When we think of summertime, we often reminisce on memories of summers past—enjoying a respite from the heat in the local swimming hole, chasing after the ice cream truck for a red, white, and blue “firecracker” popsicle, and taking part in seasonal celebrations, like family gatherings on the Fourth of July.
But summer wasn’t always fond memories and carefree days. Several major historical events occurred during summer months that have helped shape the United States into the country it is today, three of which we’ll discuss below.
#1 The Signing of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)
The preamble to the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
This historic document asserts the original 13 colonies’ intent to separate from British rule and establish themselves as an independent nation. It initiated the Revolutionary War, eventually leading to the creation of a new country, the United States, whose people fought to uphold the principles outlined in the Declaration.
In the context of summer, Independence Day has inspired many cherished summer traditions. Watching fireworks at the city square, partaking in family barbecues, and donning patriotic attire to celebrate the Fourth of July are all traditions that stem from this significant event.
#2 The Summer of Love
The 1960s marked a period of revolution and social upheaval in the United States, with significant issues coming to the forefront and reaching a climax during the Summer of Love.
But what exactly was the Summer of Love?
It was a pivotal moment in the counterculture movement, representing a shift that emphasized artistic expression, the rebellion of youth, and the exploration of alternative lifestyles, psychedelic drugs, and spirituality.
The epicenter of this cultural phenomenon was the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, California, in 1967. Approximately 100,000 young people gathered there to embrace these ideals and support causes such as:
- Opposition to the Vietnam War
Individuals in the counterculture movement advocated for peace and love, protesting the U.S.’s military involvement in the Vietnam War and promoting non-violent alternatives to conflict.
- Civil rights
Many young people actively campaigned for racial equality and justice, working to end discrimination and segregation against African Americans.
- Gender equality
The counterculture challenged traditional gender roles that imposed specific expectations based on sex and encouraged women to embrace their passions and sexuality.
A significant aspect of the Summer of Love was its emphasis on music, which served as a powerful tool to express feelings of social and cultural reform. Just two years later, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place in New York, a festival that continues to influence many of today’s summer music festivals.
#3 The Apollo 11 Moon Landing
If the Declaration of Independence marked the start of political freedom for the U.S., the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in the summer of 1969 symbolized human exploration and technological advancement. The idea was born in 1961 when President Kennedy proposed that the U.S. would perform the world’s first manned lunar landing before the decade’s end.
However, the U.S. wasn’t the only country with ambitious plans to reach the moon first; the Soviet Union also vied for the title. After eight years of effort, however, the American Apollo 11 lunar module safely landed on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969. It was that day that Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the craterous lunar surface, famously proclaiming, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Similar to Independence Day, the moon landing created a sense of unity and pride among United States citizens. It symbolized the ingenuity of NASA and the spirit of exploration and established the U.S. as a leader in space innovation. Today, the legacy of the moon landing lives on in summer activities like space camps, which inspire young minds, and in the countless stargazers who look to the sky during the warm summer nights, dreaming big about their future.
Take Your Knowledge of History to New Heights
From adding to your skillset as a post-secondary educator to becoming a historian who archives materials in museums and historical sites, several lucrative careers allow you to embrace your passion for history while also making a living. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, we offer a 30-credit online program tailored to working professionals interested in developing valuable historical context while advancing their careers.
In as little as two years, you can complete your Master of Arts in History 100% online. This degree not only equips you with advanced knowledge on a wide range of topics in American and world history but also provides the opportunity to pursue more advanced roles and earn a higher salary.
With year-round start dates, affordable tuition, and thesis and non-thesis program options, what’s stopping you from beginning the next chapter in your career?
Sources:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration
https://www.nasa.gov/history/july-20-1969-one-giant-leap-for-mankind/
https://daily.jstor.org/the-summer-of-love-wasnt-all-peace-and-hippies/
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. Here we’ll look at the history and present-day status of the annual celebration known as Juneteenth.
A Broader Celebration of Freedom
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln freed many American slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. However, it would be nearly three years before all slaves were freed nationwide. The Civil War continued to rage until April 1865, which was certainly a factor in the delay, as slaveholding states resisted the president’s directive. Lincoln’s proclamation also exempted some states: an inequitable stipulation that was rectified by the 13th Amendment, Abolition of Slavery, in December 1865.
Six months prior to the ratification of that constitutional amendment, Union troops freed a quarter of a million slaves on June 19th in Texas, the last holdout of slaveholding states. A holiday was born on that day as the broader promise and intent of the Emancipation Proclamation was realized. One year later, on June 19th, 1866, former slaves began the celebration of Juneteenth—a portmanteau of June and nineteenth—in Galveston.
The holiday, alternatively known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, has a rich history. Initially marked by church picnics and speeches, Juneteenth gained momentum as Black Texans relocated to other states and took the tradition with them, spreading its observance nationwide and even internationally. Today, typical festivities include Emancipation Proclamation readings, parades, and concerts.
