With that in mind one would wonder about the academic impact the study of religion would have on the human condition. Take the following information into consideration Literature The advancements in the realms of science and technology have led to a great disregard of the importance of studying literature and humanities. Many people in the academic circles have questioned the importance of studying literature and humanities. However, literature and humanities are very instrumental in preparing an individual to fulfill the civic as well as intellectual responsibilities. In many ways, humanities have proved to be of great importance in providing an intuitive comprehension into the ethical, decent, ideological and opinionated forces. As a matter of fact, any successful society is dependent on its civility, compassion, altruism, and charity. These are virtues that can only be learnt from literature and humanities. In as much as it may not be obvious to find these characteristics being very crucial in the search of a research position in academic world or industry, they are undoubtedly keys to a complete and significant life. Humanities and Culture Each day, we find out that the world continues to grow technologically. Computer based systems are fast becoming the order of the day and winding their way into the social fabric of our very existence. The continuous improvement in technological systems may have a high level of benefit for the humanities. This is because as an academic discipline that is more concerned with studying human conditions and processes, the humanities have a lot to gain with the recent surge in technology. In relation to the physical sciences, the methods employed by the humanities in studying human behavior are less empirical than they are analytical and speculative. However, using these methods that have often been criticized by the natural sciences, the humanities as an academic discipline has provided the world with important theories and explanations concerning human behavior patterns. Connections Across Disciplines The humanities are scholarly disciplines that examine the human conditions employing techniques that are mostly critical, speculative and analytical as differentiated from the primarily experimental approaches of the natural sciences. The humanities consist of You will also find other humanities and to mention just a few, you will find social studies, anthropology, law, linguistics, cultural and communication studies. These humanities studies use rational and subjective methods to investigate the human experience. The humanities tools are not exact measurements and controlled experiments. They are normally emotional insight, imagination and rational analysis. Current approaches in academia project a looming doom for humanities as more students confess that they do not see the relevance in studying humanities especially in the practical application in their careers. The key contribution for the observation is the increasing emphasis on scientific assertions based on empirical approaches rather than vague and theoretical postulations based on inductive and deductive reasoning. Basford, L., & Slevin, O. (2003). Scholars usually shy away from humanities due to anxieties associated with endless arguments and numerous dimensions of arguments that sometimes characterize the understanding of human behavior and relations. However, emerging approaches in pedagogy have led to the discovery of an important relationship between humanities and science implying that the trivializing of humanities can be a fatal error in promoting holistic learning experience. Some of the reasons for the romanticizing and rejection of humanities are: Developments in Science and Technology Over the years science and technology has brought significant developments to human existence by answering previously disturbing questions. Scientific studies are characterized by hope of getting definite answers some of which are irrefutable at least for time being. Essay:A talk to teachers 1963, James Baldwin describes the "current times" as "very dangerous." He identifies a menace that threatens the American social order as a phenomenon that comes from within. Sadly, he notes that if teachers—those entrusted with molding the "hearts and minds" of the young—seek to rectify the ills that plague the nation, they can expect to meet the most "determined resistance." Baldwin begins his argument by asserting that the purpose of education, which is designed to "perpetuate the aims of society," is to teach people to look at the world around them and enable them to make decisions about it on their own. The paradox that results from this commission, however, is that if the institution indeed succeeds in creating individuals capable of independent thought, those individuals will quickly recognize the wrongs in their society and will endeavor to change them. As Baldwin observes, "no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around." The paradox takes on an added dimension of complexity in the case of African Americans. From the time he is born, "the Negro" is taught that he lives in a country that guarantees "liberty and justice for all," but in practice, his treatment at the hands of his countrymen affirms that he is of no value or worth beyond his devotion and usefulness to the white man. , The African American child perceives the squalidness and danger of the ghetto neighborhood in which he is forced to live, in contrast to the finer, friendlier environment beyond its borders. He senses that he is living in a society that, figuratively and literally, assigns him to the "back of the bus." When he becomes capable of better understanding the inequities he faces, he questions why the better things in life are not for him. Thesis Baldwin presented this speech to New York City teachers; and addressed the repercussions, the wanted product, the racial inequality, and the misinformation pertaining to American education. Baldwins ideas are still important today because the issues he discusses continue to be prominent in todays society because of the misinformation in education. Through his essay Baldwin addresses the importance for education “to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not" (Baldwin, 123-124). This type of self being, and individual thinking is emulated as the essay proceeds through the issues of racial inequality and misinformation in American education.  Baldwin believes that people are taught to believe that they live in the best structured society, although that may not be the case. He explains that education is able to open up peoples eyes to the reality of our society. “The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated” (Baldwin, 123). Education allows an individual to question the society he or she is learning in and about. Baldwin expressed that "It is a world that refuses to speak the truth, even though it ceases the truth. Rhetorical analysis Baldwin’s tone in this essay shifts frequently however, the constant tone that enhances his purpose of this essay is urgency. Baldwin’s urgency to make teachers change the prejudice view on “negros” and the false history that is being taught about African Americans. For he refers to it as “any negro who is born in this country and undergoes the  American educational system runs the risk of being schizophrenic.” Baldwin soon states his idea of what the purpose of education is “to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself.” However, the reality of education during that time is far from where he wanted it to be. The paradox he uses is that if people are successful in thinking for themselves, they will soon realize the wrongs in their society and try to change them. Baldwin states “no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around.” He incorporates this paradox to show the harsh reality of society. He appeals to pathos when giving an example of what it is like to be a black child who “is aware that there is a reason why his mother works so hard, why his father is always on edge. He is aware that there is a reason why, if he sits down in the front of the bus, his mother or father slaps him and drags him to the back of the bus. It begins when he is in school that he discovers the shape of his oppression.” These sentences makes his point so much more powerful because it is brutally honest and paints a disturbing but realistic picture for the audience. This is also where his tone becomes more reflective andsad. Conclusion  The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then  learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around. What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of law. References Ashcroft, R. E. (2007). Principles of health care ethics. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons. American Council of Learned Societies., & Leland, W. G. (1969). Studies in the history of culture: The disciplines of the humanities. Freeport, N.Y: Books for Libraries Press. Basford, L., & Slevin, O. (2003). Theory and practice of nursing: An integrated approach to patient care. Cheltenham, U.K: Nelson Thornes . . . Read More