Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The importance of learning history
Importance of the study of history
Importance of Anthropology
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The importance of learning history
As I sit down to write about why I have chosen to study history for the past six years of my life and anthropology and sociology for the past three I find myself with a desire to continue my studies and I asked myself this huge, impossible question, why? It is the idea of the question that leads me to believe my reason for studying in the past, present, and future, is my drive to ask questions about what is now, what was, and what will be, and the biggest question of these is the why. Why were things the way they were and how they are now. We live in a world of science, we have a desire to explain everything with an exact answer, a definite right or wrong, a definite way things were or things should be. Humanities undermine this idea. It allows one to open their mind to a never ending world of opinions, beliefs, and truths and explore the ideal of cultural understanding and communication. By studying humanities, particularly the area of Black Culture and African Diaspora, I can be a part of the revolution that holds all peoples thoughts, beliefs, and ways of life, at the highest rega...
Stewart’s essay “The Field and Function of Black Studies”, he implies that black history is dominated by continuing challenges by its critics and the weak attachment of many scholars to the black studies movement and to black studies units even when the research of such scholars examines the black experience (pg. 45). Statistics show that 70.2 percent indicated that the number of full-time faculty members who have appointments outside black studies and another academic units is stable, proving the fact that black studies has established a beachhead in higher education. This statistic demonstrates how things have been stable in terms of growing the teachings of black studies, which causes challenges. A challenge that can be seen from this issue, is the lack of financial support available to faculty and students. Small budgets are provided to Black Study departments at many universities, therefore, making it difficult to purchase materials and hire more educated, experienced staff
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
It’s truly fascinating how there are so many different approaches to history, how so many different types of minds and schools of thought can come together to study the events of the world’s past. There are so many ways to approach what happened in our past, and the groups of historians previously mentioned are only a fraction of the actual number of different ways of researching and thinking that exists as it pertains to the study of history. History is in some ways, always a mystery, and all historians, regardless of schooling, training or biases, seek to accomplish one goal: to understand what occurred before us and why, and to use that knowledge to learn how the world was shaped into the world we live in today.
Sayre, Henry M. Discovering the Humanities: Culture, Continuity & Change. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
Before we can talk about humanities, we must first define the word “Humanities”. Humanities are the investigation of human beings and their culture and their self-expression. We are going to discuss how humanities reflect changing concepts of nature and human beings in different historical periods. Human beings in today’s society are not aware of the history of people. In just about every area that we participate in on a daily basis, the humanities of our ancestors contributed to that area. The reason we study the different parts of the humanities is to get a better understanding of where human beings have been and where we need to go. The more we study the further we can go and improve the future based off the past.
Humanities is defined as the study of processing and documenting human achievements and failures in culture, art works, literature, history, philosophy, language, and religion. A course such as Humanities 1301 has great value in the cultural norm. People living in the
Imagine this; the year is 1836. You are a 17-year-old student interested in learning more about the world around you; however, such an opportunity won’t come your way because you are black. Due to this fact you have no hope of furthering your education past the reading, writing, and arithmetic their slave masters taught your parents. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The minds of many African American’s go to waste due to individual ignorance of their people and thus of themselves. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were put into effect to educate the black mind and eliminate the ignorance. The discussion of whether Historically Black Colleges and Universities are still necessary in the 21st century has taken place in recent years. Within the discussion many debate that due to the fact that the world is no longer like it was in the 1800’s, the time period in which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created, the purpose of them no longer exists. However, the cultural significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities seems to be overlooked by those who argue their importance and relevance in a time where blacks have the option of attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The purpose and grounds on which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were developed are still being served. The need to increase efforts to not only rouse, but support Historically Black Colleges and Universities is necessary now more than ever in order to preserve our past, fulfill the purpose of our present, and ensure our future.
The core principle of history is primary factor of African-American Studies. History is the struggle and record of humans in the process of humanizing the world i.e. shaping it in their own image and interests (Karenga, 70). By studying history in African-American Studies, history is allowed to be reconstructed. Reconstruction is vital, for over time, African-American history has been misleading. Similarly, the reconstruction of African-American history demands intervention not only in the academic process to rede...
