Dear Mr. Gutting,
I recently read your essay, ‘The Real Humanities Crisis’ with interest. It revealed to me not only the consequences of an economic society that does not value humanities but also highlighted their importance. I thought a long time about whether humanists are able to make an excellent living because they do what they love, even with poor pay. However, no matter how long I thought about it my answer remains the same as what it was when I first read the opening paragraph of the essay: They are indeed leading a life of consummate happiness. I believe they should never give up on their dreams as humanists because society does not value them. Furthermore I think that people should change their negative perspective on majoring in humanities.
You raise a point that ‘even highly gifted and relatively successful writers, artists, and musicians generally are not able to earn a living from their talents’. My initial thought was to disagree. However, I realized that most people immediately agree that doctors, lawyers and economists provide essential services to the community as they create practical structures in society. On the other hand, no single Korean parent I know, wanted their children to be an artist or a musician, claiming that those jobs have poor salary. They therefore deem that arts and music are rather ‘unnecessary’ in a money-hungry society. Thus I fully understand this crisis, ‘only 8 percent of undergraduates major in humanities’. Most people, who dream to study humanities, often give up. For example, I personally have thought about being an artist, something I love and have serious academic interests in. I however had to give up because of the money issue. In addition to this, when I tell people that I wi...
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...e a living, and you do arts, which you love. Also imagine you live in a luxurious apartment and have a job of an executive job for a major company but you hate that job. Would you rather choose to be an executive and do work you hate every day? Just because it is a secure path provided with staples of comfortable living high-salaried work? No. It is very unlikely that you will feel fulfilled or truly happy with your life.
As you suggested that ‘fair treatment for writers and artists is an even more difficult matter’, it is indisputable that studying humanities will not always ‘provide good salaries and good working conditions’. However, if you decide to do what you love, the money will seem less relevant. I encourage humanities students to take passion to the studies. Do what you love and the enjoyment will follow.
Yours sincerely,
Su Yeon Park
As I said before, math and science are important, but the humanities are just as important, if not more. “The humanities, done right, are the crucible within which our evolving notions of what it means to be fully human are put to the test; they teach us, incrementally, endlessly, not what to do but how to be” (Slouka). This quote taken from “Dehumanized” defines and truly puts Slouka’s beliefs into the perspective of what the humanities should teach students and how they should be taught, which I agree with fully. I believe that without the humanities, we, as humans, would all be the same and there would be no room to be different from one another. Whether it be by our culture, religion, or interests, not two people are alike. Individuals should not be bred into being something that they do not want to be or even like Slouka argues, students should not be a “capital investment” for the future of the economy. Students should be investing in themselves to express who they truly are, rather than being something that the economy expects them to
As the article suggested there is an increase in the requirement of a higher education to maintain a well-paid job although, there is an “avalanche of over-qualification” (177) in the workforce. The author indirectly indicates his audience, as being academics of all ages in the university system. The author evokes emotional stimulation from his audience as he stated, “[t]here’s still a reason to get an education! It’s just not anything to do with education” (177). Further indicating a debate regarding the stance of the education system being a business rather than pleasure organization. Through playful language, the author is able to maintain the audience's interest and persuade them into solely seeing the education system as a system with bearing resemblance to the democratic system. Relying on all three rhetorical appeals, the author truly utilizes his language to convey a distinct tone and voice from his argument. Appealing to his audience, the author uses this article to inform them of a false consciousness many academics seem to have, as it is the tendency to believe and define oneself in support of the very system which oppresses them. The bases of the authors argument are to grasp the view of the majority of the scholars and push them to think the same way he does as a
In the article “The New Liberal Arts,” Sanford J. Ungar presents the argument of why liberal arts schools are still competitive and useful today. The beginning of the article immediately addresses the problem that Ungar is defending, “Hard economic times inevitably bring scrutiny of all accepted ideals and institutions, and this time around liberal-arts education has been especially hit hard.” The author provides credibility through his time of being a liberal arts presidents, applies statistics about the enrollment and job security outside of liberal college, he addresses the cost factor and how a student may find compensation, and that a liberal arts college is not preparing students for success. The article “The New Liberal Arts,” addresses
Individuals are struggling nowadays to acquire an education higher than a high school diploma. One of the main reasons for this issue could be very well the price it is to attend college. The prices have skyrocketed throughout the years. A lot of the people who attend college have to take out a “student loan,” just so they can get by. I believe one should not need to be in serious debt before they even graduate, all because they want to go out and further their education, and become successful in their life. College is a popular topic for most and Sanford J. Ungar and Charles Murray has a unique way of explaining both their opinions.
In Stanford J. Ungar’s article “The New Liberal Arts,” he claims that the misperceptions about a liberal arts degree has affected current views when it comes to seeking this particular degree. One misperception that Ungar states is that it might be too hard to find a job with a degree in this path. “It is no surprise, then, that a growing number of corporations, including some in highly technical fields, are headed by people with liberal-arts degrees.” (228). Succeeding in a specific field (liberal arts degree) can have its pro’s and con’s. Many students cannot find a job, while most have the possibilities of running a company. It is much better for college students to explore and receive a wide range of knowledge because of the many job options
Ungar, S. J. (2010). The new liberal arts. In G. Graff, C. Birkenstein, & R. Durst (Eds.). “They say, I say”: The moves that matter in academic writing with readings. (2nd ed.). (pp. 190-197). New York: W. W. Norton. This article looks to prove that liberal arts education is just as valuable as “career education” because contrary to general belief, career education doesn’t guarantee high-paying jobs after they graduate.
One thing that many people do not appreciate is how beneficial fine arts can be to academic success. All fine arts ...
In conclusion, Mark Shiffman wrongly holds fear responsible for the decrease in students studying the humanities. Students today pursue more practical fields of study because the interests of human beings are ever-changing, prioritizing one’s passions is more difficult than determining their objective strengths, and one should focus on their various callings in society rather than striving solely
Michael S. Roth, “Why liberal arts matter”. CNN. CNN. 21 May 2011. Web. 05 March 2014.
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Charles Bukowski once said in one of his letters “Find what you love, and let it kill you.” I strongly disagree with that. As a matter of fact, the greatest pleasure in life is being able to recognize what we really love and get to know how to live with it. Passions and dreams are what identifies our existence. If we were able to find them and concentrate on fulfilling them, we would realize that they are the only things that are worth living for. For instance, we probably can notice how an artist is always happier than an employee. Two persons: One devotes himself to his art and passion, takes each day as a new opportunity to make his talent more perfect than the day before. And the other one who wears ea...
Renaissance humanists shared a common philosophical core. Humanists were characterized by their interest in grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, and philosophy from the fifteenth century onward. The most mainstream humanist goal was the perfection of classical Latin in the art of persuasive speaking and writing as well as grammar. With this, an ideal humanist educators aimed for was that of Latin being like a native tongue to the student. Going on, passages were interpreted by Renaissance humanists with the belief that the work was a product of a living man who was part of a particular time period, whose opinions and views were connected to their biographies and histories. With all this in mind, the Renaissance humanist used the literary and historical context of a piece to interpret it. Moreover, the movement is often characterized by a widely supported interpretation of the humanist movement during t...
...y you have enthusiasm for and do well in,” is advice often given by employers. Lynn Cheney, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, agrees: “Students who follow their hearts in choosing majors will most likely end up laboring at what they love. They’re the ones who will put in the long hours and intense effort that achievement requires. And they’re the ones who will find the sense of purpose that underlies most human happiness.”
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