One way to understand humanities is to take a look at music. Listening to music is something most people in our culture do.
When you listen to a song, what makes you enjoy it? Perhaps it’s an escape from your stressful life, it helps you release inner emotions, or it has a message you enjoy.
Music can introduce us to new ideas and help us understand the cultures and lives of others. Humanities as a whole are like this, but on a much larger scale.
How Do Humanities Build an Understanding of Cultures?
Cultures have many differing kinds of art and values. Some examples of how these are represented are:
- Music
- Books
- Paintings
- Sculptures
- Architecture
- Religion
- Philosophy
This is a portion of what humanities are. These artforms and forms of ideals all have stories to tell. They can speak of individual lives, national pride, beliefs, disasters, love, pain, sacrifice, hope. The possibilities are endless.
When we look at these creations and their contexts, we begin to understand how the people who created these artforms saw things. This helps us gain new perspectives and insights.
This is possible for our own culture and other cultures around the world.
How Do Humanities Build an Understanding of Myself?
This connects back to how humanities help us understand culture. When we understand the culture we live in, we understand how it’s contributed to who we are today.
History and Roots
- This also shows why history is an essential element to humanities. Society and culture are constantly changing and evolving. A big part of understanding your own culture is by looking back and seeing what led to what it is today.
- Themes from the past are ingrained into our current values and art. Historical beliefs and artforms (such as literature, music, paintings, and much more) are the roots of our art and ideals today.
Modern Day
- When you understand these roots, you understand how and why they grew into what they are in modern times. You understand why we have them today.
One Last Thought
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, endorsing the study of the humanities, that it “… gives an aspect of living that is essential. You need technology. You need the professions. You need all of those things, but we need the heart also, and the humanities speak to the heart, men’s aspirations for the good and the beautiful” (LDS Church News, 19 March 2005).
The study of humanities will be essential in our day as life gets more and more confusing. With the perspective this degree gives you, you’ll be able to think critically, understand differing perspectives, and defend your own positions.
Earn this degree to understand yourself and the world.
Sources
National Endowment for the Humanities: About the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Humanities Alliance: Career Success.
Church News: “Endowment Hosts Scholar.”
American Academy of Arts & Sciences: Job Satisfaction of Humanities Master’s Degree Recipients.
American Academy of Arts & Sciences: "The Heart of the Matter: The Humanities and Social Sciences for a Vibrant, Competitive, and Secure Nation.”.
UC Santa Cruz: What Can I Do with My Humanities Degree?.
Ithaka S+R: “Measuring the Economic and Civic Value of the Humanities Workforce.” .
American Academy of Arts & Sciences: "The States of the Humanities.”.
University of California: “Humanities Skills Are Transferable Skills.”