In Tough Times, the Humanities Must Justify Their Worth
In this article from the New York Times, it is basically saying that because of today's economy, studies in humanities is seen as impractical because it concentrates on personal development, intellectualism, and forward-thinking. It doesn't prepare one for an actual job, like say engineering or medicine would.
At the end, the article says that humanities studies will soon be like it once was at the beginning of the 20th century: something only the wealthy priveleged will study.
This article is horrendously bleak. True: humanities studies do not prepare an individual specifically for an actual job in our society--a capitalist-based society where production and profit are valued. True: humanities is art--which never equals money in the pocket. True: humanities studies has no guarantees.
I call bullshit on the conclusion of the article: that only the wealthy priveleged will be the ones studying humanities. First of all, because of the huge surge in the middle class, and the blurring of the class divisions, we have, in America, rags-to-riches stories. Anyone can work from the bottom to the top if they so desire. Someone who has a degree in humanities, if they push themselves hard enough can become successful. It's the individual's responsibility to align themselves with success--if they so desire. Maybe some humanities students wouldn't mind living in a tool shed, surrounded by their philosophies, candles, and a crusty loaf of bread, so long as they have their books. You can't speak for every individual.
Secondly, even if (and this article smacks of dystopia for me) the humanities and liberal arts education were abolished and kept only for the rich--what kind of world do you envision? Something like in the film, Metropolis--workers, workers, and more workers? Orwellian dystopia? Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 where books are burned? No creativity? No imagination? Stifled words. Our current president is an individualist, free-thinking, forward-thinking man.
I am simply saying that the outcome of humanities studies will not just be for the wealthy. It's not entirely impractical, but you will learn more about yourself and you will craft an identity through your knowledge. Everyone is a humanist at heart, anyhow. We are not unfeeling robots. I do not fear the death of humanities.
timequangle:(x)
3 years ago
1 comment:
You go girl! Art and humanities majors always get it rough, not only in the trials and obstacles you have to go through post-grad like you've discussed but these types of studies are typically ostracized by other "real" or more "logical" majors. For these two alone you guys have obviously more cajones than the rest of us. You pursue what you love despite the inherent risks. I love you for that. I love that you're proud of what you do and what you're passionate for. I love that you won't succumb to doing what you don't like doing for the sake of pursuing something more "sensible." I truly believe if you don't focus your efforts in something that makes you happy, then what's the point? That might have been a relatively ignorant thing to say considering many people who aren't well off are forced into occupations for the sake of money (example, our immigrant parents), but we were born blessed to be a part of this country (even though it's in shambles right now). The freedom to be who we want to be begins with us, and dammit, that's what we're going to do, right?
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