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

Humanities Today Define humanistic discipline and give current examples EssayThe Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines the humanities as Branches of noesis that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. (Humanities). Those branches of knowledge include ism, literature, languages, the wiles, religion and history. The humanities examine the human status by studying the elements of culture that thread what is or was valued and considered important at a particular point in time.15th ampere-second 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 classic and Latin studies) that that they thought to be more humane and classical rather than divine (Humanities, 2006). In contrast, the animal(prenominal) sciences tend to examine the origination and its phenomena objectively, w ithout reference to or consideration of human mean and purpose, a pick out aspect of the humanities.Scholars further argue that the humanities ar distinguished from other modes of study by any their subject mater and by the method of investigation used. One philosopher called the humanities the spiritual sciences and the human sciences (Humanities, 2006). He set forth 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 frequent laws, as the sciences do and that they focus on values within human and cultural contexts, which is directly untoward to scientific methodologies. As described above, the humanities seek to understand the values of a people and their perceptions establish on their direct expression through the arts, their language, and philosophies. Science is motivated by the des ire to understand rude(a) phenomena and dependent on empirical observation (Talk Humanities, 2006).The twenty-first century brings a variety of social, economic, and technological changes. pursual is a demonstration of the humanities in the 21st century through the examination of its art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Art Is upstart art in crisis? A new philosophical noviceism 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 break off of Art, author Donald Kuspit (2005) suggests that, Art has been replaced by postart, as a new optical category that elevates the banal 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 art made from the late 1960s to the present, or afterwards the supposed or putative end of modern art or the Modernist period (Contemporary Art, 2006).Todays art, give care well-nigh of the humanities, has been transformed by technological, economical, and sociological advancements. It may or may not use traditional forms such(prenominal) as painting or dra come throughg, and often includes the use of any variety of materials, video, or even act as a part of it. One trend seems to be a focus on world issues such as cloning, the price of oil, gender and sexuality, human rights, and war. A patch upative example is one of the most talked-about sales in the contemporary market.Maurizio Cattelans The Ballad of Trotsky (1996), a stuffed horse hanging in a trounce 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 wo rld music, or music that features or originates in a different culture. American artists such as Paul Simon and Sting featured 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 save and toured with him despite a widespread trade boycott of South Africa, selling more than five billion copies since its release (World Music, 2006). Sting featured Farhat Bouallagui on his Brand New Day aIbum and Vicente Amigo and Anoushka Shankar on his Scared chicane 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 precondition has come to mean a critical dismantling of tradition and traditional modes of thought (Deconstruction, 2006). Technology has vie a significa nt role in the development of deconstuctivist architectural methodologies. Architects such as Frank Gehry, who intentional 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 tail Dewey believed in social planning, in conscious intelligent intervention to produce desired social change and he proposed a new guide to enlightened public action to set up 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(prenominal) as strong as its individual members and their wil lingness to work together to evolve and to meet the challenges facing it. expert advancements in travel and communication alone have created a new world where anyone can blame anything just about anywhere in a matter of minutes, days, or hours including explosives and disease. In addition to diseases like HIV and the Bird 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 view and approach to solutions to societal issues of this casing as the only way to successfully meet them is as a community.Literature Like legion(predicate) of the arts in contemporary society, literature is plagued by commercialism and by the desire for a lively paycheck. Contemporary literature features a great deal of writings about true events the more screaming(prenominal) and graphic the better. In addition, it features a trend in crime study and investigation, beyond that of the mystery and one-on-one 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 content 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 dumbfound 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 t hem, no matter what century. References Art Criticism. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service 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, History o f. (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.