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243 amazing humanities topics for research.

humanities topics

Humanities is an academic discipline that deals with studying the different aspects of culture and human society. This field has a rich historical background that distinguishes it from other empirical approaches to the natural sciences.

The different fields in humanities include archaeology, classics, philosophy, religion, linguistics, and languages. You will encounter methods such as hermeneutics and source criticism in the course of your study. It is crucial to understand that scholars in humanities significant to questions rather than answers.

What Are Humanities Topics?

These are topics that major in interpreting the known facts and look at them from a fresh perspective. Unlike sciences and other fields, there are no restrictive rules – you can create them in the form of art.

Humanities topics involve the study of human society and social relationships. Such titles are analytical and deal with the philosophical questions of what makes us human. Since they trace their origin from ancient Greece, these topics take a more historical turn.

When coming up with humanities topics, it is essential to consider the following:

  • They should be practical
  • They should impact society as a whole
  • Should relate the historical and current perspectives

Humanities students have the rare opportunity of understanding ancient and modern events that shape human life. You can learn all things from the romantic era’s poetry to the rise and fall of empires in the 15th century. It thus widens your understanding of the historical perspectives of almost every aspect of life.

In humanities topics, college students get strengthened in their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. But what are the best topics in humanities that you can present and score an A+?

Look at the topics below for inspiration.

Best-Rated Anthropology Humanities Paper Topics

  • How different aspects of the social sciences relate with humanities and human biology.
  • Reproducible and verifiable experiments in human anthropology
  • Local traditions that shape the structure and functioning of human life
  • Scientific methods to understand social phenomena in the society
  • Why do humanities use nuanced descriptions rather than general laws?
  • A critical look at the different branches of anthropology
  • Factors that inhibit the study of anthropological linguistics
  • Why cultural anthropology receives a cold shoulder among most undergraduate students
  • Describe a case study that properly illustrates sociocultural anthropology
  • Why is it difficult to provide a holistic account of humans and human nature?
  • Why do anthropologists only specialize in one sub-field?
  • Explain the importance of the biological, linguistic, historical, and cultural aspects of any problem.
  • Describe the impact of anthropology arising as a science in Western societies
  • Major industrial trends associated with anthropology research
  • Effectiveness of methodological drives in studying peoples in communities with more simple social organization
  • Why non-western cultures are least accepted in most countries?
  • The quest for holism in the study of humanities
  • How to use the biogenetic, archaeological, and linguistic data in humanities

Professional Topics For Humanities Classes

  • Factors affecting the proper record keeping of archaeological data
  • The role of architecture, biofacts, and Eco facts in human archaeology
  • Using culture history to reconstruct past lifeways in ancient culture
  • Explain the various changes in human societies through time.
  • Describe the origin of humanities in the Classical Greek
  • How the general education dating from the Sophists in the mid-5th century influenced humanities
  • The role of early Middle Ages Church Fathers in humanities
  • Describe the role of 15th-century Italian humanists to denote secular literary
  • How ancient Greek and Latin studies have helped advance research in humanities
  • The impact of the separation of humanities from the realm of the divine
  • Methods of the maturing physical sciences in the scholarly arena
  • Discuss the contemporary conceptions concerning the study of humanities
  • Conduct a complete analysis of the humanities curriculum in the U.S.A.
  • How to propagate a self-sufficient system of human values in the society
  • How to distinguish the humanities from the social sciences

High-Quality Topics For Humanities Research Papers

  • How different countries vary in the way of their social interactions
  • What is the impact of breaking down humanities into other majors?
  • Global political and economic issues affecting the study of humanities
  • Using sociology to draw a complete picture of how the world works
  • How to reinvent the best ideas from the past occurrences effectively
  • The role of critical thinking and effective communication in humanities
  • Which set of abilities should students have for humanities?
  • Discuss the factors that affect the behavior of individuals and society
  • Why are humanities papers on marriage among the most relevant nowadays?
  • Is it true that focusing on the family is vital for one’s self-development?
  • Discuss the notion of different societies concerning aging
  • Why is the world still struggling with the problem of inequality to date?
  • Factors affecting changes in social interactions among communities
  • The role of social media in shaping the perspectives of different people
  • Evaluate the factors affecting teenagers in the 21st century

Impressive Topics For Humanities Research Paper

  • Discuss the impact of various social movements in advocating for change
  • Why is child abuse still a pertinent issue in the 21st century?
  • The role of social backgrounds in contributing to conflicts at workplaces
  • What is the main challenge facing racial movements?
  • An analysis of the reaction of people towards social policies
  • Elaborate on the trends and impacts of irresponsible teenage behavior in the society
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of early marriages
  • Why should parents not restrict their children from accessing the internet?
  • Analyze the different class systems and their impact on associations
  • What is the primary cause of criminal organizations in different societies?
  • A case study of cliques among high school and college students
  • The risk of delaying early childhood education among children in the U.S.A.
  • Discuss the various clashes between different social classes in the world
  • What is the place of the marginalized in society?
  • Discuss the impact of the Me Too movement on the girl-child

Hot Humanities Research Topics

  • What are the leading causes of drinking among a majority of the population?
  • Discuss the various means of dealing with institutional crisis
  • The role of capitalism and communism in the study of humanities
  • What are the impacts of immigration into the U.S. from Mexico?
  • The role of gender in determining leadership positions in the society
  • Theoretical foundations of humanities in different institutions
  • Discuss the significant differences between sects and cults
  • Elaborate on the impact of the myths and misconceptions about coronavirus
  • The role of poverty in facilitating violence and civil unrest
  • Is cultural segmentation a good thing?
  • The effect of technology on preserving historical facts
  • Why social theories are essential in the field of humanities
  • Discuss the origin of the discrimination against African-Americans
  • An overview of the effects of cultural assimilation
  • Is it possible to eliminate healthcare disparities among the LGBT community?

