CHAPTER 1 - General Overview of the Humanities

General Overview of the Humanities

Outline of the Presentation

• Defining Humanities• The Scope of Humanities• The Importance of Humanities

Defining Humanities

• The Humanities embrace literature, languages, music, art and even history and philosophy (Charles Keller, 1963).

• The humanities are concerned with the thoughts, creations and actions of man in the past and in the present.

Defining Humanities

• It impel man to ask questions like:• Who am I?• Where have I come from? • What is the meaning of life?• What can I do to become and remain an

effective, responsible member of society?

So what exactly do the Humanities involve?

• Human• Cultured• Refined

How is this purpose achieved then?

• By studying ART.• Art shows man’s thoughts, feelings and

emotions.

Scope of Humanities

• Visual Arts• Music• Literature• Dance• Drama and Theater

So do these really portray man’s feelings, thoughts and emotions?

How are emotions shown in the visual arts?

Are feelings really portrayed in these

arts?

What emotions does this painting show?

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Music as food…

for the soul.

Do we sing for fame?

Again, how can music make man

more human?

Do we dance to…

…express our emotions?

…show how we feel?

…demonstrate our thoughts?

…portray beauty and femininity?

…strength and masculinity?

…to impress and gain RESPECT?

…to show love and

compassion

joy and happiness?

fear, sorrow or sadness?

Definitely.

So, how relevant is drama

in our everyday lives?

So, how relevant is humanities in our

everyday lives?

Life is an art.

We paint it with vibrant and rich colors or with hues of agony and despair.

We write our own music and lyrics.

We portray different roles and we become both protagonists and antagonists.

We go with the flow; we dance with life’s rhythms and beats.