Humanities Today †Define humanities and give current examples Essay

The Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines the liberal arts as Branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. (Humanities). Those branches of knowledge include philosophy, literature, languages, the arts, worship and history. The humanities realize the human position by studying the elements of culture that describe what is or was wanted and considered important at a particular point in time.15th century 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 Greek and Latin studies) that that they cerebration to be more humane and classical rather than divine (Humanities, 2006). In contrast, the physical sciences tend to examine the world and its phenomena objectively, without reference to or consideration of human meaning and purpose, a key aspect of the humanit ies.Scholars supercharge argue that the humanities are distinguished from opposite modes of study by either their contentedness matte and by the system of investigation used. One philosopher called the humanities the spiritual sciences and the human sciences (Humanities, 2006). He described 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 general laws, as the sciences do and that they focus on values within human and cultural contexts, which is chairly contrary to scientific methodologies. As described above, the humanities seek to understand the values of a people and their perceptions based on their direct expression through the arts, their language, and philosophies. Science is motivated by the desire to understand natural phenomena and dependent on empirical observation ( jaw Human ities, 2006).The 21st century brings a variety of sociable, economic, and technological changes. Following is a reflection of the humanities in the 21st century through the examination of its art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Art Is modern art in crisis? A new philosophical criticism emerged in the person of American critic Arthur Danto, who came out with the thinker 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 End of Art, author Donald Kuspit (2005) suggests that, Art has been replaced by postart, as a new visual crime syndicate that elevates the banal over the enigmatic, the scatological over the sacred, cleverness over creativity. Contemporary art, or art that is through with(p) now, is largely characterized by its indefinability. It tends to include art made from the late 1960s to the present, or after the suppose or putative end of modern art or the Modernist period (Contemporary Art, 2006).Todays art, corresponding most of the humanities, has been transformed by technological, economical, and sociological advancements. It may or may not use traditional forms such as painting or drawing, and often includes the use of any variety of materials, video, or flush performance 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 representative example is unmatched of the most talked-about sales in the contemporary market.Maurizio Cattelans The Ballad of Trotsky (1996), a stuffed horse hanging in a leather 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 ontogeny and acceptance of world 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 melanise southeastward African Musicians who controversially recorded and toured with him despite a widespread trade boycott of South Africa, selling more than five million copies since its release (World Music, 2006). Sting featured Farhat Bouallagui on his Brand impudent Day aIbum and Vicente Amigo and Anoushka Shankar on his Scared Love album. In the wake of their success, record stores became more willing to stock up music of their kind. Architecture Critics have described one trend in 21st century architecture as deconstructivist architecture.In popular usage, the term has come to mean a critical level of tradition and traditional modes of thought (Deconstruction, 2006). Technology has played a significant role in the generatement of deconstuctivist architectural methodologies. Architects such as Frank Gehry, who designed 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 supranational 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 John Dewey believed in social planning, in conscious intelligent intervention to produce desirable social change and he proposed a new guide to enlightened public action to promote 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 tho as strong as its individual members and their willingness to work together to evolve and to meet the challenges facing it. technological advancements in travel and communication alone have created a new world where anyone can transmit anything just about anywhere in a matter of minutes, days, or hours including explosives and disease. In addition to diseases analogous HIV and the Bird Flu, this world community is faced with issues of severe weather such as killer whale 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 lineament as the only way to successfully meet them is as a community.Literature Like many an(prenominal) of the arts in contemporary society, literature is plagued by commercialism and by the desire for a ready(a) paycheck. Contemporary literature features a great deal of writings about true events the more sensorial and graphic the better. In addition, it features a trend in crime study and investigation, beyond that of the mystery and toffee-nosed eye novels of the past. Todays novels ge t into the science and methodology of solving violent crimes. Authors like crowd together Patterson, Sue Grafton and John Grisham have enjoyed great popularity.Their success can be attributed to many things. The content and pendant 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, some(prenominal) 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 experience 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 whim that current culture and the human condition is reflected in them, no matter what century. References Art Criticism. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica support returns 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 of. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 20 06, 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.