Interesting Humanities Topics

  • Discuss the role of video games in advancing violence in societies
  • Why fashion is becoming a distraction for many in the society
  • Discuss why the topic of abortion is a live wire in most societies
  • A case study of mass media and fear during terrorism attacks
  • Discuss the social role of mass media in communities
  • Why has online dating distorted the necessity of marriages?
  • Discuss the evolution of lifestyles from the 15th century to date
  • The part of body images in appealing to emotions
  • Why are most college students victims of poor time management?
  • The effects of the social, cultural engagements in the development of societies
  • Discuss the political aspects that relate to social interactions
  • Why are primarily teenagers and youths defiant to their parents?
  • Why people from different nationalities differ from each other
  • Why can’t the millennial live without updates of any event?
  • Social issues affecting students in colleges and universities

Latest Humanities Project Ideas

  • Discuss the different branches of humanities concerned with creative audio-visual pursuits
  • Conduct an in-depth analysis of the human communication and behavior
  • Critically examine the role of the justice system in advancing equality
  • Current issues facing societies about the coronavirus prevention protocols
  • The part of statistical data relating to population
  • Explore the environmental foundations necessary for humanities
  • Look at the gender divide in society and how to address it
  • Discuss the cultural construct of the masculine and feminine identity
  • Explore the field of Geography and its relationship to humanities
  • How people interact with different physical features
  • What are the challenges when it comes to relations between nations?
  • Examine why language is essential for any society to thrive
  • The role of multi-cultural and regional dimensions to humanities
  • Why the study of beliefs, histories, values, and geographic backgrounds is necessary
  • A systematic review of the issues affecting rational arguments

Top-Tier Humanities Topics Ideas

  • Examine the role of religion and mythology in the study of humanities
  • Why is pop music gaining acceptance among the general population?
  • Investigate the relationship between society and social relationships
  • Explore how the politics and government of the United States has evolved over the ages
  • Study the implications of studying philosophy to the growth of a society
  • Dive into the impact of peer-reviewed humanities papers
  • The role of diversity in making the world a better place
  • The importance of intersectionality and discrimination in any society
  • Why differences can also advance peace and harmony
  • Discuss the social relations between Islam and Christians
  • Evaluate the process that led to the unification of Germany
  • How did the Vietnam War affect the relationships of different countries?
  • Outline the impacts of the great migration
  • Impact of the Women’s Suffrage movements in championing for female rights
  • How did the Ottoman Empire contribute to socialization?

World-Class Topics in Humanities

  • Discuss the conflict between religion and social order
  • What is the best disciplinary action for employees’ misconduct outside work
  • The role of sales tax on internet purchases
  • Why it is essential to understand the history of Europe in understanding humanities
  • Why are human beings anatomically similar?
  • The part of Greek and Latin texts and language in the study of humanities
  • Why are the classical-era scholars in important in humanities?
  • Discuss the role of humanities in institutions of higher learning
  • Why do humanities and liberal studies make up the bulk of specialization for college students
  • Give a substantive analysis of the renaissance-era humanists
  • The place of a balanced curriculum in fostering critical humanist skills
  • How humanities help students achieve analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Why do most universities require multiple humanities courses?
  • Discuss the events that led to the French revolution
  • The implications of William Shakespeare’s plays

Medical Humanities Research Topics

  • Discuss the ethical and humanistic dimensions of medicine
  • Analyze the impact of various medical and technological advances
  • The growing interest of researchers in the field of neuro-ethics
  • Discuss the relationship between medicine and humanities
  • How has the history of medicine varied with that of the humanities sector?
  • Critical issues of healthcare access and public health policy
  • What are the factors facing doctor-patient relationships?
  • Discuss how to deal with end-of-life issues in medicine
  • How does the media impact the study and progress of medicine?
  • Analyze the relationship between medicine and society
  • Who are the most significant scholars in medical anthropology?
  • A critical analysis of empathy and experience of illness
  • Choices available for doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit
  • How the issues of limited resources impact access to medical care
  • Analyze the ethics of medical advances

Good Research Topics For Humanities

  • Informed consent issues for the matter of terminal diseases
  • Why is humanities a rich interdisciplinary concentration?
  • The vital importance of diversity in any society
  • The state of empathy and sympathy during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Explore the different aspects of poetry
  • Is it practical for anyone to work late in the night?
  • How modern literature writers find meaning and inspiration in the works
  • Ethical issues involved in the dialysis of the obese, homeless, and diabetic
  • Why motivational interviewing was preferred for patients with diabetes?
  • Discuss the effects of stigma among leaders
  • The role of technology in reshaping the future of social interactions
  • An innovative approach on the psychological aspects students
  • Discuss the essentials of a practical counseling session
  • Why do there exist disparities between the likeness of children to their parents
  • The effects of becoming a counseling psychologist

Unique Topics For Humanities Research Paper

  • Personal and professional reflections on the 9/11
  • How parents can handle children with disabilities
  • The impact of social media on the freedom of speech: A case of Facebook
  • The role of the international criminal court in maintains world law and order.
  • Analyze the economic context of a novel
  • Emergent property and consciousness in the study of philosophy
  • Discuss the effectiveness of the theories of punishment
  • Are we likely to experience a third and fourth wave of feminism?
  • What are the factors that are likely to cause philosophical anarchism?
  • Discuss the growth and spread of Pentecostalism in Latin America
  • Evaluate the impact of the Great Awakenings in the U.S. history
  • Conduct an overview of the Shia minorities in the Middle East
  • What are the social and cultural implications of the Religious Freedom Act?
  • Do atheists honestly believe that there is no God?
  • How to foster relationships among the Catholics and Evangelicals

College Humanities Essay Topics

  • The necessity of teaching children the gender issues
  • What is the origin of the discussions for and against gay marriages?
  • Is it correct to say that everyone is a stereotype by default?
  • An overview of the international marriages and globalism
  • The impact of spending more time on social networking sites
  • The role of social norms and cultures in a given society
  • Why do most people experience challenges shifting from one culture to another?
  • Discuss the relationship between a class and a student’s performance
  • Are unconventional families essential for the growth and development of any child?
  • Why do most students prefer foreign education over any other?
  • Discuss the concept of the right to privacy
  • Why do some studies need to engage in patriotism students?
  • The role of economic prosperity in influencing patriotism
  • Discuss the relationship between social media and addiction
  • A case study of WhatsApp as the best social media group in the U.S.A.