The Long Road to Recognition
Juneteenth is an enduring reminder of the struggle for equality that Black Americans and their ancestors have faced, though awareness and acknowledgement of its significance were slow to come for the nation as a whole. It’s perhaps fitting that in 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Other states followed suit beginning in the 1990s, and by 2023 it was an official holiday or observance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
History Holds the Key to Your Future
If you’re interested in the history of North America and its role in international events, The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Arts in History will enlighten you, help you hone durable, highly marketable skills, and confer upon you a credential applicable to many careers. Our program offers an exploration of the Civil War, Reconstruction and other key areas of our history through comprehensive 16-week courses. See the complete list of program courses.
We offer this program in a 100% online, asynchronous format that empowers you to earn an MA in history on your own schedule from any location. You’ll find this flexibility to be a significant advantage when trying to manage professional and personal responsibilities and finish a master’s degree at the same time. And that’s just the beginning of our program’s benefits:
- No GRE is required.
- Thesis and non-thesis options are available.
- Completion is possible in as little as two years.
Ready to get started? Apply today.
Sources:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/when-did-slavery-really-end-in-the-u-s-the-complicated-history-of-juneteenth/ar-AA1cB8op
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation
https://jackmillercenter.org/emancipation-proclamation-juneteenth-holiday/
https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/juneteenth-is-now-a-national-holiday-how-did-it-come-to-pass
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R44865.pdf
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 literature intersect. Let’s look at a few specific examples here and then discuss how you can learn more about both subjects.
Where Art and Literature Meet
The history of art and literature is rich with examples of works influencing one another. Some paintings have inspired books, such as Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” Books are also often adapted into films, including one named for Vermeer’s famous painting and, more recently, several 2024 Oscar nominees. Many operas are based around mythology and others, such as “The Merchant of Venice,” on the works of William Shakespeare. Some of the world’s most admired sculptures and paintings are also based on mythology. Works of literature are often adapted to be performed as plays or musicals. Victor Hugo’s 19th century novel “Les Misérables” is an immensely popular example of a work that has successfully been adapted for stage and screen.
Want to explore the intersection of art and literature in greater depth? The University of Texas Permian Basin invites you to consider one of our illuminating online English degree programs.
English Degrees for Where You Are and Where You Want to Be
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online English degree programs cast a light on art and literature through dedicated courses throughout their curricula. Whether you’re an aspiring undergraduate or you’re ready to pursue graduate studies, we have an online program for you. Use either highly marketable degree below for an array of rewarding career options.
Build a Foundation in Our BA in English Program
Our online Bachelor of Arts in English delves into the intricacies of the English language and culture, encompassing a wide range of creative works from Shakespeare to Spielberg.
- Available online exclusively at this UT System institution.
- Offers median earning potential ~68% higher than a high school diploma.
Take these BA courses for greater insight:
Offered as an option in our BA in English program, this course investigates the intricate connection between literature and visual arts as depicted in Victorian and modern novels. It aims to impart fresh perspectives, encouraging a shift from mere reading to active observation. Through the examination of renowned literary figures, you’ll unravel how they seamlessly intertwine literature and art, revealing that the comprehension and appreciation of one often relies on understanding the other.
This course is an exploration into critical and theoretical frameworks and terminology used to analyze films as both cultural artifacts and literary creations. In addition, the course examines significant film movements from various countries throughout the history of cinema.
Literature and Mythology (ENGL3333)
This course aims to familiarize students with the depth, intrigue, and importance of classical (Greek and Roman) mythology in the context of British, American, or comparative literature. It delves deeply into the interplay of literature with mythological references and the diverse interpretations of mythological entities across artistic media such as painting and sculpture.
Reach Higher With an MA in English
Already earned a bachelor’s degree? Our online Master of Arts in English delves deeper into the English language and culture, forging connections between aesthetic, cultural, historical, psychological, and social themes found in literature from both past and present. You’ll relate these literary themes to contemporary cultural, psychological, and sociopolitical landscapes.
- Small class sizes provide the opportunity for personalized attention.
- Complete your degree in as little as a year and a half.
- Gain access to a greater variety of career choices, including leadership roles.
- Your graduate degree offers median earning potential ~16% higher than a bachelor’s degree alone.
Take these MA courses for greater insight:
Literature and the Visual Arts (ENGL6332)
One of the core courses in our online MA in English program and available with either a British or American focus, this course delves into the nonverbal aspects of literature, exploring how works extend beyond verbal expression to evoke art and music. It aims to uncover what verbal discourse may hide or silence by simultaneously communicating these hidden dimensions.
Literature and Mythology (ENGL6330)
This course investigates the influence of myths on the human psyche and their role in shaping cultural and sociopolitical viewpoints. Additionally, it underscores the significance of mythology in understanding literature, art, and music.
Convenient, Accessible, Affordable Programs
No matter which program you apply to or where you live, you can count on enjoying the online convenience that allows you to complete your studies on your own schedule. You needn’t compromise on your personal or professional responsibilities to earn a degree!
UTPB also offers some of the lowest tuition rates among accredited universities, translating to an education that’s both affordable and esteemed. These are some of the reasons U.S. News & World Report has named us among:
- Best Regional Universities West
- Top Public Schools
- Best Value Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
Choose your English degree program and apply today!
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.
However, 500 years ago, this was not the case. In the 15th and 16th centuries, only royalty and the extremely wealthy had access to art, which typically depicted — well, themselves.
So, how did we progress from exclusive portrayals of the privileged few to inclusive representations of daily life? Join us as we explore the evolution of artistic focus from the elite to the everyday man and woman.
