Few things in life are as enjoyable as reading a good book, watching a great film, or listening to a beautiful piece of music. Yet rarely do we consider such pleasures as experiencing “the humanities” – that is, the acquisition of knowledge, the encouragement of creativity and critical thinking, and the spark of imagination that make us feel more alive and human. In these ways, and others, the humanities have tangible and direct impacts in our lives.
The Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center’s 2021-2022 symposium features events and programs exploring the ways humanistic inquiry, and education in humanities disciplines, shape our lived environment. Whether it’s English majors applying their writing skills to communicate professionally, history majors harnessing their knowledge of how to analyze documents, or philosophy majors using ethical reasoning in a variety of diverse careers, the humanities provide students with the tools they need to develop their professional careers while becoming active and engaged citizens.
Too often we take the humanities for granted, treating them almost as though they’re atmospheric. “Humanities: Impact in Real Life” will make the influence of the humanities visible to audiences on our campus, and in our community, in academic year 2021-2022.