What about the Humanities? What keeps us human/humane? I'm worried.

I read Ada Limon's farewell address as Poet Laureate of the United States yesterday; I took notes (no surprise there), and I'll be working on a short review/reflection about it soon. Suffice it to say, it is lovely, cogent, and addresses the things that hurt right now. 

I binge-watched four of the six episodes of a Netflix series called The Chair last night, at the suggestion of a dear friend. The premise is good: the main character, played by Sandra Oh, is a relatively young chairperson of an English department in a small college. She is tasked with essentially herding the old faculty, while trying to keep the younger ones on a tether, while trying to raise enrollment and engagement in the humanities--the existence of her department depends on this balancing act. Her efforts are complicated by her own family issues with an elderly father and an adopted daughter who keeps running off and/or getting into her own trouble. In short, chaos on the daily. I'm particularly drawn to one of the older professors, a feisty old woman whose specialty is Chaucer, who is seemingly targeted due to her age, her subject matter, and her gender. This character is played by Holland Taylor, an actress whose work I've always loved. I know I'm going to feel sad when the last two episodes are done-- so much of the academic politics feels all too familiar, though, but I do like these characters and the issues that the short series raises. Silenced honest academic discourse and the pressure to conform to please donors and the volatile student body make up a toxic presence that presents a pervasive challenge to doing what is more noble, right, and just-- yeah, that all feels far too real. If you are a teacher at any level, you know what I mean. And the pressures are only getting worse.

In my mind, the essay by Limon that focuses on the absolutely critical need for poetry and human engagement in the world "talks to" some of the more serious underlying issues in the Netflix drama. What will we become when AI takes over and humanity is left without the Humanities? Because that is a very real fear. Things of substance, of antiquity, of intrinsic human value are being intentionally erased --indeed, bulldozed or glittered-over-- on the hour, lately. The current administration has permanently damaged ancient and sacred indigenous carvings to build more wall. Arts funding is zeroed, and the places where people have long gathered to celebrate the joy and sorrow of what it means to be human are shuttered-- the Kennedy Center for the Arts is potentially slated to be gutted and stripped down to the steel. 

In short, today's "vision" is intentionally apocalyptic. And the "art" is AI slop. And it's hard to see if anyone younger than 40 cares. And it's hard to care, when the economy is being destroyed, homes are out of reach, groceries are getting too expensive, and gasoline prices are gouging holes in daily living activities. 

But we have to try. We have to show people what is worth preserving-- buildings, art, green spaces. All of it. Otherwise, what have we got left? Why do we need to constantly shore up the military, if there is nothing at all of real value to protect? We are sorely out of balance, as a human community. 

"Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;-- / Little we see in Nature that is ours;/ We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" (Wordsworth)

Have a good day. Read something wonderful. Sing a song, paint a picture, take a photo. And hold your loved ones close. We need to.

C