Art in the 15th and 16th Centuries
As a commoner during this period, obtaining a piece of artwork to adorn your walls was not just a luxury but often an unattainable dream. If by some stroke of luck you could afford such a luxury, the artwork itself would likely be a portrait of a nobleman, gazing imperiously at you from the expanse of the wall.
But why was art so inaccessible to the average person?
There were two main causes: the steep cost of commissioning artwork and the scarcity of available artists to undertake such work. The high cost associated with acquiring art was impossible for most, narrowing its availability to the realm of the elite. Art quickly became a symbol of status and power, prompting well-to-do individuals to commission artists who could immortalize their likeness in portraits. These portraits were not only decorative but also served as conspicuous displays of their wealth, further elevating their social standing.
The Renaissance and the Shift Towards Inclusivity
During the time of the Renaissance, from the 14th to 17th centuries, society gradually revived its interest in Greek and Roman culture. This fostered an appreciation of philosophy, science, and creativity, laying the groundwork for a transformation of artistic expression.
Thus, artists in the 1600s began to focus more heavily on the human experience and the many layers of human emotions. They began creating artwork that reflected the individuality of all people, regardless of their wealth and status.
Additionally, the numbers of the middle class grew and became more capable of buying artwork that aligned with their own experiences. These pieces often reflected the lives of ordinary people. Famed Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder was known for painting compositions that captured the everyday lives of rural and village life, from daily routines to annual festivities.
The Rise of Realism and the Everyman
Following the dominance of Romanticism in the 1800s, Realism emerged as a powerful and influential artistic movement, captivating both artists and art enthusiasts alike. Realism sought to portray life authentically, encapsulating its beauty as well as its brutality. And what better subjects to convey the truth of the era than the ordinary men and women engaging in everyday activities?
From “The Elder Sister,” a tender depiction of a girl gently rocking a baby to sleep against a backdrop of lush greenery, to “The Gleaners,” an evocative portrayal of three women laboring in a wheat field, Realism offered viewers a window into the lives of people from all walks of life. Gone were the days of art reserved exclusively for the elite. Instead, Realism democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience and reflecting the diverse experiences of humanity across the globe.
Modern Art and the Celebration of Diversity
As society progressed into the 20th century and beyond, art continued to evolve, reflecting the ever-changing artistic landscape of human society. Throughout the past century, numerous artistic styles have flourished, from the abstract expressionism of esteemed artists like Jackson Pollock to the surrealism of luminaries such as Salvador Dalí.
Now, whether your artistic appreciation dwells in the geometric shapes of Cubism or the subconscious symbolism that encapsulates surrealism, you can find a diverse array of art from landscape to minimalist available at the click of a button.
Ignite Your Passions With a BA in Humanities From UTPB
A degree in humanities offers far more than just an appreciation for art and an understanding of world civilizations. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, our online Bachelor of Arts in Humanities provides a comprehensive grasp of human culture, history, literature, and the arts. Additionally, it equips you with essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, which are invaluable for success in a wide range of industries.
As an online student, you’ll have the flexibility to complete your work on your timeline. During your lunch breaks? Great! Prefer working on the weekends? That works for us, too.
Forge a path toward a career that aligns with your passions. Start the next chapter in your life—apply today!
Sources:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=17161&printable=1
https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance
https://www.oxfordartonline.com/page/1626
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/roma/hd_roma.htm
https://www.abebooks.com/art/art-through-the-ages/
https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/25-most-famous-realism-paintings/
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 to literature, language, and culture.
Mary Shelley
Shelley is best known for publishing the celebrated novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” in 1818. Though not the first horror novel, it is probably the first to have such a lasting influence. “Frankenstein” predated Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” by 79 years.
George Eliot
Born Mary Ann Evans, Eliot published under a man’s name to be taken seriously and not have her work prejudged by 19th century society. She’s known for the multi-part novel “Middlemarch” and “Silas Marner,” the latter of which is still required reading in many U.S. high schools.
The Brontë Sisters
If ever a family were defined by literature, it’s the Brontës: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. They collectively published a poetry collection under the masculine-sounding names Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, respectively. As Currer, Charlotte published “Jane Eyre,” a novel which challenged the conventions of society and female protagonists of the time. The same year, Emily (as Ellis) published her sole novel, “Wuthering Heights,” which broke with Victorian decorum through emotionally driven characters. Though lesser-known than her sisters, Anne authored “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” which may be the world’s first-ever feminist novel.
Harriet E. Wilson
Wilson was the first Black person to publish a novel in the United States, albeit anonymously. It’s noteworthy that when her novel was published in 1859, slavery still existed in the nation.
Louisa May Alcott
The semiautobiographical novel “Little Women,” penned by Alcott, features female characters who defy traditional gender roles and exhibits other feminist themes. A suffragette and women’s rights advocate, Alcott holds the distinction of being Concord, Connecticut’s first female registered voter.
Virginia Woolf
Author of “Mrs. Dalloway” and “To the Lighthouse,” Woolf was known for a modernist style that broke narrative norms by incorporating narrative devices including stream-of-consciousness and interior monologue.
Agatha Christie
Christie authored 66 detective novels, including “Death on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” Her name remains synonymous with the mystery genre.
