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.

Can you fill your sandwich with Dante? Some reflections after the Italian universities’ “reform”

By Domenico Fiormonte, University of Roma Tre, 4Humanities International Correspondent On December 14th, 2010, students from all over Italy filled the streets of major cities protesting – and, in Rome, rioting – against a new University Reform bill, the third in ten years and one that endangers the very existence of one of the largest […]

Current Athens Media Art Events

By Eva Kekou, 4Humanities International Correspondent Despite the economic crisis, a number of media art events are taking place in Athens. Creativity flourishes amidst difficult social and economic changes. It seems a crucial time of transformation is stimulating creativity and collaboration for the first time in Greece. The many events one can mention include Athens […]

The Sciences vs. Humanities: A Power Struggle

In a recent blog for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Michael Brown emphasizes that we need to think about the humanities not just as those disciplines that “specialize in expression, appreciation of qualitative aspects of life, and the promotion and expression of ‘values,’” but also as disciplines that provide crucial knowledge about our social nature. […]

Want Innovative Thinking? Hire from the Humanities

In a popular recent blog for the Harvard Business Review online, Tony Golsby-Smith emphasizes the importance of hiring innovative, creative workers with backgrounds in the humanities. As Golsby-Smith writes, many business leaders have trouble finding employees who can help them solve difficult, complex, and ambiguous problems: This is because our educational systems focus on teaching […]

Unveiling the New India

By Oeendrila Lahiri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 4Humanities International Correspondent At a time when advanced countries such as the US and UK are drastically cutting down on education funds and especially attacking humanities, India seems to have managed to keep itself in the good books of all educationists.Why, even Obama cites it as an […]