submitted by:
CAÑOZA, SAFIYA RUTH A.
BSED ENGLISH 1 – HUM 1
submitted to:
MR. ARMANDO CINCO
WHAT IS HUMANITIES?
Humanities is the study of the various cultural dimensions of man, his weaknesses
and difficulties in life, and how his quality of life could well be raised. It may first appear
overwhelming to study humans and the implications surrounding us, speaking as a former
student who did Humanities and Social Science in my senior high school years. However,
as I dove into the study of humanities, I discovered how it can be enlightening and
enjoyable, especially when we seek to comprehend what is beneath it. As someone who
self-studies the human mind and psychological characteristics of people, I find it fascinating
to see and grasp how many variables may contribute to an individual and how it makes him
remarkably distinct.
The word humanities derived from the Latin humanus, which means human,
cultured and refined. This reminds me of a Filipino proverb: “Madaling maging tao, pero
mahirap magpakatao.” Indeed, we are constantly tested, conditioned, and honed by
society, natural phenomena, daily obstacles, and many other factors. But, as tedious as it
is to live, it defines us as human beings, teaching us how to acquire the qualities we need
to exist. We learn to think rationally, talk responsibly, love unconditionally, and be as human
as we possibly can.
Depending on the historical field being studied, the term "Humanities" has different
implications, therefore, humanities cannot be confined to a single philosophical stance.
Humanities are presently known as a relatively broad range of cultural subject areas. It is
not only limited to a set of scientific or technical disciplines, but it also applies to the arts,
including the visual arts such as architecture, painting, and sculpture, as well as music,
dance, theater, or drama, and literature. These areas of study focuses with human
cognition, emotions, and relationships. I find it fascinating to see how the worth of the
human person and his feelings, as well as how he expresses those feelings, have long
been topics of study in the humanities.
Why do the humanities matter? For starters, it provides us with insight into
everything. Advanced science and technology have taken over many facets of our life since
the birth of the computer era. It is nearly impossible to be ignorant about the history of some
things. Given this advantage, it offers new doors and outlets for us to study the humanities,
stay current, think creatively and critically, reason, and ask questions that lead to new skills,
unique ideas and collective societal improvement.
Second, humanities let us view and comprehend our reality through the lens of
everyone and everything around us, not just our own. The human experiences of others
enable us to better comprehend our reality and fill in the gaps that we and others have.
Humanities is a collaborative approach in which we learn about the values of other cultures,
what goes into creating a work of art, and how history is formed through the developing work
of humanities scholars. Their efforts preserve the significant achievements of the past, help
us in understanding the world we live in, and provide us with resources to envision the
future.
Speaking of the future. Last but not least, humanities illuminate the future. Humane
knowledge is the suitable framework for studying and comprehending the human
experience today. Diving deep into a Psychology topic helps increase your mental health
and social awareness. Learning another language allows you to better understand and
appreciate the similarities and contrasts across civilizations. Studying an artist's art style
may help you discover more about the artist and how his creative decisions influence the
creation of his masterpieces. Listening to a musician to discover how he conveys his beliefs,
ideals, and concepts in a lyrical way. Purchasing and reading a book from a different genre
may be eye-opening and help you study numerous issues, peeking back into the past while
also presenting you with a clearer view of the future.
The study of the humanities is meant to help students realize that knowledge is
meaningless unless used to worthwhile objectives. Knowledge alone is meaningless
without the values, feelings, interests, ideas, and quality relationships being formed and
expressed. The exposure of learners to the humanities contributes in the development of
their actual self, which is the main purpose of modern education.
COMPONENTS OF
THE HUMANITIES
Humanities is a broad subject including many dimensions. While the specific
definition of the humanities is debatable, the following disciplines are widely acknowledged
to form its core:
Philosophy. The study of universal and basic questions such as life, knowledge,
truth, beauty, law, justice, validity, mind, and language is known as philosophy. Because of
its critical, often systematic approach and emphasis on rational reasoning, it is defined as
a love of truth, wisdom, and intellect.
When someone asks and seeks answers to questions such as "Who am I?" and
"What happened to me?" “What is the point of living?” “What can I do to remain a
contributing and accountable member of society?” Man is seeking to have a better
understanding about himself as a human being. He therefore looks for knowledge and the
truth. This is the conceptual approach for achieving humanities' ultimate goal, which is to
improve the human condition.