Ayn Rand
Though no friend to feminism, Rand was very influential in individualist thought, and her books, including “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead,” feature strong, self-driven female characters.
Anne Rice
Rice’s oeuvre runs the gamut from erotica to Christian themes, but she’s best known for her gothic horror stories, including “Interview With the Vampire.”
Toni Morrison
Morrison was a book editor who eventually decided to write her own books, starting with the highly influential “The Bluest Eye.” Among her accolades are a Pulitzer Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Nobel Prize in Literature—the first to be awarded to a Black woman.
Susan Sontag
Renowned for her essays and novels, Sontag wrote on topics ranging from AIDS to human rights to war to literature itself. Sontag was also a feature film director and activist. Her works include “Against Interpretation” and “The Way We Live Now.”
Erma Bombeck
Bombeck is celebrated for her humorous novels and nonfiction, with motherhood being a prevailing theme. These include “The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank” and “Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession.” In the late 1970s, she was a staunch advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee for Women.
Erica Jong
A seminal work of second-wave feminism, Jong’s “Fear of Flying” shocked readers—and sold millions of copies—with its nonjudgmental first-person account of a female protagonist’s desire for sexual freedom.
Margaret Atwood
Author of the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”—later a feature film and an acclaimed TV series—Atwood is primarily a writer of adult literary fiction and speculative fiction, often focusing on feminist and environmental themes.
Giannina Braschi
A leading voice in “Spanglish” literature, Puerto Rico-born Braschi has authored absurdist and experimental poetry and novels including “Empire of Dreams” and “Yo-Yo Boing!”
Amy Tan
Born to Chinese parents in the U.S., Tan used her experience in an immigrant family as inspiration for acclaimed novels such as “The Joy Luck Club.”
Naomi Klein
An educator, activist, and bestselling author, Klein has published nonfiction books on topics ranging from politics to business and economic issues to the environment.
J.K. Rowling
As a single mother on government support, Rowling transformed her writing abilities into a multi-billion-dollar business empire with the “Harry Potter” books, films, and related projects and merchandise.
Suzanne Collins
Collins has made a name for herself as a writer of young adult fiction with strong central female characters, including the dystopian “Hunger Games” series.
The Importance of Diverse Voices in Literature
The success of female authors is important not just as a step toward greater gender equality and representation but because it enables women of all nationalities and backgrounds to be heard. This, in turn, gives readers new perspectives that can ideally result in greater understanding. Most of us would never comprehend, for example, what the life of a young Black girl growing up in Jim Crow Era-Arkansas could be like if Maya Angelou hadn’t written the renowned autobiography of her early years, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
Immerse Yourself in English-Language Literature and Culture
If you love literature, The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online English degree programs enable you to explore English-language literature by male and female authors dating from the earliest days of the English nation to the present. Both programs provide a foundation for a variety of rewarding roles, including author, teacher, human resource professional, or lawyer.
Online Bachelor of Arts in English
Gain a greater understanding of our world through an array of English and general education courses. Major courses include:
- American Literature Since 1865
- British Literature Since 1800
- Film as Literature
- Literature & Mythology
This BA program is available online only at this UT System institution.
Online Master of Arts in English
If you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree, take a deeper dive into English language and culture through our online graduate program’s focused courses, including:
This MA program allows you to choose from four capstone options.
Get more details about each program and apply here!
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/books/vanguard-books-by-women-in-21st-century.html
https://bookstr.com/article/womens-history-month-female-authors-of-the-21st-century/
https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/contemporary-women-writers
https://www.businessinsider.com/harry-potter-is-still-multibillion-dollar-empire-after-two-decades-2021-11
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 shone too brightly to be lost to the shadows of history. Join us in celebrating, and most importantly remembering, these unsung heroines and the indelible mark they left on society.
Kathrine Switzer
Kathrine Switzer had some men clutching at their pearls when she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967. Switzer entered as “K.V. Switzer,” and when race organizer Jock Semple realized that Switzer was a woman (gasp!), he assaulted her. “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers,” Semple yelled after trying to snatch her bib and before getting blocked by Switzer’s then boyfriend, Tom Miller. Pictures of the incident spread, and the Boston Marathon started accepting female runners in 1972.
Claudette Colvin
Claudette Colvin was the first black woman arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama bus — nine months before Rosa Parks.
Colvin nearly became the subject of a federal suit to desegregate Alabama’s bus system, but local civil rights leaders (led by Martin Luther King Jr.) ostracized her. Colvin believed this was because her skin tone was too dark and because she became pregnant at 16. NAACP Secretary Rosa Parks became the face of the movement, but Colvin’s refusal stands as a reminder of the power of saying “no.”
Freddie and Truus Oversteegen and Hannie Schaft
Freddie and Truus Oversteegen didn’t have a typical upbringing, spending their formative years in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. In 1941, a commander with the Haarlem Resistance Group recruited the sisters, who had been spreading anti-Nazi newspapers and pamphlets for the Dutch resistance. “Only later did he tell us what we’d actually have to do: sabotage bridges and railway lines,” said Truus, “and learn to shoot, to shoot Nazis.”