Topics in Digital Humanities

  • Discuss the various tools and methods for nineteenth-century American literature
  • Understanding how the media is involved in human interactions
  • Why digital communications technologies are the new norm
  • Analyze the nature and extent of the digital revolution
  • The history of computing in the humanities
  • A humanistic critique of the computational methods
  • Why most practitioners are opting for digital communication
  • The role of the computer as a continual tool of innovation
  • The process of using and building digital projects
  • Incorporating digital technologies in archiving archaeological data
  • Discuss the connection between traditional and digital textual scholarship
  • Large-scale digital literary analysis
  • Explore the potential of the digital academic data
  • The broader context of the digital humanities
  • How to computationally research and teach in humanities

Top Humanities Research Project Topics

  • Analysis of the macroscopic trends in cultural change
  • A textual analysis of digital archives
  • Why is there a lack of focus in pedagogy?
  • Issues of access to information in the society
  • Impact of online publishing in humanities
  • Cultural analytic tools necessary for humanities
  • The role of doctors in assisted suicide
  • What should administrators do to campus violence perpetrators?
  • The ethical downside of capital punishment
  • Who should determine the legal drinking age?
  • Why is modesty too hard to achieve nowadays?
  • The life of prisons and prisoners
  • Why doping in sports is still prevalent
  • Discuss the limitations of college admission policies
  • The role of education and funding

Humanities And Arts Research Topics

  • Home-schooling
  • Literacy levels in America
  • The role of prayer in schools
  • Programming and advertising
  • The portrayal of women by media
  • Physical attention techniques
  • Affirmative action programs in the U.S.A.
  • What is the way forward on gambling?
  • Race relations
  • Learning disabilities
  • Family values
  • Intelligence tests
  • Distant learning
  • White-collar jobs
  • Morals and values

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220 Best Humanities Research Topics to Get Started

Table of Contents

Humanities is a broad academic discipline that deals with the various facets of culture and human society. It mainly involves the study of languages, philosophy, literature, religion, art, history, law, archaeology, and anthropology. If you are a humanities student, then as a part of your course, you will have to submit a research paper on any interesting topic related to the subject. In case, you are unsure what topic to choose for your humanities research paper, then check this blog post. For your convenience, here, we have presented a list of the great humanities research topics in various categories. Also, we have shared a few significant tips for selecting a good humanities research topic.

Without wasting your time, explore this blog post and get more ideas for humanities research paper writing.

Humanities Research Topics

Tips for Selecting a Good Humanities Research Topic

Before jumping into the humanities research topics list, first, let us take a look at how to select a good humanities research topic.

Usually, when it comes to research paper writing assignments, your professors will share some writing prompts for you to choose from. But, at certain times, they will allow you to select a topic on your own. In such a scenario, you may get confused about what topic to choose.

If you are given a chance to select the humanities research topic of your choice, follow the below-mentioned tips. It would help you identify an ideal humanities research topic.

  • Pick a practical research topic.
  • Choose a topic that belongs to your area of interest.
  • Go with a topic that is related to both the current and historical perspectives.
  • Give preference to the topic that is impactful to society.
  • Never pick a topic with no or less research scope.
  • Select a topic that is matching to the research methodology of your choice.
  • Consider a topic that is interesting and informative to your readers.
  • Choose a research topic that has extensive information and credible sources for reference.
  • Select a topic that contains valid facts, evidence, or examples supporting your major points of discussion.

Besides all these steps, before finalizing your research topic, check whether the topic you have identified stands in line with the writing guidelines of your professor or university. Once you have chosen a perfect humanities research topic, start writing the research paper by using your writing skills, after conducting deep research.

List of the Best Humanities Research Topics

To write a humanities research paper, you can choose a topic from any discipline such as arts, religion, philosophy, medicine, etc.

Humanities Research Topics

Especially, to make your topic selection process simple and help you save time, below we have added a list of outstanding humanities research paper ideas on various categories. Go through the entire list carefully and pick any topic that is convenient for you to research and write about.

Basic Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Assess the best strategies for negotiations during wars.
  • How do body image issues change with age?
  • Does book reading make people more social?
  • How does economic prosperity affect the feeling of patriotism?
  • Explain the effects of gender-based violence on children’s personalities.
  • Explain how social media affect America’s political decisions.
  • What are the social changes in developed nations?
  • Research the effectiveness of the UN in fostering global peace.
  • Discuss the negative impacts of teen pregnancies.
  • What is the role of America in Europe’s restoration after WWII?
  • Discuss the role of artists in a time of war
  • Application of the views of Socrates to western democracy in the 21 st Century
  • Evaluation of Appalachian language and its academic power
  • Critical analysis of the role of conflicts in violence
  • Why building resilience is important for ensuring environmental sustainability?
  • Perspective pathways to greater human flourishing
  • Regional Identity and Appalachian Language
  • The 18th Century Conventions of Feminism and Jane Austen
  • How can the theories of Socrates be applied to 21st-century Western Democracy?
  • Briefly discuss the historical tension between religion and science with examples

Excellent Humanities Project Ideas

  • Compare human and animal sacrifice in religion.
  • Are fast foods spoiling traditional food cultures?
  • What are the pros and cons of studying gender issues in school?
  • How photography is framing public opinion in the 21st century?
  • Investigate the role of the justice system in advancing equality.
  • Compare African socialism in the 1950 and 1970s.
  • Discuss the environmental foundations necessary for humanities.
  • Explain the pros and cons of studying humanities.
  • Discuss how cultural stereotypes are developed by superstitions.
  • Why is it hard to stop bullying in school?
  • Research why language is essential for any society to thrive.
  • What impact do graphic novels have on literacy?
  • Assess human communication and behavior.
  • How oral history has affected modern culture?
  • How science fiction has invaded the mainstream culture around the world?
  • How do intersectionality and gender bias affect inclusion and diversity in the workplace?
  • Describe the current status of transgender and other sexual minority communities in Canada
  • Discuss some common social justice issues across every country in the world
  • Humanity is the best religion and the essence of human existence: Explain
  • Impact of the feminism movement on society

