discussion reply 13

When responding to your peers’ posts, explain why you agree or disagree with their point of view. Then, consider the article Extraordinary Outsiders: The Makers Who Don’t Know They’re Artists . Do you think the creative process is good for the average person? Explain why or why not.

I largely agree with the statements made by Kristof and Kaleem. Discussion and forum aren’t a regular part of most peoples lives any longer – social needs of the individual are being met my anonymous strangers online without forming a deeper connection or understanding. A factor made worse by many website’s ability to allow its users to control and limit what is and is not shown to them. Not only is most online conversation superficial, people are allowed to outright remove anything they feel uncomfortable with, or disagree with, preventing many of important “big questions” from ever arising. If one only surrounds themselves with like minded individuals, how would they even know to question their beliefs in the first place?

I feel that the asking and debate of these questions are how people come to know themselves and learn to respect those around them – even those with different views. Kelly Marie Tran, an actress from Star Wars: the Last Jedi, recently removed her social media profile due to ongoing harassment from the franchise’s fan base. This is the kind of behavior and mob mentality that this kind of social stagnancy leads to. In a world where people are never expected to acknowledge the beliefs and views of others, they feel entitled to behave in atrocious ways because obviously everyone else feels the same way.

The study of humanities promotes understanding and connection with other human beings. Compassion, empathy, and tolerance, perhaps the most underrated human feats of all.

Can you expand more on how exactly the study of the humanities “promotes understanding and connection”? Can you give an example?