The sisters were joined by another young woman named Hannie Schaft, and together, the trio took on sabotage and assassination missions against Nazis and Dutch Collaborators in what could only be described as a Quentin Tarantino movie come to life. On at least one occasion, Truus seduced an SS officer, leading him into the woods to be shot by resistance members.
Sadly, there’s no happy ending to this story. Schaft was captured by the Nazis and executed in 1945. The sisters were devasted by the loss of their best friend and did their best to move on after the war. “We did not feel it suited us,” Truus said of being an assassin. “It never suits anybody, unless they are real criminals.”
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
In 1967, then-graduate-student Jocelyn Bell Burnell was the first to notice the anomaly. She was also the first to argue the significance of the strange squiggles in the night sky. Still, her adviser Antony Hewish received all the credit for the discovery of pulsars: a subset of rotating neutron stars that send out pulses of radiation at regular intervals.
The discovery was announced via a paper in Nature, and wouldn’t you know it, Hewish’s name was the first listed in the study. Burnell’s was second. Hewish received the 1963 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery, but Burnell wasn’t bothered. In fact, she was thrilled that the Nobel Prize had been awarded to someone studying physics. Besides, she’d go on to receive about every other honor for the discovery.
Marthe Gautier
For decades, French physician Marthe Gautier was denied the spotlight for her role in the 1958 discovery of trisomy 21: an extra copy of chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome.
The way Gautier tells it, she shared patient samples with her male colleague Jérôme Lejeune, who offered to have them photographed. Six months later, Lejeune authored “Human Chromosomes in Tissue Cultures,” taking credit for the discovery while listing Gautier as the second author and misspelling her name. The French National Institute has since defended Gautier, stating that Lejeune’s participation in the discovery was unlikely to be of great importance.
Rosalind Franklin
James Watson and Francis Crick are renowned for the discovery of the DNA double helix, but now it’s believed they only made the discovery after stealing data from physical chemist Rosalind Franklin.
Watson was shown an X-ray image of DNA taken by Franklin, without her permission. Known as Photograph 51, the image is “the philosopher’s stone of molecular biology.” Popular culture will have you believe that Franklin couldn’t understand the significance of the image, while Watson understood it at a glance. Uncovered documents reveal that Franklin was an equal contributor to the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure.
The Story Continues …
There’s no shortage of forgotten women in history: women who spoke when they were told to be silent, who stayed sitting when they were told to stand, and who never wavered when told they were wrong. If you like what you’ve read, we encourage you to dive deeper and discover what other secrets history has to offer.
A History Lesson Awaits
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Master of Arts in History for anyone interested in uncovering the untold stories that have shaped our world. Courses include:
- Progressive Era
- Third Reich and Holocaust
- Native North America: Contact to Removal
- American Revolution
- Civil War
UT Permian Basin’s online MA in history program will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and research skills needed to not only contextualize the impact history has on society but also advance your career and share that expertise with others.
By understanding the past, we pave the way for a more equitable future. Take the first step toward making history and apply to UT Permian Basin and its online MA in history program today.
Sources:
https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/kathrine-switzer/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/us/forgotten-womens-history.html
https://www.science.org/content/article/after-more-50-years-dispute-over-down-syndrome-discovery
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/974222?form=fpf
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2018/09/08/she-made-discovery-man-got-nobel-half-century-later-shes-won-million-prize/
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01313-5
https://www.history.com/news/dutch-resistance-teenager-killed-nazis-freddie-oversteegen
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/claudette-colvin-refuses-to-give-up-her-seat
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/25/claudette-colvin-the-woman-who-refused-to-give-up-her-bus-seat-nine-months-before-rosa-parks
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 attention not just to their words but to their cultural, sociopolitical, and psychological themes and encouraging students to uncover modern parallels in own their lives.
Our program provides an enriching exploration for students who are ready to move into graduate-level English studies and seek new perspectives of the world. Aside from its engaging curriculum, the flexibility of our program offers a fulfilling experience for students while completing their online master’s degree in English and afterward. Let’s look at that unmatched flexibility now—including capstone options that allow you to decide how to conclude your degree and other advantages—and see if our program might be a good fit for you.
Build a Broad Range of In-Demand Career Skills While Earning Your MA in English
As an English graduate student, you’ll hone essential soft and durable skills such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. While these have long been acknowledged among the most important life skills, prominent organizations from Forbes to the U.S. Department of Labor now identify this diverse skill set as crucial for anyone wishing to compete and advance in the professional sphere today.
Choose From Four Capstone Options
Our MA in English program offers diverse electives and the flexibility to finish your program your way, based on your interests and accomplishments. Dr. Sophia Andres, English MA program director and faculty member, provided some insight on this unique advantage: “Unlike other MA programs which offer a thesis as the only capstone option, UTPB offers four different options, each catered to the students’ needs.” Those options include:
- Thesis
- Scholarly article
- Project
- Portfolio
There’s added flexibility for students in terms of the source of any of these capstones, as Dr. Andres explained with one example: “The project can be a longer [version] of a paper that they already wrote for a class, but they were so excited they felt like, ‘I wish I had the time to write more about this.’ Okay, so go on, write the project on it.”