Psychology. Psychology is the scientific study of a person's behavioral traits in
connection to their social and physical surroundings, including their mental processes and
functions. As a science, it obtains information by carefully observing, measuring, and
experimenting with phenomena. It also qualifies as an art as it fosters the development of
problem-solving abilities using scientific information.
Psychology, being the branch of science that investigates man's cognitive
processes, is constantly concerned with human ideas, feelings, and emotions. Furthermore,
it aims to understand the elements that influence human behavior and how he exhibits
different emotions.
Sociology. Sociology is the study of human social behavior, with a focus on how
societies came to be, how they are organized, how they evolve, and how they change
through time. Its principal interest concentrates on how people engage with other individuals
within his community area.
History. History is the study of the past, with a focus on the historical records that
have been recorded in writing. It is a branch of study that use narrative to assess and
evaluate the progression of events. It generally aims to investigate rationally the causes
and effects associated with the classification of human beings into different types of social
life.
Archeology. Archeology is the scientific study of historical human culture and
behavior, beginning with the origins of people and continuing to the present. Archeology
investigates historical human activity by examining the tangible remnants of former human
communities.
These remnants include human fossils (preserved bones), food remains, building
ruins, and human artifacts (things such as tools, ceramics, and jewelry). Archaeologists
use their research to try to restore historical civilizations.
Archaeologists study previous cultures and the changes that occurred within the
society over exceptionally long periods of time. The archaeologists may learn things like
how the usage of a new pottery style or kind of weapon spread over time from one place
to another by using the chronological data that they collect. By analyzing this information
for several related archaeological sites, archaeologists assemble long sequences of past
human cultures.
Being the study of arts, humanities consist of the visual arts, literature, drama and
theater, music and dance.
Many philosophers and self-proclaimed philosophers today, have argued, that art
serves no function, that it exists for its own sake, and that art cannot generate finances. In
fact, several Filipino artists like Jose Garcia Villa, shared in this belief. On the other hand,
some have asserted that there is something about the essence of art that transcends the
human occupation with usefulness. I have once read a book that shared its view regarding
art through a highlight-worthy quote, which says, “True art, real art, needs no explanation.
There’s no epilogue at the end of a novel telling you what the story was supposed to mean.
No commentary at the end of a symphony explaining what the composer was trying to
communicate with those specific notes. No footnotes clarifying the meaning of poems—at
least not any that are worth reading. Art either stands on its own or it does not. As soon as
it needs to be explained, it ceases to be art.” These may be valid points of view. However,
in order to understand and appreciate art better, it may be helpful to ask why was it created,
and what was its purpose.
Throughout its history, art has served a wide range of purposes, making it
challenging to highlight or reduce them down to a single, clear idea. This doesn't mean that
the art's intention is "vague," but rather that it was made with a range of clear, varied
objectives in mind. Lévi-Strauss asserts that the diverse purposes of art may be divided
into those that are unmotivated and those that are motivated.
Non-motivated Functions of Art
Non-motivated artistic purposes are those that are essential to being human,
beyond the person, or do not serve a specific external aim. With this view, creativity as
expressed in art is unique to humans (— in other words, no other species creates art), and
as such, it is not useful.
1. Basic human instinct for harmony, balance, rhythm. At this level, art is an internal
awareness of balance and harmony, and therefore, a part of being human that goes
beyond function.
2. Experience of the mysterious. Art allows one to feel oneself in connection to the
entire universe. As one values poetry, art, and music, this experience may
frequently come to them without any particular reason.
3. Expression of the imagination. Through art, one may demonstrate their creative
abilities in a way that is independent of grammatical rules and other linguistic
conventions. A multitude of shapes, symbols, and thoughts are presented through
art, as opposed to words, which are spoken in sequences and each have a distinct
meaning.
4. Ritualistic and symbolic functions. Many cultures include art as an ornament or a
symbolic element into rituals, performances, and dances. Anthropologists are
aware that although they generally have some form of symbolic significance within
a given culture, they typically serve no obvious practical use. Instead of being the
result of a single person, its significance is often the result of several decades of
development and a cosmic relationship within the community.
Motivated Functions of Art
Motivated purposes in art relate to the artist's or creator's purposeful, deliberate
acts. These may be to promote political reform, to raise their voice on a social issue, to
transmit a certain feeling or mood, to explore personal psyche, to highlight another subject,
to advertise a product, or perhaps to communicate.
1. Communication. Art can be best described as a tool for communication. As most
forms of communication are directed at another person, this is a motivated reason.
