The Liberal Arts and the Fate of American Democracy

In the democracy of ancient Athens and the republic of ancient Rome, freedom was only for the few. Slaves, servants, and women had to toil so that free men could cultivate their minds, participate in the government, and enjoy the highest goods of human life—in short, so they could learn and practice the liberal arts.

“DH is as DH does”: THATcamp at San Diego State University

Last weekend I attended my first THATcamp at San Diego State University. If you have not been to a THATcamp before, imagine a free-form, partly spontaneous and hugely well-organized “unconference” powered by the digital humanities community. Attendees get to vote on workshop ideas with colorful post-it notes.

Donna Davenport and Katherine Walker / NY6 Think Tank, “A Duet from the Humanities: Music and Dance Voices”

With Donna dancing and Katherine making music, the following duet presents a bi-disciplinary reflection on the complexity of the performing arts in higher education and their connection to the Humanities as a way of thinking, studying, and experiencing the world. But first we take a peek backstage. STAGE PREP As if art were ice cream, […]

NY6Think Tank Leaders to Meet on Friday, Oct. 17th, 2014

The NY6Think Tank Leaders—Katherine Walker (Hobart and William Smith), Michael Arnush and Janet Sorensen (Skidmore), Georgia Frank (Colgate), Mary Jane Smith (St. Lawrence), Brent Plate and Barbara Gold (Hamilton) and Christine Henseler (Union)–will be gathering for a 3-hour meeting on Friday, October 17th, at the beautiful, Union College owned Adirondack Center. Their goal is to […]

Katherine Walker / NY6Think Tank, On Being a “Growing-Up,” or Why We Need the Humanities

« A Humanities, Plain & Simple Post » In the beginning, we are all very small. But we grow—-perpetually, imperceptibly—-and as we grow, our world grows with us. Little by little it grows to include grandma, dirt, chocolate, playgrounds, friends, two-wheelers, books and movies, and on and on until we reach adulthood. Should it stop […]