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.

Andrew Prescott: Can the digital humanities help advocate for the humanities?

Posted by Alan Liu

November 14, 2010Advocacy Statements & CampaignsAlan Liu

Andrew Prescott, Professor and Director of Research at the Humanities and Advanced Technology and Information Institute, University of Glasgow, originally sent this letter to the Humanist Discussion Group on October 23, 2010. (See original archived post.) The letter, which helped inspire the creation of 4Humanities, calls for the digital humanities community to support the cause […]

Martha Piper: Building a Civil Society: A New Role for the Human Sciences

Posted by Geoffrey Rockwell

November 14, 2010Advocacy Statements & CampaignsGeoffrey Rockwell

Martha C. Piper’s 2002 Killam Lecture, Building a Civil Society: A New Role for the Human Sciences (PDF) argues that support of humanities and social science research is needed for a civil society. This lecture received significant attention in Canada, in part because it was one of the documents the Social Science and Humanities Research […]

Edmonton Journal: Tuition hikes are regressive, unfair

Posted by Geoffrey Rockwell

November 14, 2010Humanities NewsGeoffrey Rockwell

The Edmonton Journal published an opinion piece by David Robinson titled, Tuition hikes are regressive, unfair (November 13th, 2010.) Robinson, who is associated with the Canadian Association of University Teachers, tackles the view that tuition fees have no effect on enrollment. He concludes with, What we do know in Canada is that tuition fee levels […]

Inside Higher Ed: Call to Defend the Humanities

Posted by Lisa Spiro

November 12, 2010Advocacy Statements & Campaigns, Humanities Newsadvocacy, fundingLisa Spiro

According to Inside Higher Ed, Cornell’s president, David Skorton, plans to launch a campaign to promote the humanities. In making the case for enhancing funding for the NEH and NEA, Skorton argues that the humanities can foster civility, ethics, and global understanding.

Zotero Group: Sustaining Scholarship and Culture

Posted by Geoffrey Rockwell

November 12, 2010Humanities NewsGeoffrey Rockwell

A group led by Susan Brown is preparing a report on Sustaining Digital Scholarship for Sustainable Culture for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. They have been gathering a bibliography on this subject on Zotero, Sustaining Scholarship and Culture.

Boston Globe: College leaders work to increase interest in humanities – The Boston Globe

Posted by Geoffrey Rockwell

November 12, 2010Advocacy Statements & Campaigns, Humanities NewsGeoffrey Rockwell

The Boston Globe web site has a story about how “Colleges aim to revive the humanities.” The story by Tracy Jan (Nov. 8, 2010) talks about how universities like Cornell, Dartmouth and Harvard are promoting the humanities in response to cutbacks. If, because of cutbacks and lack of support from the federal government, literature and […]

Greg Crane: Rethinking the Humanities and advancing civilization in a violent world

Posted by Geoffrey Rockwell

November 12, 2010Advocacy Statements & Campaigns, Humanities NewsGeoffrey Rockwell

Greg Crane has written a short essay “Rethinking the Humanities and advancing civilization in a violent world” on the The Stoa Consortium blog. In it he argues that the humanities can help us understand the differences between “cultures that drive economic and political systems” on which we depend. It is the humanities that can help […]