One example of art serving as communication is medical illustration. Graphs are
another illustration. However, the content need not be of a specific concept. Art may
also express feelings, opinions, and moods.
2. Art as entertainment. For the purposes of comforting or entertaining the audience,
art may aim to stimulate a particular mood or atmosphere. This is mostly the
business of the video game industry and motion picture companies like Disney and
Pixar.
3. The Avante-Garde. Art for political change. Using visual representations to
promote political change has been one of the distinguishing characteristics of early
twentieth-century art. The avant-garde arts are a general term for art movements
that have this objective, including Dadaism, Surrealism, Russian constructivism,
and Abstract Expression.
4. Art as a “free zone,” is protected from societal criticism. Contemporary art has
improved its tolerance towards cultural differences as well as its critical and
liberating functions (social inquiry, activism, subversion, deconstruction...),
becoming a more open space for experimentation and studies. This contrasts with
avant-garde movements, which sought to erase cultural differences in order to
produce new universal values.
5. Art for social inquiry, subversion, and/or anarchy. Provocative art, while
comparable to art for democratic reforms, may aim to challenge societal norms
without a clear political agenda. In this situation, the purpose of art can be limited
to criticizing a certain feature of society. Graffiti art and other forms of street art are
written, drawn, or painted designs that are typically done without permission on
walls, bridges, buses, trains, or other publicly accessible surfaces. Graffiti is one
example of a type of art that may be prohibited if it violates the law—in this case—
vandalism.
6. Art for social causes. A broad range of causes may be brought to public attention
through the use of art. A variety of art projects were designed to spread awareness
of issues including autism, cancer, human trafficking, ocean conservation, human
rights, domestic abuse, climate change, and pollution. One example of utilizing art
to raise awareness about pollution are the beauty pageants advocating for mother
nature wherein the candidates promote "trashion," or the use of trash to create
clothing. I also remember the news about a group of artists, engineers, and
environmentalists who have come up with a way to get rid of acid mine drainage
or AMD leaking from abandoned mines and turn them into recycled and
sustainable paint.
7. Art for psychological and healing purposes. Psychotherapists, clinical
psychologists, and art therapists may utilize art as a kind of treatment. One tool
used to assess a patient's personality and emotional state is the Diagnostic
Drawing Series. In this situation, the process of healing using creative activities is
sought for, not the finished result. In addition to providing insight into the subject's
concerns, the finished piece of art could also propose appropriate strategies to be
applied in more traditional types of mental therapy.
8. Art for propaganda or commercialism. Art may be used to discreetly manipulate
public perceptions or emotions given that it is frequently employed as a
propaganda tool. Similar to this, art that aims to promote a product likewise affects
attitude and feeling. In both instances, the purpose of the art is to carefully
influence the audience into having a certain emotional or psychological reaction to
a specific concept or object.
9. Art as a fitness indicator. Some people believe that the human brain's capabilities
greatly surpass what was required for life in the prehistoric environment. One
reason for this is that the human brain and attributes connected to it—such
as artistic talent and creativity—resemble the peacock's tail of the human species.
It has been suggested that the male peacock's showy tail serves as a means of
seducing females. Superior artistic performance, according to this hypothesis, was
crucial for evolution because it attracted mates.
ROLE OF HUMANITIES
IN MAN’S LIFE
The study of humanities is crucial if one wants to acquire the information necessary
to gain the status of a civilized man because humanities can influence the kind of behavior
that is regarded proper to an individual. One definition of a civilized man is someone who
is knowledgeable about the humanities, philosophy, and language. It drives us as we work
for our objectives in life.
Our cherished traditions are passed down from generation to generation thanks to
the humanities. The humanities take into account the perspectives of many generations
and communicate them through history, literature, philosophy, ethics, religion, languages,
archaeology, and all the other branches of knowledge and culture that contribute to the
historical record of human activity.
Humanities have useful applications in daily life. They allow people and cultures to
experiment with ideas or responses and evaluate the outcomes. The humanities provide a
foundation for conceptualizing the potential of new ideas on our society, politics, and
everyday lives, both good and bad. They serve individuals by helping them in anticipating
and preparing for life's uncertainties and difficulties as well as by providing support when
such issues do occur. We can make more informed judgments thanks to the humanities.
The humanities help us think big and understand much. Humanities serves as an
eye-opener that helps us expand our limits. It helps us explore what it is to be human and
how can we understand the world we are living in. It pushes us to be the excellent versions
of ourselves while assuring us that we are not alone.
