The State of the Humanities

"Who will lead America into a bright future? Citizens who are educated in the broadest possible sense, so that they can participate in their own governance and engage with the world. An adaptable and creative workforce. Experts in national security, equipped with the cultural understanding, knowledge of social dynamics, and language proficiency to lead our foreign service and military through complex global conflicts. Elected officials and a broader public who exercise civil political discourse, founded on an appreciation of the ways our differences and commonalities have shaped our rich history. We must prepare the next generation to be these future leaders."

-- The Heart of the Matter, a report of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2013

The State of the Humanities/The Humanities and the State will examine the state of the humanities in society and here on campus and ask how our experiences reflect recent national dialogues, spurred in part by the release of The Heart of the Matter report. We will be raising, among other questions, whether there is in fact a crisis in the humanities, what constitutes a crisis, and what this all means for universities and for society. What is the humanities' role and responsibility in preparing citizens for life in a diverse modern society?