Great Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Discuss the link between bureaucracy and the law-making process.
  • Write about the executive power in the US.
  • What are the ethical issues involved in media advertising?
  • Explain the connection between Italian fashion and Chinese culture.
  • Discuss the impact of dual nationality on political views.
  • Analyze the effects of poverty in rural communities.
  • How Twitter has transformed into a powerful political platform?
  • Is capitalism the best system?
  • What is the impact of the Neolithic revolution on people’s cognitive abilities?
  • Discuss the effects of daily family routines on a child’s development.
  • How to differentiate the humanities from the social sciences?
  • Explain the role of capitalism and communism in the study of humanities.
  • What are the global political and economic issues that affect the study of humanities?
  • Discuss the effects of irresponsible teenage behavior in society.
  • Discuss the pros and cons of early marriages.
  • Analyze the humanities curriculum in the U.S.A.
  • Write about the origin of humanities in Classical Greek.
  • What are the factors that inhibit the study of anthropological linguistics?
  • Explain the factors that modify the behavior of individuals and society.
  • Explain the impact of the Me Too movement on the girl-child.

Captivating Humanities Research Topics

  • What are the effects of Consumerism on sustainability?
  • Write about the fashion trends in society.
  • Research the social problems faced by people who are with disabilities.
  • Why does cultural appropriation always result in political contests?
  • Should poverty be treated as a social issue?
  • What are the benefits of countercultures in society?
  • How to prevent the fight for resources in families using the conflict theory?
  • What is the role of the bible in the development of US democracy?
  • Explain the major differences between interstate conflicts and wars.
  • Using the critical race theory analyze the Black Lives Matter activist movement.
  • Analyze the impact of different class systems on associations.
  • What are the various clashes between different social classes in the world?
  • Discuss the effect of various social movements in advocating for change.
  • What is the ultimate cause of criminal organizations in different societies?
  • Explain the effect of technology on preserving historical facts.
  • Explore the reaction of people towards social policies.
  • Discuss the differences between sects and cults.
  • What is the impact of the separation of humanities from the realm of the divine?
  • Discuss the role of critical thinking and effective communication in humanities.
  • What is the role of early Middle Ages Church Fathers in humanities?

Humanities Research Paper Topics

Humanities Research Topics in Philosophy

  • Discuss election ethics.
  • What are the main causes of war?
  • Prepare a case study of Europe in the 20th century based on the application of socialism.
  • Discuss the inference of learning philosophy for the growth of a society.
  • Discuss the implications of scientific realism on judgment by scientists.
  • How to eradicate corruption in society?
  • Explore mind philosophy and problems with dualism.
  • Discuss the main challenges involved in regulating the environment using laws.
  • Are morals relative to society or culture?
  • Using Aristotle’s perspectives define a perfect government.

Humanities and Arts Research Paper Topics

  • How does art education make people think differently?
  • Discuss the effect of music on modern culture and society.
  • Explain the impact of the Cultural Revolution on Chinese art.
  • Compare the themes in modern and traditional Caribbean music.
  • What is water puppetry in Vietnamese tradition?
  • Analyze the Mayan art and society.
  • Explain the music and political propaganda in the 20th century.
  • Compare the role of liberal arts education in the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • What is the use of totem masks in Papua New Guinea art?
  • Discuss the causes of the decline of art in medieval Europe.
  • Explain how Japanese art influenced that country’s clothing.
  • How the modern art is related to American suffering?
  • What is the effect of the printing press on the wide-scale spread of art?
  • What is the influence of ancient art on current artistic trends?
  • Describe the ancient Greek and Roman motifs in modern architectural works.
  • Discuss the effects of social media on digital art and the spread of ideas.
  • Explain the K-pop music style and subculture.
  • Explain the impact of mythology on the sculptures of Ancient Greece.
  • Depict war in 20th-century art.
  • Should advertisements be seen as a form of modern art?

Medical Humanities Research Topics

  • Can exercise ruin a person’s health?
  • Should a doctor be allowed to offer medical help against the desires of the guardian?
  • Discuss the impact of various medical and technological advances.
  • Explain how to deal with end-of-life issues in medicine.
  • How are medical addictions portrayed in literature?
  • Where the people with mental issues should be treated- in or outside their communities?
  • Explain the history of abortion throughout the 20th century.
  • What is the relationship between medicine and humanities?
  • Examine the practice of medicine across different cultures.
  • Is it ethical to use animals for testing drugs?
  • Discuss the ethics of medical advances.
  • Explain the medical practices in the field of battle.
  • Discuss the criminal charges for medical malpractice throughout the 21st century.
  • How do humanities affect the use of alternative medicines?
  • Discuss the religious impact on the medical community.

Digital Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Why do social media make people feel lonely as opposed to connecting them?
  • How to incorporate digital technologies in archiving archaeological data?
  • Discuss the history of computing in the humanities.
  • Explain the effect of Modern devices and technology on people’s relationships.
  • Evaluate the nature and extent of the digital revolution.
  • What are the effects of video games on violence in society?
  • Have a closer look at humanities studies and the age of information technology.
  • Discuss the history of the printing press and its role in spreading ideas.
  • How do modern gadgets affect people’s mental health?
  • Should we adopt a scientific approach to the problem of alcoholism?
  • Does digital technology offer a better life?
  • Explore the potential of digital academic data.
  • Discuss the future of digital communication.
  • Explain how data visualization tools are changing people’s opinions.
  • Discuss the change in people’s jobs because of technological developments.

Humanities Research Topics on Religion

  • Discuss the conflict between religion and social order.
  • Compare the two most ancient religions in society.
  • What is the role of religion in contemporary society?
  • Explain the concept of reincarnation in different religions.
  • What is the major reason for the emergence of new religions?
  • What is the importance of the church in the well-being of society?
  • Compare funeral rituals in two religions of your choice.
  • Explain the difference between new and older religious movements.
  • Discuss the positive changes that can be achieved through religious practices.
  • Analyze the concept of Goddess and God in religion.
  • Explain the similarities between religions around the world.
  • What is the effect of sacrificial traditions in ancient religions on today’s society?
  • Discuss female clergy in religions.
  • What is the relationship between religion and science?
  • Explain the role of religion and mythology in the study of humanities.