Follow a Variety of Professional and Academic Paths
Equipped with an MA in English, you can take numerous rewarding career paths, including:
- Human resources manager
- Advertising and promotions professional
- Fundraising manager
- Secondary school teacher
- Writer/editor
See salary and employment potential for these and other jobs related to this degree.
If you plan to continue your academic pursuits after completing your online master’s degree in English, you’ll find our program and the corresponding skills a strong foundation for doctoral studies or law school.
Experience the Most Flexible Learning Format
Presented 100% online through asynchronous courses, our MA in English program empowers you to complete coursework on your own schedule. Access lectures, take exams, and submit assignments 24/7, from practically any location in the world. You don’t have to live in Texas or even in the United States. UT Permian Basin is proud to have students from 45 different countries in our programs, and if you travel abroad, you can take your program with you.
Find the Freedom to Earn More
Adding a master’s degree to your resume can lead to greater earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), master’s degree holders enjoy median earnings of $86,372 per year. That’s 16% higher than the reported median earnings of individuals with a bachelor’s degree alone. The BLS also shows those with a master’s degree are more likely to be employed.
Do yourself this favor: Choose a flexible master’s degree program that gives you a broad range of possibilities before and after graduation! Apply today.
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 thinking, research, and writing skills in the process. These versatile degrees can lead anywhere—but don’t take our word for it.
What can you do with a humanities degree? Here are eight influential people who majored in the humanities. As you’ll see, the greatest journeys can have the humblest beginnings.
1. Oprah Winfrey
We start with the one and only. Oprah earned a degree in communication and performing arts from Tennessee State University in 1986. After graduation, she came onboard the failing talk show “AM Chicago.” The show was soon renamed, and it wasn’t long before “The Oprah Winfrey Show” was the highest-rated television talk show in the U.S. The talk show spawned a media and business empire, including the successful Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
On education, Oprah has said, “Education is the way to move mountains, to build bridges, to change the world. Education is the path to the future. I believe that education is indeed freedom.”
2. Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Theatre in 1964. Eisner dreamed of writing a Broadway play but struggled to find work out of college. Such is the life of a writer.
After landing a gig as an NBC clerk, Eisner began to scale the corporate ladder at ABC and Paramount. He later served as the chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Productions from 1984 to 2005, during which time he oversaw the Disney Renaissance.
On the humanities, Eisner said, “Literature is unbelievably helpful, because no matter what business you are in, you are dealing with interpersonal relationships. It gives you an appreciation of what makes people tick.”
3. Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs famously dropped out of college to found Apple, but for the brief time he was enrolled, he majored in creative humanities, so he earns a spot on this list on a technicality.
From humble beginnings (Jobs and Stephen Wozniak built the Apple I out of a garage), Jobs wound up running a trillion-dollar tech giant. Jobs was one of the first to recognize the potential of personal computing, and under his leadership, Apple would revolutionize how we engage with technology with such releases as the iPod and iPhone.
Jobs credited the humanities for Apple’s success: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields the results that make our hearts sing.”
4. Conan O’Brien
Conan O’Brien majored in American history and literature at Harvard University. His humanities education served him well throughout his storied career, as evidenced by his boundless Civil War knowledge.
After graduating, O’Brien moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television, and after writing for “Not Necessarily the News,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “The Simpsons,” he got a chance to be in front of the camera with “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” O’Brien was the name in late night until “Conan” went off the air in 2021. He gave these parting words during his final episode: “My advice to anyone watching right now — and it’s not easy to do, it’s not easy to do, but try; try and do what you love with people you love. If you can manage that, it’s the definition of heaven on Earth.”
5. Toni Morrison
Author Toni Morrison was an avid reader at a young age. Morrison graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in English before earning a Master of Arts in English from Cornell University. She went on to become one of the most celebrated novelists in history, writing such classics as “Beloved” and “The Bluest Eye.” In 1993, she became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Morrison told her students: “When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else.”
6. Jack Ma
Jack Ma is known for co-founding Alibaba.com, one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Less known are the many challenges he faced on his journey.
In 1988, Ma graduated from China’s Hangzhou Normal University with a BA in English. He failed the entrance exam not once, but twice and received over 30 job rejections after graduating. He taught English, managed a small translation company, and sold flowers, books, and clothes on the side. The man can hustle. Ma’s break came in 1999 when, along with 17 friends, he co-founded Alibaba.com.
The former English teacher shared this with his employees: “I told my son, ‘You don’t need to be in the top three in your class. Being in the middle is fine, so long as your grades aren’t too bad.’ Only this kind of person has enough free time to learn other skills.”
7. Arundhati Bhattacharya
Arundhati Bhattacharya, the first woman chairperson of the State Bank of India, retired from her position in 2017, wrapping up a 40-year career in India’s financial sector. Under her leadership, the 212-year-old bank successfully transitioned to the digital age. Many thought her corporate journey was at an end, but she’s now Salesforce’s India CEO.
Bhattacharya studied English literature at Lady Brabourne College in Kolkata, India, but she attributes her success to being a lifelong learner. To a packed audience at her 2018 TEDx Talk, she said, “Approach every situation with a questioning mind and a learner’s humility and you can’t go wrong.”