Of the liberal arts, history is needed for students to study conflicts in order to learn how to and how not to solve problems in order to prevent future strifes. History also helps abolish superiority myths, and create unity by demonstrating
Humanities helps us create a better understanding of the world we currently live in and its events. For example: If John Wilkes Booth, wouldn’t have killed Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president after the civil war, Daniel Chester French wouldn’t have sculpted the famous statue of Abraham Lincoln in 1920 where he is sitting inside the Lincoln memorial and the Piccirilli Brothers wouldn’t have carved it. This example is both an example of politics and art in humanities. As a culture tend to idolize ‘heroes’ when they’re already dead and even build statues of them, especially if they were a celebrity, or in political
members of the government should help increase funding for afterschool programs. Students need after school activities. They are helpful to children developing. After school activities are beneficial to students' achievements because they can help children gain skills to do better academically, provides alternatives for getting into bad things, and gives structured time to work on social skills with peers.
Sociology is the complex study of the development, structure, and function of human society. Unlike many of the other social sciences, the study of Sociology utilizes impersonal empirical and critical analysis to develop an understanding of human social interactions. Through distinguishable methods from notable sociologists such as C. Wright Mills- whose concept The Sociological Imagination, known as, “...the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society,” is used when trying to theorize the dynamics of a society. Many modern societal issues are approached using this method; one that has been questioned for more than half a century focals around unemployment rates within two specific ethnic groups.The Bureau of Labor reports that African-American men aged twenty and older have a national unemployment rate that nearly doubles that of white male counterparts, staggering at 12% in comparison to the latter 5.5%. When juxtaposing these vastly different statistics one must perceive the issue whilst withholding their own personal experiences ultimately stepping inside the Sociological Imagination. When viewing societal issues within this mindset, one must separate themselves from their own rituals and perceptions in exchange for the ability to perceive things on a more grandiose scale-unveiling mechanisms operating within economical, political, judicial, religious, academic, and domestic institutions. Within these institutions lie race and gender relations; dynamics that comprise our society. Racial discrimination within all of the social institutions, also seen within The Bureau of Labors qualitative findings, is still very much present. Let us work our way up from the most basic to the most complex instit...
Many believe that whatever situations have happened in the past should be left in the past. To others, the past holds a special place in their hearts because it has helped in shaping the person they have become today. One should always appreciate his or her ancestors and the struggles they have gone through throughout history such as slavery in order to bring us to where we are today. Though negativity can affect past experiences one should not dwell on it, but learn to move forward and look for the positive aspects of life. Without the past there wouldn’t be any great myths, any personal memories, and nothing for our future generations to learn from. Past experiences also helps people to learn from their mistakes in the past so they will know not to repeat them. One should also remember the good memories that the past has brought forth and should learn to appreciate them and the people who helped us to gain them. (Maya Angelou, author of the excerpt “Mary”, Zora Neal Hurston, author of the essay “How it feels to be colored me”, Gwendolyn Brooks, author of the poems “Sadie and Maud” along with “We Real Cool”, and Annie Proloux, author of the essay “The half Skinned Steer”, proves that through past experiences, whether negative or positive, the memories or struggles that people have encountered influences the way that people live their lives in the future and helps in shaping the individuals identity.)
When I look at people, I think of their culture and background regarding the humanity. I do not hear the word often but there are words that relate to the meaning of humanities. For example, art and literature remind me of this word along with the word human. Learning this information from the text that was required in this course makes me want to teach people about this word and the meaning behind it. This course was interesting I did not think of this word meaning more than just human. The disciplines like art, literature, and philosophy became known as the humanities. (Janaro 2012) This word has affected me as a person to take one-step back and look into a word when I am not sure on the meaning. The book defines the word humanities in a way that helps the reader had better understand the meaning. The meaning of humanities defined in the text, “Once limited to “the best products of the best minds,” narrowly defined as Greek or Roman, but later expanded to include Western European achievements and, more recently, the creative expressions of men and women around the world.” (Janaro 2012) This definition defines everyone and the art that involves the human. Humanity is all around me and I see this now that I understand what the word is defined as. The study of humanities is to help people see that
The Western Humanities covers a broad scope within the world as me know it today. Many of the influences and inspirations that many claim to motivate them to make continuous advancements are from a basis of our past. Whether it is art, literature or social movements we as a civilization must always look at our past as a blueprint. Our history is our blueprint for life. I think the purpose of studying the Western Humanities is to take a look at our past. No matter what race color or religion a majority of our countries’ people are a descendent of the Western world. Its almost like looking as a very large family tree and learning about it. There are many reasons that can be put together to define the actual meaning of humanities. Western Humanities, to me, can be found within the fine arts, geographical distribution, and religious influences. Overall, these factors have come together to give everyone across the world their history, known as humanities.