Amazing Humanities Research Ideas

  • What are the effects of cultural assimilation?
  • Explain why the topic of abortion is a live wire in most societies.
  • What is the role of poverty in facilitating violence and civil unrest?
  • Why has online dating twisted the necessity of marriage?
  • Why is pop music gaining acceptance among the general population?
  • Is cultural segmentation a good thing?
  • Prepare a case study of mass media and fear during terrorist attacks.
  • How to handle the institutional crisis?
  • Why social theories are significant in the field of humanities?
  • What is the role of gender in determining leadership positions in society?
  • Explain the social issues that affect students in colleges and universities.
  • Analyze the effects of the great migration.
  • Why are primarily teenagers and youths resistant to their parents?
  • Explain the consequences of intersectionality and discrimination in any society.
  • Compare pop music and classical music

Read more: Great Human Rights Topics For Writing Academic Papers

Outstanding Humanities Research Topics

  • Write about Western humanities in the 21 st
  • Discuss symbolism in television sci-fi shows.
  • Explain the evolution of socialist movements throughout the world.
  • Write about humanities in the computer age and mass information.
  • How does online publishing affect humanities?
  • Describe the Bible’s representation of humanities and culture.
  • Write about community volunteer programs and their impact on youths.
  • Discuss the influence of science on humanities over the centuries.
  • Present the different definitions of freedom from around the world.
  • Why the tools for cultural analysis are essential for humanities?
  • Alternative dispute resolution mechanism for the settlement of environmental disputes in Nigeria: A Study of Ojodu Community, Lagos State
  • Describe the scarily lucrative business model of human trafficking
  • Technical Change And Productivity in the Manufacturing Industry in Imo State of Nigeria
  • How the military force of a nation can promote human security in conflict situations?
  • Analyze the governance and service delivery of the local government in the Kiruhura District of Uganda

Top-rated Humanities Dissertation Topics

  • What are the challenges faced by adult graduates with learning technologies?
  • Explain the impact of the internet on the emotional maturity of the students.
  • How do the qualities of family life affect parent-child relationships?
  • Assess the link between classroom quality and learning results in kindergarten.
  • Is creativity a type of fantasy?
  • What are the major causes of the Cold War?
  • Discuss the effect of adoption on parent-child relationships.
  • Investigate how racism affects a family unit.
  • What are the political and social implications of design?
  • Explain the future of humanity in an extraterrestrial world.
  • Examining the most effective tactics for wartime negotiations: Utilize three 20th-century example studies.
  • When should kids start receiving sex education?
  • Offspring of multinational marriages facing identification challenges.
  • Who is responsible for defending human rights on a global scale? A study of the International Criminal Court’s efficacy.
  • The major reason for misunderstandings in social media communication is a lack of face-to-face encounters.

Read more: Interesting Dissertation Topics to Consider for Academic Writing

Informative Humanities Research Ideas

  • Answering the challenging inquiries What is the main reason for the conflicts between Israel and Palestine? Can it or it be dealt with?
  • How Twitter has become a potent political tool.
  • Do gender and spirituality go together?
  • Should the United States be held accountable for the severe harm that its use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused to Japan?
  • Should social media use be controlled to lessen the risk of addiction and other adverse effects?
  • Discuss the role played by NGOs and free-of-cost education service delivery organizations to develop underdeveloped nations
  • Participation motives and competitive orientation of football players in the Kenyan Women’s Premier League
  • Analyze the central idea of marriage in African Religio-Culture with reference to the Maasai of Kajiado County, Kenya
  • Critical analysis of women’s political participation: a case of Bomachoge constituency in Kenya (1963-2013)
  • Association between paternal illicit drug and alcohol consumption, complementary feeding and children’s nutrition status

Awesome Humanities Research Topics

  • A critical look at the different branches of anthropology
  • Explain the various changes in human societies through time.
  • How to propagate a self-sufficient system of human values in the society
  • What is the impact of breaking down humanities into other majors?
  • Discuss the notion of different societies concerning aging
  • Elaborate on the impact of the myths and misconceptions about coronavirus
  • Discuss the political aspects that relate to social interactions
  • Explore the field of Geography and its relationship to humanities
  • A systematic review of the issues affecting rational arguments
  • Evaluate the process that led to the unification of Germany

Final Words

Out of the different ideas suggested in this blog, select any topic of your choice and draft a brilliant humanities research paper. In case, you need help with humanities research paper topic selection and writing, get in touch with us immediately. We have numerous subject experts on our platform to offer you high-quality humanities assignment help online. Mainly, in accordance with the requirements you share with us, our humanities assignment helpers will prepare and deliver a plagiarism-free research paper prior to the submission date and will also help you in fetching top grades.

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233 Great Humanities Topics For 2023

humanities topics

Picking a great paper topic is the first step you need to put together a great assignment. In humanities classes, this is very important because you need to consider topics that will explore new areas in the subject but also be topics that can be thoroughly researched given the limitations of an assignment. If you ask, “what are humanities topics I can use to write a great research paper?” you can refer to the list of free humanities paper topics below:

Humanities and Arts Research Topics

These humanities research paper topics are great for students interested in art history and other related fields that take a close look at the impact art has had on society:

  • Impact of Middle Eastern art on Western civilization.
  • American art influences democracy.
  • The Romantic period and modern art techniques.
  • Depictions of war in 20 th -century art.
  • Defining the European distress in modern art forms.
  • Racist depictions in early global maps and the impact on societies.
  • The ways that medicine has impacted how we view cultural expression.
  • Human flourishing and different perspectives in modern art.
  • Religious influence in 19 th -century European art.
  • The African American experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
  • The influence of music on modern culture and society.
  • Political propaganda in 20 th century American and European art.
  • The Beat Generation and its influence on modern art.
  • Ancient art and its influence on current artistic trends.
  • Mayan and Aztec artistic influence on current Latino cultures.
  • The Reformation Period and its impact on the art of the 20 th century.
  • Social media’s impact on digital art and the spread of ideas.
  • The impact of the printing press on the widescale spread of art.
  • The impact that modern warfare has had on artistic expression.
  • The stolen art of WWII and how it relates to cultures.
  • Early cave paintings and the understanding of human culture.
  • Racism and negative ethnic depictions in 20 th -century art.
  • Explain the ways Japanese art influenced the country’s clothing.
  • Popular music is an artistic form of expression among youth.
  • The censorship of specific artforms and the impact on culture.
  • The most famous architectural works from around the world.
  • How architecture was influenced by foreign cultures.
  • Ancient Greek and Roman motifs in modern architectural works.
  • The influence of 20 th -century art on 21 st -century culture.
  • How music influences youth culture in the 21 st century.

