March 9, 2021
March 2021
Dear Arts & Letters Community:
In the second week of March each year, the National Humanities Alliance organizes meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to advocate for support of humanities-based institutions such as libraries, museums, and federal agencies such as National Endowment for the Humanities and National Archives. On March 9, we also celebrate National Humanities Day here at Cal State LA with zoom programming all day, including information sessions, scholarly presentations, screenings, and drop-in classes.
But what are “The Humanities?” We can understand the Humanities to mean the study of what it means to be human. Or, the study of human expression and meaning-making – its culture, arts, and communication. The study and practice of the humanities are thus at the heart of civil society. The humanities are especially critical when a society finds itself in difficult times, like now. The humanities and the College of Arts & Letters writ large is committed to truth, knowledge, ethics, and real discourse—not winning and losing, but rather understanding—understanding what it means to be human and to be civic participants in a just society.
One of the College’s signature public humanities events occurs the second week of March as well: Eagle-Con. Eagle-Con has a threefold mission that is educational, practical, and fun. It educates participants about the history, impact, and continued necessity of the contributions of women, BIPOC, the LGBTQIA-identified, the differently-abled, and the variously-aged to the science fiction and fantasy genres and explores diverse identity representations and expressions within these genres; provides professionalization opportunities for students to interact with professionals in these fields; and celebrates science fiction and fantasy through entertaining events involving art, fashion, storytelling, games, screenings, and special presentations. Yes, this is the humanities.
Together with the arts and associated social sciences, “The Humanities” build culture and critically examine culture. Every department in the College of Arts & Letters engages with the humanities:
Dear Arts & Letters Community:
In the second week of March each year, the National Humanities Alliance organizes meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to advocate for support of humanities-based institutions such as libraries, museums, and federal agencies such as National Endowment for the Humanities and National Archives. On March 9, we also celebrate National Humanities Day here at Cal State LA with zoom programming all day, including information sessions, scholarly presentations, screenings, and drop-in classes.
But what are “The Humanities?” We can understand the Humanities to mean the study of what it means to be human. Or, the study of human expression and meaning-making – its culture, arts, and communication. The study and practice of the humanities are thus at the heart of civil society. The humanities are especially critical when a society finds itself in difficult times, like now. The humanities and the College of Arts & Letters writ large is committed to truth, knowledge, ethics, and real discourse—not winning and losing, but rather understanding—understanding what it means to be human and to be civic participants in a just society.
One of the College’s signature public humanities events occurs the second week of March as well: Eagle-Con. Eagle-Con has a threefold mission that is educational, practical, and fun. It educates participants about the history, impact, and continued necessity of the contributions of women, BIPOC, the LGBTQIA-identified, the differently-abled, and the variously-aged to the science fiction and fantasy genres and explores diverse identity representations and expressions within these genres; provides professionalization opportunities for students to interact with professionals in these fields; and celebrates science fiction and fantasy through entertaining events involving art, fashion, storytelling, games, screenings, and special presentations. Yes, this is the humanities.
Together with the arts and associated social sciences, “The Humanities” build culture and critically examine culture. Every department in the College of Arts & Letters engages with the humanities:
- Art history in the Department of Art
- Communication studies
- Literature and language in the Department of English
- American studies and women’s gender and sexuality studies in the Department of Liberal Studies
- Languages and literatures other than English in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
- Music history from the pre-classical to the contemporary in the Department of Music
- Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy
- Theatre history in the Department of Theatre and Dance
- And…media studies and television and film history in the Department of Television Film and Media Studies
While showcased the second week of March each year, we engage with the arts and humanities every single day. Be sure to bookmark the College Events Calendar so you can see all that we have on offer in the arts and humanities beyond classroom instruction.
The second week of March is usually when we kick off our registration drive for Summer Session. This year, the schedule will go live at the end of the month – March 29, to be specific. Be sure to check back on March 29 to see all that is on offer in arts, humanities, and associated social sciences instruction this summer.
In closing, a reminder to please continue to follow all public health guidance, including masking and physical distancing. Although the trend lines are looking good, the pandemic is still very much with us.
Stay healthy, stay safe, stay engaged!
Best wishes,
Linda Essig
Dr. Linda Essig, Dean
Dean Essig continues to hold drop-in office hours for students on Friday mornings from 10 a.m. -11 a.m. and for faculty and staff on Monday afternoons from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. at https://calstatela.zoom.us/j/5109496386. No appointment needed.
Associate Dean Weiss also has open office hours on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at https://calstatela.zoom.us/j/92387087821
Top photo: Philosophy Professor Michael Shim encouraging students to think about questions they may have never thought to ask at National Humanities Day 2019.
Top photo: Philosophy Professor Michael Shim encouraging students to think about questions they may have never thought to ask at National Humanities Day 2019.