Humanities Today - Define humanities and give current examples Essay Example for Free

Humanities Today Define liberal blinds and give present-day(prenominal) examples EssayThe Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines the worldistic discipline as Branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. (Humanities). Those branches of knowledge include philosophy, literature, languages, the arts, religion and history. The humanities examine the human condition by studying the elements of culture that describe what is or was valued and considered important at a particular point in time.15th carbon Italian humanists referred to the humanities as studia humanitas which means the studies of humanity, indicating secular literary and scholarly activities (in grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, moral philosophy, and ancient Greek and Latin studies) that that they thought to be more humane and classical or else than divine (Humanities, 2006). In contrast, the physical sciences tend to examine the world and its phenomena objective ly, without reference to or consideration of human meaning and purpose, a key aspect of the humanities.Scholars foster argue that the humanities are distinguished from other modes of study by either their subject mater and by the rule of investigation utilise. One philosopher called the humanities the spiritual sciences and the human sciences (Humanities, 2006). He described them as areas of knowledge outside of the physical sciences. On the other hand, another turn-of-the-century philosopher instead characterized the humanities according to their method of study.He argued that the humanities do not seek or follow general laws, as the sciences do and that they focus on values within human and ethnical contexts, which is shoot forly contrary to scientific methodologies. As described above, the humanities seek to understand the values of a people and their perceptions based on their direct expression done the arts, their language, and philosophies. Science is motivated by the des ire to understand natural phenomena and dependent on empirical observation (Talk Humanities, 2006).The 21st century brings a cast of social, economic, and technological changes. Following is a demonstration of the humanities in the 21st century through the examination of its art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Art Is modern art in crisis? A bleak philosophical criticism emerged in the person of American critic Arthur Danto, who came out with the idea that the objects of art approach zero as their theory approaches infinitythat is, art really is over, having become transmuted into philosophy (Art Criticism, 2006).In his book The End of Art, author Donald Kuspit (2005) suggests that, Art has been replaced by postart, as a new visual category that elevates the unoriginal over the enigmatic, the scatological over the sacred, cleverness over creativity. Contemporary art, or art that is done now, is largely characterized by its indefinability. It tends to include a rt made from the latterly 1960s to the present, or after the supposed or putative end of modern art or the Modernist period (Contemporary Art, 2006).Todays art, like most of the humanities, has been transformed by technological, economical, and sociological advancements. It may or may not use tralatitious forms such as painting or drawing, and often includes the use of any variety of materials, video, or even performance as a part of it. One disregard seems to be a focus on world issues such as cloning, the price of oil, gender and sexuality, human rights, and war. A representative example is one of the most talked- close to sales in the contemporary market.Maurizio Cattelans The Ballad of Trotsky (1996), a stuffed horse hang in a leather sling from the ceiling, sold for $2,080,000 in 2005 (Art and Exhibitions, 2006). Music Contemporary music has also been greatly influenced by 21st century globalism. It has seen a development and acceptance of world music, or music that feature s or originates in a different culture. American artists such as Paul Simon and Sting have musicians and singers from other countries and went on to win Grammys and American Music Awards.Simons Grammy Award-winning album Graceland (1986) featured black South African Musicians who controversially recorded and toured with him despite a widespread trade boycott of South Africa, selling more than five million copies since its release (World Music, 2006). Sting featured Farhat Bouallagui on his Brand New daytime aIbum and Vicente Amigo and Anoushka Shankar on his Scared Love album. In the wake of their success, record stores became more willing to stock music of their kind. Architecture Critics have described one trend in 21st century architecture as deconstructivist architecture.In popular usage, the term has come to mean a critical dismantling of tradition and traditional modes of thought (Deconstruction, 2006). Technology has played a significant role in the development of deconstuct ivist architectural methodologies. Architects such as Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain used computer modeling to develop its angular, anthropomorphic exterior. Made mostly of titanium, the museum was designed to represent the industrial heritage of the citys past. The museum was an international success and helped put Bilbao on the worlds cultural map. Philosophy A notable philosophy of the 21st century is that of the democratic community. Community in this case is defined globally. Philosophers such as American hind end Dewey believed in social planning, in conscious intelligent intervention to produce desirable social change and he proposed a new guide to tyro public action to promote the aims of a democratic community (Philosophy, 2006). Deweys writings and teachings have brought modern society to a place where it considers that it is only as pissed as its individual members and their willingness to work to gravelher to evolve and to meet the ch allenges facing it.Technological advancements in travel and communication alone have created a new world where anyone can send anything just about anywhere in a matter of minutes, days, or hours including explosives and disease. In addition to diseases like HIV and the wench Flu, this world community is faced with issues of severe weather such as killer tsunamis and hurricanes, and world terrorism. Modern philosophies like that of Dewey support the more pragmatic place and approach to solutions to societal issues of this type as the only way to successfully meet them is as a community.Literature Like many of the arts in contemporary society, literature is plagued by commercialism and by the desire for a quick paycheck. Contemporary literature features a great deal of writings about true events the more sensational and graphic the better. In addition, it features a trend in crime study and investigation, beyond that of the mystery and private eye novels of the past. Todays novels get into the science and methodology of solving violent crimes. Authors like James Patterson, Sue Grafton and John Grisham have enjoyed great popularity.Their success can be attributed to many things. The heart and subject matter of these authors works feeds societys desensitization to extreme violence and its increasing demand for subject matter that is more violent and more shocking in order to be more compelling. Further, several of these authors stories have been made into movies. The humanities are distinguished by their examination of the aspects of culture and the human condition through the eyes of the humans who experience and create them.The approach to their study differs from that of others areas of study, as does their focus on the reflection on human meaning and purpose. 21st century humanities continue to reinforce the idea that current culture and the human condition is reflected in them, no matter what century. References Art Criticism. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Br itannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium servicing http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-236417 Art and Art Exhibitions. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop?dia Britannica Premium Service http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-234830 Contemporary Art. (2006). Retrieved June 3, 2006 from http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Contemporary_art Deconstruction. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-9029711 Humanities. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 3, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-9041479 Kuspit, D. (2005). The End of Art.Cambridge University Press. Marcel Duchamp. (2006). Retrived June 3, 2006 from http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp Philosophy, muniment of. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop ? dia Britannica Premium Service http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-8876 Talk Humanities, (2006). Retrieved June 4, 2006 from http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/TalkHumanities World Music. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service http//www. britannica. com/eb/article-93180.