Topics in Digital Humanities

This is a relatively new field that offers a lot of opportunities for exploration. Just be sure you consider your topic carefully, as you may have some trouble finding information in your research:

  • Social media’s impact on third world countries.
  • The impact social media has had on international relations.
  • The ways digital humanities is changing the educators teach children.
  • Explain how digital access to information affects culture.
  • Metadata and scholarship processing in the 21 st century.
  • Language processing with the use of digital tools.
  • Linguistics and the role digital humanities has on the future.
  • The study of migration using technology.
  • Digital tools and their role in mapping underground structures.
  • Digital communication creates a bigger gap between generations.
  • The study of ancient texts through digital technologies.
  • Digital humanities and the mapping of our ancestral histories.
  • Linked open data and the challenges it faces in gathering data.
  • The ways digital archiving has helped people embrace ancestral cultures.
  • Researching art using digital technologies.
  • The impact digital humanities will have on higher education.
  • The media’s use of digital communication can affect the way we identify culturally.
  • Digital humanities in the developing world.
  • Machine learning and its impact on the discipline of humanities.
  • Implementing digital tools and resources into education.
  • Forensic study in the search for hidden meaning in texts.
  • Encoding U.S. documents to improve the legal process.
  • Digital communication and how we view military conflicts.
  • Access to digital information helps people learn more efficiently.
  • Removing discrepancies in translations of ancient works.
  • Recognizing patterns in historical literature.
  • Digital archives and analysis of the written word.
  • The ways data visualization tools are changing people’s opinions.
  • Digital humanities change the way we view our cultural past.
  • The ways digital humanities have helped us visually recreate ancient cities.

Medical Humanities Research Topics

These ideas are great to write about because many discussions are occurring on the internet. Writing about medical issues is a great way to get the reader’s attention. Here are some great topics to consider for a humanities research paper:

  • Humanities studies impact doctor-assisted suicide cases.
  • The history of abortion throughout the 20 th century.
  • Cultural influences and prenatal genetic testing in developed countries.
  • The evolution of medical costs in the United States.
  • The ways that medical theories have been represented in art.
  • Informing families of patients’ illnesses throughout literature.
  • Wearing a mask after Covid-19 and its effects on culture.
  • Social distancing and the connections made through social media.
  • Creating a culture of social distancing to avoid future pandemics.
  • Giving doctors the right to work extra hours without pay.
  • How literature influences the use of marijuana for medical regions.
  • Robotics replacing the roles of nurses and doctors in the medical field.
  • Medical depictions in art versus religious depictions in art.
  • How are medical addictions portrayed in literature?
  • The practice of medicine across different cultures.
  • Medical ethics is involved in deciding who lives and dies.
  • Medical practices in the field of battle.
  • Medical care for people from low-income areas.
  • The impact art has had on growing the medical community.
  • Medical records and the development of treatments.
  • How humanities influence the use of alternative medicines.
  • How religion impacts the way patients agree to treatments.
  • Criminal charges for medical malpractice throughout the 21 st century.
  • Representation of the medical profession through the 20 th century.
  • The rise of confidentiality agreements in the medical field.
  • Questions and concerns regarding abortion in the modern age.
  • The decision to vaccinate or not for the safety of the greater population.
  • Religious impact on the medical community.
  • The rights of patients when religion prevents certain procedures.
  • Medical depictions in the art are against religious principles.

Good Research Topics for Humanities

If you don’t have a lot of time to conduct in-depth research, you may want to write about any of these topics in humanities. You will have no trouble finding information on the web, just be sure you use trustworthy sources when making your argument:

  • The impact television has had on modern culture.
  • Political commentary in modern music.
  • The role humanities will play on future generations.
  • The ways humans flourish through different shared perspectives.
  • The need to promote the study of humanities in schools.
  • The application of philosophy in western democracy.
  • Artistic influence during the times of war.
  • The ways the Depression of the 1930s influenced culture.
  • Broadening the mind through international travel.
  • Literature and the increasing rate of illiteracy in adults.
  • The impact music has on political propaganda.
  • Fair treatment of immigrants in the U.S.
  • Western humanities in the 21 st century.
  • The ways culture is shaped by modern photography.
  • Eastern philosophy and its influence on western cultures.
  • Cults and modern religious movements in American society.
  • Eastern religion and its influence on western beliefs.
  • The importance of studying philosophy in humanities.
  • International trade routes and the spread of cultures.
  • The impact of social media in modern culture.
  • Social media and the dissemination of international news.
  • The impact that media has on modern culture.
  • The Ottoman Empire and its role in shaping the Middle East.
  • The impact the 20 th migration movement had on international policy.
  • The lost Native-American languages and the country’s culture.
  • The influence that African music has had on American culture.
  • The impact Joe Hill had on the country’s early labor struggles.
  • The influence of the Beat Generation on modern culture.
  • The unification of Germany and its impact on international policy.
  • Gender expectations in American modern fiction.

