Week 8

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS: Your contributions should be thoughtfully developed. Answer all parts of the question and use concepts from the course materials. Use a professional style of communication, with attention to grammar, spelling, and typos; cite your sources. Discuss ONE of the following options in no more than 300 words, and give a substantive response to at least two other students.1. REFLECT ON THE ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS. From the many artistic expressions provided in the course (paintings, photographs, videos, links, etc.), choose one that identifies a meaningful experience in the course. Explain why you chose that object and why it is meaningful. If possible, paste a copy or the link. Imagine that your choice will become a part of a Course Album of Meaningful Objects and your choice will be your contribution to the album.2. PERSONAL GROWTH. Paraphrasing Einstein, a person cannot grow remaining static—it takes new ideas, fresh thoughts and inspiration to bring about transformation. This is why the humanities are important. Where do you see the humanities helping you grow as a person?3. REFLECT ON THE VALUE OF THE HUMANITIES. There is a big focus on STEM fields of studies today, science, technology, engineering, and math. However, there are those who argue for STEAM, which includes the arts. What do you think the value of the humanities is to other fields? How might you convince someone in a STEM field of this value. This article from the Atlantic may be of use in thinking about your response. 4. REFLECT ON YOUR POSITION IN THE CAVE. We began this semester talking about Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. How can you use this allegory to discuss your experience of going through this class and your understanding of the Humanities? For instance, are you still chained in the cave watching shadows on the wall? Have you moved outside of the cave? Do you exist in both places now with regards to the Humanities? Do you prefer one place over another? Explain. You will not see any other postings until you post your own.Initial posts are due by Friday at 11:30PM ET and at least two responses to fellow classmates are expected by the end of the week on Sunday by 11:30PM ET.