All Americans know that our country’s Independence Day, observed annually on July 4th, marks our independence from England. Far fewer understand the second independence day observed by millions of Americans every June 19th. That date marks the liberation of the last remaining African slaves in America, who did not benefit from our Declaration of Independence….
Currently Viewing: Humanities
The English language has been the foundation of countless works of art and literature throughout the ages and across the world. Often a work of literature will inspire the creation of a work in another art form, be it sculpture, painting, theater, music, film, architecture, dance, or photography—just one of the fascinating ways art and…
When you think of adding artwork to your walls of your home, you might envision the iconic graphics of pop art or the nature-inspired strokes of impressionist pieces. No matter the style of art you’re after, you’re sure to find something to express yourself in the deep catalog of works available to the modern masses. …
March is Women’s History Month, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t take the opportunity to shine the spotlight on some influential female authors, their written work, and their other distinctions. Here we’ll celebrate 21 names from an ever-growing field of eminent female writers, followed by an introduction to two illuminating online degree programs dedicated…
History is written by the winners — at least, that’s what internet trolls always say. More often than not, history is written by men. Across all historical periods, there are remarkable women whose stories have been ignored or cast aside. Today, we’ll be looking at an extraordinary group of women whose courage, resilience, and genius…
Steven Spielberg. Alfred Hitchcock. Undoubtedly, you’re familiar with these legendary filmmakers. Both widely admired and imitated directors are the subjects of their own dedicated courses in The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Arts in English. Our program takes a deep dive into consequential historical and modern English-language literature and film, giving special…
The humanities cover a wide variety of subjects, including communications, history, languages, and literature. In short, this broad field focuses on the study of the human experience and the expression of that experience. Students pursuing a humanities degree, whether studying art or anthropology, learn new ways to engage with the world around them, gaining critical…
Whether you were spellbound by the cinematic world of ‘Harry Potter’ or terrified by the eerie corridors of ‘The Shining,’ you’ve likely experienced the unique thrill of watching a movie adaptation of a beloved novel. If you’ve ever read the book before watching the film, you know the mixed emotions it can evoke. As avid…
Whether we’re aware of it or not, semantics is something we all use in our daily lives. It involves grasping the meaning of words, expressing emotions, and resolving ambiguous statements others make. For example, when your professor says your contributions to today’s discussion were “interesting,” you may wonder whether she was complimenting your input or…
Many of us enjoy a good book, and while we can usually identify what we like about it—interesting characters, an intriguing plot, the setting, etc.—we don’t always think more deeply about how those specific qualities connect with us. We certainly do feel them, however, and those evoked emotions are just one area in which psychology…