Humanities Project Ideas for High School

When writing any assignment, you always want to make sure you choose a good topic. These humanities topics ideas are great for students that are still learning skills in researching and writing. Students should have no trouble finding information:

  • Sacrificial traditions in ancient religions and their impact on today’s society.
  • The impact the printing press had on spreading religion.
  • Theatre of the absurd and its impact on modern culture.
  • The protection of traditions when they are considered unethical.
  • Questions that arise from space exploration efforts.
  • The impact the IRA has had on international relations.
  • Interpreting Sigmund Freud’s theories in the 21 st century.
  • Cultural differences between Latin American countries.
  • The Chinese Communist Revolution and its influence on global culture.
  • Fairy tales and the influence they have had on modern cinema.
  • Symbolism in television sci-fi shows.
  • How the gothic genre has captured new readers.
  • The history of nationalism in the United States vs. European countries.
  • Speakeasies in the 1920s and the role they had in shaping culture.
  • The Sit-down strike of the mid-1930s and its impact on the 21 st century.
  • The impact graphic novels have had on literacy.
  • The United States’ Woman’s Suffrage Movement and its influence around the world.
  • The war protests of the 1960s and 1970s and modern American politics.
  • How African culture has influenced modern American culture.
  • The decisions that are made by public policy committees.
  • The Dust Bowl and how the U.S. was shaped into different regions.
  • How eco poetry has changed our understanding of the environment.
  • Folklore’s influence on how we interact with others.
  • How science fiction has entered the mainstream culture around the world.
  • Community volunteer programs and their impact on youth.
  • How oral history has influenced modern culture.
  • The impact television has had on America’s youth.
  • Explain the history of human violence in the U.S.
  • The human family unit and its role in racism.
  • Human interaction over social media outlets.

Humanities Essay Topics for College

The humanities research topics listed below don’t require a lot of in-depth academic research and can be dealt with by doing some easy background research on the web and then some research at the library:

  • Animal rights and their impact on American culture.
  • The effect that Third Wave Feminism has had on Europe.
  • The influence the Islamic religion has had on American culture.
  • The meaning of moral philosophy in the United States.
  • Similarities between religions around the world.
  • Political obligation at the federal level versus the state level.
  • How humans think about the future of the world.
  • The definition of the human condition is described in the Bible.
  • Events that led to the study of humanity at a scholarly level.
  • The negative effects of the temperance movement in the U.S.
  • The quest for happiness in modern society.
  • The ways theology contradicts our knowledge of medicine.
  • The industrial revolution’s impact on human identity.
  • The impact modern photography has on European and American culture.
  • Color and the impact it has had on the human experience.
  • Different definitions of freedom from around the world.
  • The major religious ideologies in humans and their impact on societies.
  • The role gender definitions play in the educational experience.
  • Development of new languages in today’s society.
  • Diverse human behaviors and cultural characteristics.
  • The Bible’s representation of humanities and cultures.
  • Humans and the root of modern society.
  • Possessions humans have learned to live without.
  • Global warming and its impact on different cultures around the world.
  • The evolution of violence among humans.
  • The reason why humans will become extinct.
  • The ways subcultures have developed over the decades.
  • Science and its influence on humanities over the centuries.
  • The way Roman and Greek civilizations educated themselves.
  • The evolution of social interactions among humans.
  • The way Western Civilizations developed over the centuries.
  • The negative impact humans have on the earth’s environment.
  • Music and its impact on human psychology.
  • The ways our environmental surroundings affect our cultures.
  • Present a detailed overview and analysis of global humanities.
  • The characteristics that separate humans from all other animals.
  • The importance of mistakes to improve a person’s development.
  • The impact war has on children in devastated areas.
  • How humans became the dominant species on earth.
  • The reasons humans have decided to procreate less.

Topics for Humanities Research Paper

Many young students find this area of study interesting. So, we have gathered several humanities research project topics that will inspire them to explore the field further without being too overwhelming:

  • The ways different world cultures perceive and handle death.
  • The role of holidays in bringing people together and strengthening the family unit.
  • Relationships with domesticated pets and inclusion into family life.
  • The cultural meaning behind family names and how they bring people together.
  • The role a nation’s economy has had on human development.
  • The evolution of socialist movements throughout the world.
  • The tension between religion and science throughout the centuries.
  • The ways humanity will change in the next century because of our current state.
  • An exploration of the way humanity was represented in the art of the Renaissance.
  • The Enlightenment Period and its impact on human development.
  • The Harlem Renaissance and its influence on African American culture.
  • Humanities in the computer age and mass information.
  • Human identity and the role of the Industrial Revolution in our development.
  • The relationship between the environment and human beings.
  • The impact WWI and WWII had on our understanding of humanity.
  • Holidays and the different ways we celebrate them.
  • Cultural diets from around the world and our relationship with food.
  • The ways different cultures define democratic freedom.
  • Education in liberal arts and its current role in education.
  • The course of American politics over the last century.

Interesting Humanities Topics for Grad School

As students become more familiar with this type of assignment and as they advance to higher academic levels, they will need to choose a topic that meets or surpass the standards of their instructors’ expectations. Here is a list targeted toward graduate-level students:

  • The impact that genocides have had on groups of people.
  • Comic books and graphic novels and their influence on America’s youth.
  • Super-hero movies in the 21 st century and how they are affecting culture.
  • The influence the media has on our understanding of society.
  • The most fascinating aspects of European and American culture.
  • Different cultures and our beliefs about the human soul.
  • The ways Asian literature has entered American culture.
  • Slavery across the centuries and the ways we still discriminate.
  • Early civilizations and the evolution of human societies.
  • Human interactions with nature and wild species.
  • The political divide is caused by different parties and ideologies.
  • World Travel and its ability to broaden our thinking of other cultures.
  • The influence villains in movies have on human behavior.
  • The ways people mistreat natural environments.
  • Violence in television and the ways it affects young adults.
  • The impact racism has had in American society.
  • The ways society is influenced by the media.
  • Diversity and inclusion among different ethnic groups.
  • Professional sports and their ability to bring people together.
  • Cultural identification and the way it affects the way we look at history.
  • The definition of social Darwinism in modern society.
  • The portrayal of women in 20 th -century European literature.

If you need more humanities research papers, we can put you in contact with one of our academic experts trained in the subject. He or she can provide you with a custom list you can apply to any kind of assignment. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Send us an email or call us by phone, we are always glad to help.

