MMW121 CRA Paper “The Humanities are Not a Luxury” PDF

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Rachel Leonard TA: Paul Tchir; Section #B08 CRA Paper: “The Humanities are Not a Luxury” MMW121: M/W 5-6:20 15 October 2018 Making the Humanities a Priority When it comes to the humanities and arts in higher education, a problematic stigma about the efficiency of the program in today's world is coming to the topic of discussion. In Martha Nell Smiths “The Humanities are Not a Luxury: A Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century”, the audience is about to distinguish the current events among the humanities community, with arguments explaining the importance of metaphors that coincide with the topic, as well as arguments and researched information to help support the humanities as a whole. Smith claims how our society is commonly misinformed about the current state of humanities and arts within higher education programs, by providing her audience evidence backed with strategies on the necessary actions and knowledge that needs to be obtained in order to be a more mindful and understanding community. Over the course of the article, Smith proposes information to better support her thesis; that “the humanities are not in crisis” (Smith 51). For example, this use of metaphors in the public's eye can have significant effect on reputation of the humanities subjects within higher education. The term “luxury” and other metaphors have shaped the humanities programs into being less desirable to students and even large corporations that tend to support universities. As we know, universities require substantial amounts of money to be able to succeed in their

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programs; evidently leaving programs aimed toward the sciences, engineering, math computer tech, having larger contributions that need to be filled (Smith 51). Smith uses quotes from other members of society being affected, for example, president of the ACLS is quoted saying that “PhD graduates [within the humanities] are unable to find academic jobs”, leaving these students without the jobs they have worked hard for (Smith 52). By showing how misunderstandings, such as reputations built on metaphors, can result in catastrophic events for the humanities and the professors and students involved, Smith suggests we refocus our attention on the importance of humanities subjects because they can be essential for our overall knowledge and well-being. Money within the business of education might seem overwhelming, yet Smith gives a historical background on our country's road to where we are today. Arguments before enabled the “revolutionaries” and “civil rights movements” to take blame in the system used to maintain our public universities; yet Smith accuses the entirety of our society for allowing business and money hungry corporations to innovate their own purpose among American public universities (Smith 52). Basically, are large business benefiting from the funding that they give to universities, because of its aim towards certain areas of education? Are corporations able to manipulate students’ passions in education for their own personal vendetta? The combination of claims and evidence defending the interest of the humanities, Smith reveals five solutions towards bettering the current state at hand. By stopping the misuse of metaphors that make humanities seem undesirable, proving how these subjects can be beneficial in multiple subjects, by cultivating the humanities and jobs more efficiently, by being accepting and of the work done by those in the humanities and to reconsider the downright global capabilities that come from being properly education within the humanities (Smith 53-54).

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Works Cited 1. Smith, Martha Nell. “The Humanities are Not a Luxury: A Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century.” Liberal Education 102.3 (Winter 2011). 48-55. ERIC. Web. 19 Nov. 2016....