8. Howard Schultz
Howard Schultz graduated from Northern Michigan University with a BS in communications in 1975. Schultz then moved from New York to Seattle and in 1981, joined Starbucks as director of operations and marketing. At the time, the fledging company had only four stores. Four! A year later, Schultz was in Italy, drinking the finest coffee and wondering how to bring the Italian coffeehouse experience to America.
Schultz retired as Starbucks’ CEO in 2018 to become chairman emeritus. By then, Starbucks had grown to nearly 30,000 stores in the U.S. and abroad. “It took years before I found my passion in life,” the coffee magnate said, “but getting out of Brooklyn and earning a college degree gave me the courage to keep on dreaming.”
Oh, the Humanities
A humanities education provides insight into human culture, history, literature, philosophy, and art. As illustrated by the famous, influential people on this list, you can go far by understanding and appreciating what makes us all human.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers several online humanities degrees. Undergraduate students can pursue a bachelor’s degree in:
- Communication
- English
- Humanities
- Political Science
Graduate students can pursue a:
- Master of Arts in English
- Master of Arts in History
- Master of Arts in Spanish
- Graduate Certificate in Spanish
Humanities degrees can lead to a variety of career paths, including roles in education, writing, research, cultural institutions, media, public relations, and more. Critical thinking, communication, and cultural awareness are skills highly valued in any career field, and these are only some of the skills gained while earning a humanities degree.
Visit our Program and Courses page to learn more about the humanities degrees offered online at UT Permian. When you’re ready, click apply!
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oprah-Winfrey
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Eisner
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Jobs/Saving-Apple
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Conan-OBrien
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/toni-morrison
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-Ma
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/salesforces-arundhati-bhattacharya-on-lifelong-learning-and-talent-reinvention
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/arundhati-bhattacharya/
https://stories.starbucks.com/leadership/howard-schultz/
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 readers, it’s natural to have a strong connection to the stories we’ve envisioned in our minds, which can make us feel like insiders when it comes to adaptations.
But the question remains: Are books superior to their cinematic counterparts, or does each medium offer its own set of advantages and limitations? Today, we’re journeying through the realms of literature and cinema to explore the history of book-to-movie adaptations and uncover the merits and pitfalls of each.
The History of Adaptation: Then and Now
Before the invention of the moving picture, novels reigned supreme. Reading a written narrative gave us the freedom to create cinematic experiences in our minds. Sure, the settings and characters manifested differently from reader to reader, but that was the beauty of reading literature.
Then, in the late 1800s, the ability to turn photographs into moving pictures became a reality, and film was born, albeit on a shorter and simpler scale. Small video clips focused on everyday occurrences, such as people walking down the street. But as the technology of the Cinématographe improved, so too did the quality of film-making.
By 1899, Georges Méliès released the first book-to-film adaptation of the story ‘Cinderella,’ based on the fairytale by Charles Perrault. While there wasn’t any dialogue in the film (that wouldn’t happen until 1927), the production was nearly six minutes long and featured a full cast, multiple sets, and background music to set the tone. This adaptation proved that it was possible to recreate a story using a different medium than its original.
Fast forward to the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s and ‘40s. Major studios began realizing the commercial potential of turning popular novels into films. Thus, classic adaptations of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Gone With the Wind’ became iconic films of the time.
While the success of a film adaptation is subjective, ‘Gone With the Wind’ is largely considered a successful adaptation for a few notable reasons:
- Faithfulness to the Novel
The movie retained the key elements of Margaret Mitchell’s novel. Plus, with a run time of just under four hours, it was able to capture the epic scope of the storyline.
- Production Value
The production team created lavish sets, detailed costumes, and special effects that were considered very advanced for the time, capturing the essence of the Civil War era and bringing it to life.
- Iconic Performances
Would Scarlet O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s characters have come to life on the screen more vividly if anyone other than Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable had portrayed them? It’s subjective, but they portrayed their off-screen counterparts quite nobly.
As the decades wore on, more notable books became movies, including:
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
- The Godfather (1972)
- The Shining (1980)
In recent times, filmmakers have infused classic texts with contemporary flair. The 1999 film ’10 Things I Hate About You,’ derived from Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ modernized the storyline for a younger audience. Director Gil Junger’s approach allowed for the enjoyment of Shakespeare’s plot while making his themes more relatable for a modern audience.
Dissecting the Pros and Cons of Book-To-Film Adaptations
Now, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: If you’re a dedicated fan of franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, or any self-contained book or novel series, do the movie adaptations of books ever match the expectations and emotional connections you’ve developed with the characters through reading?
Below, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both mediums.
Advantages
There are plenty of advantages to films and novels, including the following examples:
Novels
- Novels encourage us to use our imagination to visualize characters and setting. This allows us to partake in an interactive experience.
- Books often contain pages and pages of internal dialogue that allow you to connect with some of the characters and see certain scenarios from their perspective.
Films
- Movies condense a significant amount of information into an organized, two-hour box. So, if you never hopped on the Hogwarts Express as a child, you can skip the hundred or so hours it would take you to read the series and instead watch all eight films in under 20 hours. It’s like magic.
- With today’s technology, movies can often deliver beautiful visuals and special effects that immerse you into the story’s world.
Disadvantages
Alas, with every pro, there is often a con. Below, we list a few disadvantages of films and novels:
Novels
- Novels rely on your imagination to bring the words to life. However, some individuals appreciate the immersive nature of film, where creativity takes center stage effortlessly and passively.
