1. The Humanities: An Introduction to the Adventure

2.  Humanities  Tradition  Modes of Expression  Visual arts  Performing arts  Literary arts  Modes of Reflection  Religion  Philosophy

3.  The creative process of tradition as it occurred in the past and continues in the present.  They express our most intense experiences and reflect (on) our most essential truths.  The vehicle by which traditions travel through time.

4.  Tradition: a belief or behavior with origins in a distant past that is passed down within a group of people and has some symbolic meaning or special significance.  In terms of understanding this concept in relation to the humanities, we aren’t talking only about traditions such as having Thanksgiving dinner together; rather, we are referring here to artistic, literary, musical, religious, and philosophical traditions as well which in effect do shape the other types of traditions. The Western philosophical tradition, for example has long been grappling with the concept of reason; religious traditions of various types usually posit an afterlife, etc.  Traditions are transmitted in numerous ways: informally, through family customs, play, or folklore; or more formally, through training, schooling, and religious institutions.

5. An extended and more technical definition: The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, human constructs, and human concerns, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative. These are distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences which study natural processes (as in chemistry or physics) or those disciplines that study social relations (as in anthropology or economics).

6. Speculative means characterized by contemplative speculation. That is, the humanities approach their object of study through intellectual contemplation, consideration, and meditation. The conclusions, opinions, or theories that result from said meditation remain inconclusive. Speculation does not render demonstrable conclusions but only theoretical ones. In this way, the subject is left open for further inquiry.

7. Through the humanities, we learn how humans have expressed their most intense experiences and reflected on their most essential truths. The term “humanities” comes from the Latin phrase “studia humanitatis.” The term “studia humanitatis” (“studies of humanity”) was used by 15th-century Italian humanists to denote secular literary and scholarly activities (in grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, and ethics to name a few). Although the term itself may only date back to the 15 th century, the disciplines associated with the humanities have been studied and analyzed since the Ancients.

8. ( 551–479 BC) Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. While some philosophers of his period emphasized mysticism and retreat from society, Confucius emphasized participation in society.

9.  (469 BC – 399 BC) Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon. Socrates was tried and executed for “corrupting the youth of Athens” and for two counts of “impiety.”

10.  The jury was usually composed of five hundred Athenian citizens  No presiding magistrate; the jury was also the judge.  Prosecution made its speeches; then the defense (Socrates) made his. Apology  Socrates was said to be found guilty by only a little over a half of the voters.  Flee or die; Socrates chose death.  Apparently in accordance with his philosophy of obedience to law, he carried out his own execution, by drinking the hemlock provided to him.  Socrates died at the age of 70.

12.  (424/423 BC– 348/347 BC) Plato is also a classical Greek philosopher. He writes dialogues featuring Socrates.  Writes The Republic in which he describes the ideal city. In The Republic Plato defines justice and describes the proper order and character of the just city-state and the just man. The ideal city is ruled by the philosopher-king. Here too he discusses his concept of the forms and the immortality of the soul.

13. Visual Arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film Performing Arts: music, dance, and theater Literary Arts: poetry and prose

14.  The visual arts can be divided into those that are pictorial in nature  And those that result in the creation of three-dimensional things. This is called sculpture.

15. PICTORIALSCULPTURE  Drawings  Painting  Printmaking  Photography  Film  “in the round” or freestanding sculpture  Relief sculpture

16. The pictorial arts are part of the visual arts mode of expression: paintings, drawings, print-making, photography. In order to get the most out of the work of art it is important to know what elements make up the work of art.

17. In art, "medium" refers to the substance the artist uses to create his or her artwork. In pictorial the medium is the physical or material means by which a picture is communicated. Oil paint applied to wood or canvas? Watercolor on paper? Acrylic paint on fabric? Tempera on board? Ink on bamboo?

19. Lines: A line is an extended point and is considered the basic element of art. It can define a space, create an outline or pattern, imply movement or texture and show mass or volume. Lines can be straight or curved. They can define space as stable or orderly or establish tension and motion.

20. Shape is the space bound by a line. It may be curved or linear, regular or irregular. Shapes can be geometric (e.g.: square, circle, hexagon, etc.) or organic (such as the shape of a puddle, blob, leaf, boomerang, etc.)

21. Color pertains to the use of hue in artwork. There are primary colors (red, yellow, blue) which cannot be mixed in pigment from other hues and secondary colors (green, orange, violet) which are directly mixed from combinations of primary colors. Further combinations of primary and secondary colors can create more hues. Color is usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation and brightness (of the reflected light). Aside from their visual and emotional quality, colors also have symbolic importance.

22. Light refers to the contrast between darkness and lightness in the artwork. Light creates a sense of depth when it falls across an object. Light also creates dramatic interest by emphasizing important elements or creating a play of light and shadow.

23. Pattern is the repetition of a pictorial element according to a particular design. The pattern may consist of line, shape, or color. Patterns create a visual structure or rhythm that makes a picture’s meaning more intelligible.

24. Composition is the combination of a picture’s elements into one whole and in relation with each other. Composition may involve the picture’s division into major parts. Notice the division between the background figure of the model (well-lighted, on display) and the foreground figure of the painter (shadow, self-effacing) in Vermeer’s The Allegory of Painting (pg 279)

29. Freestanding sculpture is shaped so that the work stands freely and can be seen from all sides Relief sculpture is attached to a wall or panel and is meant to be viewed from one side only

30. MODES OF REFLECTION Closely allied to these arts are what may be called the modes of reflection which include philosophy, religion, and history. The modes of reflection work in close relation with the modes of expression in their exploration of the human condition and of questions such as, “What is truth? What is the nature of the divine? What makes us human?”

31.  Socrates as recorded in Plato: “I only know that I know nothing”  Plato: “To prefer evil to good is not in human nature”  Confucius: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” (Silver Rule)  Descartes: “I think, therefore I am.”  Sartre: “The existentialist says at once that man is anguish” and “Existence precedes essence”

32. POLYTHEISMMONOTHEISM  Polytheistic religions are characterized by the worship of and/or belief in more than one deity. In polytheism, deities are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals.  Monotheistic religions are characterized by the worship of and/or belief in one universal God. Many religions in the world are classified as monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.