The first thought that comes to my mind when I think of humanities is human. To most the study of humanities is a type of study of art. But to me humanities is not only the study and survey of art, but also the study of all arts as it relates to society and humanity. In my opinion humanities is a type of social science that compares human interactions and their effects on the world, past, present, and future. I believe humanities is the study of the human race as a whole, human nature and being human. As humans we live a complex life full of complications and our characteristics are reflective of the life we live. I also believe that through technological advancements we are being dehumanized and becoming less involved in actually being human. After all it is the human experience that shapes and molds the person we become.
When I think of art I don’t just think of pictures in a museum, paintings on a wall, or sculptures. For me art is a self-expression of one’s creativity and imagination based on human feelings, interactions, heritage, beliefs and experiences. Art can reveal your deepest secrets and your happiest moments. It can show the world what you are most proud of and what makes you afraid. It translates purpose and emotion to reveal inner truth, connected to life experiences. Yet and still, another person can view it in a totally different way. But that is how society works; It is a mixture of human experiences that are unique and different, yet relatable and inspiring at the same time. Art communicates a feeling that draws on human curiosity to know more. I feel like artist and communicate their thoughts and feelings without ever coming out and just saying how they fee. Like a symphony that can show a blind man all the colors of the rainbow, or a painting that can teach a deaf man how to listen. Art has the power to not only captivate and awe, but also to educate in a non-conforming personal way.
I believe that your history and heritage play a large role in the person you become and how you view the world, and in turn plays a part into what you put out into the world. Your history and upbringing can influence your behavior in multiple ways. You can either conform to the way of life you are accustomed to or you can stray away from that lifestyle you were raised in and create your own way of life. Your history helps to mold the way you view society. Humanities allows for people to understand other cultures and beliefs through social cohesion, regardless of their own history. I feel that the more you study and learn about humanities the more likely you are to be more accepting of others and their way of life, opinions, and culture, even if its not something you believe in. It allows us all to see the bigger picture in a way that we can work together toward a common goal. When I learn about different social stigmas, I am less quick to judge and more open to learn why people feel the way they do, and work toward a solution. I ultimately believe that no matter where you come from or your heritage we all have the ability to change our thought process and become more accepting of the things we do not understand. Just because something has always been seen or done a certain way does not mean that it is right and learned behavior can always be unlearned. As a member of the most important race, the human race, we owe it to ourselves to change the way we see the world based off upbringing or social status and just see each other as human. Being different is part of being human, it’s what makes us unique.
Humans lead a very complicated life. From trying to fit in with societies standard, trying to live up to family expectations, or just trying to make a way through life without going crazy, life is tough, and it takes determination and grit to succeed. Technology makes it seem like life is easy. You see the lives of the rich and famous on tv, and I feel people are more consumed with living through the lives of those they see than living life themselves. It is easy to sit home and close yourself off from society because you don’t fit in with the standards that are put in place. The hard part is getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing something you’ve never done before or setting a goal and putting forth a commitment to complete it. I feel that a large part of society is not making the most of their life and are allowing the limited time we have on this earth to pass them by. I love meeting new people, trying different things, and living outside the box that society has put in place for me. I feel like humanities can explore the different ways that we see ourselves and what we can do to make a bigger impact in our own lives. I think through the different forms of social sciences and art that we are able to view the lives of others in relation to our own and realize that there are struggles, heartbreaks, joy, and anger in all of us. It takes for us to realize that in life we really can take a complicated situation and through not only our own experiences, but those of others we interact with, we can learn and push through.
For me humanities is about the human experience in all walks of life; being human and exhibiting human behavior. Attributes such as compassion, kindness, tolerance, mercy, generosity, consideration, and sympathy to me are the things that build character. Humanities is about character and moral qualities combined in a way that keeps us all connected as humans.
