SL Class Lecture Topic: Introduction to the Humanities (Cultural Studies)
The term ‘Humanities’ also goes by different sorts of titles
or names: Liberal Studies, Western
Cultural Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, etc. Essentially, for the purpose
of our SL class, I will be teaching it as a ‘cultural studies’ class which
includes exploring areas such as: history, visual art, music and literature.
There are many ways to approach both teaching and learning
about the Humanities. Because it
encompasses so many different fields and interests, it can seem overly-broad or
confusing. Yet, all the individual subject areas within the Humanities are
interdependent and enmeshed together.
Thus, the approach I favor is both integrated and interdisciplinary – with special emphasis on ‘The Arts’ (more on this next week).
Thus, the approach I favor is both integrated and interdisciplinary – with special emphasis on ‘The Arts’ (more on this next week).
I truly love many areas within the Humanities and I also hope that you might come to love some of it, too. More importantly, I hope we will have fun
learning together – that’s the whole point of all of this, isn’t it?
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Introduction: So What Are The Humanities?
According to the 1965 National
Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act:
“The term 'humanities' includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”
The term ‘Humanities’ comes from the Latin word, “humanitas” and generally refers to art, literature, music, architecture, performing arts – areas in which human subjectivity is empathized.
The fields of knowledge and study falling under humanities
are dedicated to the pursuit of discovering and understanding the nature of
man. The humanities deal with man as a being of purpose, values, passions,
ideas, and inspiration.
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A. Class Activity: Video & Slide Presentation of
Humanities:
1) Let's just take a minute and quickly watch a short video:
1) Let's just take a minute and quickly watch a short video:
2) Watch In-Class Slide Presentation: What Goes Into Humanities?
[ Click to watch slideshow! ]
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B. Class Reading: “Why Study Humanities?”
"Why Study Humanities? What I tell Engineering Freshmen." (click the link!)
Take a minute to glance through the article and thinking about the questions below.
Questions to think about:
1. Are the Humanities still relevant, even in today's changing world?
2. How many of us have witnessed schools pruning “soft science” areas, or the Arts:
art, music, literature, and dance?
3. How many of us have heard opinions such as: “What is the point of the humanities?” or
“Liberal Studies is a waste of time and outdated?”
4. What do you think when you read this – do you agree with the author?
1. Are the Humanities still relevant, even in today's changing world?
2. How many of us have witnessed schools pruning “soft science” areas, or the Arts:
art, music, literature, and dance?
3. How many of us have heard opinions such as: “What is the point of the humanities?” or
“Liberal Studies is a waste of time and outdated?”
4. What do you think when you read this – do you agree with the author?
"But it is precisely because science is so powerful that we need the humanities now more than ever. In your science mathematics and engineering classes, you're given facts, answers, knowledge, truth. Your professors say, "This is how things are." They give you certainty. The humanities, at least the way I teach them, give you uncertainty, doubt and skepticism.
The humanities are subversive. They undermine the claims of all authorities, whether political, religious, or scientific. This skepticism is especially important when it comes to claims about humanity, about what we are, where we came from, and even what we can be and should be. Science has replaced religion as our main source of answers to these questions. Science has told us a lot about ourselves, and we're learning more every day."
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C. Class Discussion Q&A: “Why Study Humanities?”
1. Why are the Humanities important to society?
1. Why are the Humanities important to society?
2. What does “culture” mean, to you?
3. What is “cultural history” and why is it important to know one’s cultural history?
4. What introduction have you had with the Humanities (Liberal Arts, Cultural History)?
5. After thinking about the many areas within the cultural Humanities, what subject areas might be of interest you?
3. What is “cultural history” and why is it important to know one’s cultural history?
4. What introduction have you had with the Humanities (Liberal Arts, Cultural History)?
5. After thinking about the many areas within the cultural Humanities, what subject areas might be of interest you?
This is a good time to end the class!
Next week, we’ll begin exploring Pre-history starting with the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.
Any questions? Ask me!
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Sources:
Text: "Experience Humanities" (R.T. Matthews)
Text: "Culture & Values" (L.S. Cunningham)
Video: "What is Humanities?" for CASC (A.Garcia)
Slideshow: "Intro to Humanities" (P. McDowell)
Article: "Why Study Humanities?" (J. Horgan)