Voices For the Humanities

4Humanities is a platform for people from different parts of society and the world to give voice to the enduring and contemporary importance of the humanities. Why study and creative expression in such areas as literature, history, languages, philosophy, classics, art history, cultural studies, and others (see “What Are the Humanities?”) so valuable to individuals and societies? The voices gathered here say why.

* 4Humanities seeks out both original and reposted statements about the humanities from people in business, the sciences, entertainment, universities, high schools, and other sectors. We also report on significant developments and initiatives related to the humanities.

* Listen to the voices in our sections on “Advocacy Statements & Campaigns,” “The Changing Humanities,” “Student Voices,” and “International Correspondents.”

* Also listen to the voices gathered in our special projects “Humanities, Plain & Simple” and “Backpack Mini-documentaries.”

For those wishing to consult resources in framing their own statement for the humanities, 4Humanities offers a “Guide to Issues in Humanities Advocacy” and its “The Humanities Matter!” infographic.

Infographics Friday: Students in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in the UK

This is the first installment of our new series, Infographics Friday, in which we will be publishing a different infographic showing the value of the humanities each Friday. This week’s infographic is taken from a 2010 report by the British Academy entitled, “Past, Present and Future: The Public Value of the Humanities and Social Sciences.” […]

Confronting the Criticisms: A Survey of Attacks on the Humanities

The task of defending the relevancy of the humanities relies significantly upon succinctly and creatively responding to critiques made against them. This article attempts to summarize a fair number of view points critiquing the humanities, with the goal of providing a sort of partial overview of arguments that are appearing in the ongoing debate.

Webinar: James Lerman, “Futurecasting Higher Education’s Ecosystem: How Do I Fit In?” (October 15, 2012)

The Kean University Faculty Seminar on “The Global Crisis and Promise of Higher Education” (organized in partnership with 4Humanities) will run its second Webinar of the year on October 15, 2012, featuring James Lerman on “Futurecasting Higher Education’s Ecosystem: How Do I  Fit In?”  (See publicity flyer.)  The Webinar will meet 3:20-4:30 pm, Eastern Time […]

Robert N. Watson, “Valuing the Humanities”

Many humanities professors — particularly those bludgeoned into submission by service on crisis-in-the-humanities committees — have been insisting lately that we need to become more technological and careerist because the public no longer values what we offer. But the facts suggest otherwise; and the discrepancy is revealing. What humanities scholars need to do is break […]

Conference Sketchbook: Showing the Arts and Humanities Matter

This image is from Lucy Lyons’ sketchbook of the recent “Showing the Arts and Humanities Matter” conference at University College London. Lyons, as the event’s Artist-In-Residence, has drawn a series of sketches of speakers and delegates from the event. The full sketchbook can be found on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucylyons/sets/72157631588021055/with/8008839023/.

#libroelectrónico: Lo que nos dicen los tweets sobre el simposio

El segundo simposio internacional “El libro electrónico en español” se llevó a cabo en la ciudad de México del 11 al 14 de septiembre de 2012. Se transmitió en vivo por Internet y la discusión en Twitter tuvo lugar a través de las etiquetas (hashtags) #libroelectronico y #libroelectrónico.