Films
- There’s only so much of a story’s plot you can comfortably contain inside a two- to three-hour film window. This means that some of a novel’s storyline is left behind or changed to fit the time constraints of a film.
- As with any novel, the interpretation by a director is subjective. Your mental images may differ from the choices made by the writer and director, which can end in disappointment.
Fuel your love for dissecting book-to-movie adaptations at UTPB. Our online Bachelor of Arts in English program opens a world of captivating literature courses, perfect for your annotating and analytical prowess. Dive deeper with our elective course, ‘Films as Literature,’ which explores the fascinating crossover between films and literary works and delves into the rich history of cinema.
Ready to unravel the magic of storytelling in both print and on-screen? Apply now and let your passion thrive at UTPB!
Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pickford-early-history-motion-pictures/
https://www.moma.org/collection/terms/film/experimentation-with-sound
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gone-with-the-Wind-film-by-Fleming
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 implying that it needed improvement (hopefully the former).
It makes sense, then, that different forms of AI, like chatbots and virtual assistants, could also benefit from using semantics. After all, if it helps us, it may also aid them in understanding what people are asking so they’re able to provide the most accurate answers. That’s where natural language processing (NLP) comes in. But what is NLP?
Today, we’re breaking down the concepts of semantics and NLP and elaborating on some of the semantics techniques that natural language processing incorporates across various AI formats.
What Are Semantics?
In the most basic sense, semantics refers to the study of words. To dig a little deeper, semantics scholars analyze the relationship between words and their intended meanings within a given context.
Take the phrase we used earlier: “dig a little deeper.” In a literal sense, it refers to digging farther into the ground. But we know that in this instance it’s being used as an idiomatic expression. In this context, the phrase carries the figurative meaning of going beyond the surface level to find an answer.
With semantics on our side, we can more easily interpret the meaning of words and sentences to find the most logical meaning—and respond accordingly.
How Does Semantics Fit into Natural Language Processing?
Picture yourself asking a question to the chatbot on your favorite streaming platform. Since computers don’t think as humans do, how is the chatbot able to use semantics to convey the meaning of your words? Enter natural language processing, a branch of computer science that enables computers to understand spoken words and text more like humans do.
NLP uses different types of computational linguistics modeling, including:
- Statistical
- Machine-learning
- Deep learning
The more examples of sentences and phrases NLP-driven programs see, the better they become at understanding the meaning behind the words. Below, we examine some of the various techniques NLP uses to better understand the semantics behind the words an AI is processing—and what’s actually being said.
Word Sense Disambiguation
As we mentioned above, words often have more than one meaning. With word sense disambiguation, computers can figure out the correct meaning of a word or phrase in a sentence. For example, the word “bear” has two meanings. It could reference a large furry mammal, or it might mean to carry the weight of something. NLP uses semantics to determine the proper meaning of the word in the context of the sentence.
Sentiment Analysis
Words can carry either positive or negative emotional connotations. Let’s look at the word “bold” as an example. When we say, “Your style is so bold and confident,” it has a positive meaning. However, the statement, “It was bold of you to assume we liked that type of style” has a more negative meaning. NLP-driven programs that use sentiment analysis can recognize and understand the emotional meanings of different words and phrases so that the AI can respond accordingly.
Information Retrieval
One of the main reasons people use virtual assistants and chatbots is to find answers to their questions. Question-answering systems use semantics to understand what a question is asking so that they can retrieve and relay the correct information.
Natural Language Understanding
Natural language understanding (NLU) allows computers to understand human language similarly to the way we do. Unlike NLP, which breaks down language into a machine-readable format, NLU helps machines understand the human language better by using semantics to comprehend the meaning of sentences. In essence, it equates to teaching computers to interpret what humans say so they can understand the full meaning and respond appropriately.
Earn Your BA or MA in English at The University of Texas Permian Basin
Sure, you use semantics subconsciously throughout the day, but with an English degree, you can dive deeper into the world of words to analyze word and sentence meaning, ambiguity, synonymy, antonymy, and more. If the idea of becoming a linguist or computational linguist (someone who works at the intersection of linguistics and computer science) piques your interest, consider earning your BA or MA in English at UTPB.
Both of our programs are entirely online and offer an array of benefits:
- Affordable
Save with our widely acknowledged low tuition rates.
- Personalized
Small class sizes allow for one-on-one attention from our renowned faculty.
- Convenient
Our online format enables you to complete coursework 24/7 from almost anywhere in the world.
- Accelerated
Finish your degree in as little as a year and a half.
- Flexible
Build your curriculum to match your interests and choose from four different capstone course types.
Of course, you don’t need to be an aspiring linguist to be the perfect fit for our program. Graduates with degrees in English have plenty of career opportunities:
- Journalist
- Social media manager
- Grant writer
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Marketing communications specialist
- Academic advisor
- Librarian
- Education consultant
- Curator
- Language translator
Take the first step to achieving the career of your dreams and apply today!
Sources:
https://lhncbc.nlm.nih.gov/ii/areas/word-sense-disambiguation.html
https://www.ibm.com/topics/natural-language-processing
https://monkeylearn.com/sentiment-analysis/