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arts and humanities essay topics

128 Unique Humanities Topics For Your Research Papers

humanities topics

Many students struggle to find humanities topics worth researching. That’s because most students think the humanities are only about ancient cultures and dead languages. However, social science and humanities explore how humans document and process different experiences. These study fields enable learners to understand intellectual and personal scales, such as culture, heritage, and identities. When studying humanities, students explore past self-exploration and philosophy to political views, economic issues, culture, and religion.

What Are Humanities?

The humanities are educational disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, “humanities” referred to the studio humanitatis, a Medieval Latin phrase meaning “liberal arts or studies.” In the medieval curriculum, the seven liberal arts were grammar, rhetoric, and logic (the trivium); and arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the quadrivium). Academicians chose these subjects because they considered them essential for a free person—a citizen—to know so that they can actively participate in civic life, voting, holding office, serving on juries, and so forth.

Today’s humanities definition includes all those original seven subjects plus literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, anthropology, jurisprudence, comparative religion, and ethics. Topics in humanities help us understand aspects of our culture and others, how people lived in the past, what they believed, how they worked and played, what kinds of governments and social structures humans developed, and the type of art and technology they created. In other words: How did we get to be where we are today?

How To Improve A Bad Paper

Perhaps, you’ve chosen a topic and written an essay. Unfortunately, you might not like your paper because you feel it doesn’t meet your educator’s quality standards. In that case, follow these tips to improve it.

  • Make your description, anecdotal details, and sensory and imagery details more specific.
  • Make your paper more concise to convey ideas with few words
  • Use transition phrases or words
  • Make your thoughts understandable and clear to the reader
  • Check the organization to ensure ideas flow logically
  • Proofread and edit your paper.

Writing a research paper for a high grade is not an easy task. It’s better to hire a research paper service and get your papers complete on time. 

Interesting Humanities Topics

Do you love writing about exciting topics? If so, here’s a list of interesting ideas to explore in your humanity paper.

  • Investigating changes in gender roles in modern society
  • Exploring the differences between wars and interstate conflicts
  • Texas case study- How poverty affects tertiary education
  • Examining the illegal immigrants’ implications on host countries in Europe
  • How conflict theory can help prevent the fight for family resources
  • Is poverty a social issue?
  • Detailed analysis of the problems faced by people living with disabilities
  • Contemporary music and political commentary
  • The bible’s role in the US democracy’s development
  • Exploring labour struggles in Europe and their effects on global and local politics in the 19th century
  • Investigating the essence of studying humanities
  • Exploring the enlightenment age- What does it mean?
  • Examining the Appalachian regional identity
  • The race problem in the US- Exploring its causes
  • Analyzing the Black Lives Matter movement and its role in the race theory
  • How consumerism affects sustainability
  • A closer look at the counterculture’s benefits in society
  • A critical view of the differences between cults and sects
  • Analysing gender studies- What are the emerging issues?
  • Cultural appropriation- Investigating why it causes a political contest
  • Fashion trends in modern society- Examining their connection with cultures
  • Should governments legitimize prostitution?
  • The influence of oral history on modern culture
  • How graphic novels affect literacy
  • Discuss the pros and cons of studying humanities
  • How bullying is challenging to prevent in schools
  • Investigating the environmental foundations for humanities
  • Explore cultural stereotypes and how superstitions shape them
  • Compare animal and human sacrifice in religion
  • Analyzing human behaviour and communication

These are exciting topics to consider in this academic field. Nevertheless, take sufficient time researching your preferred title to write a winning paper. 

Top Humanities Research Paper Topics

Maybe, you want to write an academic paper about a topic in humanities. In that case, consider the following ideas for your research paper.

  • Capitalism- Is it the best system?
  • How poverty affects rural communities
  • Evaluating the effects of daily routines on kids’ development within family setups
  • The development of Twitter into a robust political platform
  • How irresponsible teen behaviour affects the society
  • Communism and capitalism’s role in humanities studies
  • Early marriages- What are their pros and cons?
  • Social sciences and humanities- How do they differ?
  • Understanding the economic and political issues impacting humanities studies
  • How does an individual’s behaviour affect society
  • How the Me Too movement affects the girl-child
  • Analyzing the United States’ humanities curriculum
  • Factors inhibiting anthropological linguistics’ study
  • How Chinese culture and Italian fashion connect
  • How the Neolithic revolution affects humans’ cognitive abilities
  • Ethical issues relating to media advertising
  • Investigate the relationship between the law-making process and bureaucracy
  • How dual-nationality affects political views
  • Investigate the US executive power
  • Describe humanities origin in Classical Greek

These are some of the research topics for humanities research papers. As the name suggests, extensive research is necessary to draft a quality paper. Our expert writers can help you to write a custom research paper cheap and fast. 

Good Humanities Paper Topics

High school, university, and college students need good topics to impress teachers and earn top grades in their classes. Here are such ideas.

  • How the law-making process relates to bureaucracy
  • Why public choice awareness is vital
  • A historical analysis of the Indian migrant workers
  • How the Neolithic revolution affects cognitive abilities
  • Should America implement more restrictive laws about gun ownership?
  • Ethical issues surrounding media advertising
  • Why youth culture is complex for older generations to understand
  • LGBT people and straight people’s rights- How do they compare?
  • The absence of face-to-face interactions- Does it cause misunderstanding in communications on social media?
  • Why democracy fails- Iraq case study
  • What causes the Israel-Palestinian wars?
  • Spirituality and gender- Is there a connection?
  • Is the world hauling toward a Third World War?
  • Discuss relevant anthropology issues
  • Hinduism- Does it affect Indian socio-political development?
  • Factors affecting the 21st-century teenagers
  • Social media’s role in shaping people’s perspectives
  • Factors affecting social interactions and their changes among communities
  • Why the world struggles with the inequality problem to date
  • Discuss the ageing notion among different societies

Pick a title in this category and develop it via research. Nevertheless, ensure it enables you to answer the question your educator poses.

Humanities Project Ideas

Did the educator ask you to pick a topic for your humanities project? If so, here are humanities topics for research projects to consider.

  • The role of funding in education
  • What limits collision admission policies?
  • Is doping prevalent in sports?- Explain why
  • Investigating prisoners’ life and prisons
  • Macroscopic trends- Analysis of cultural change
  • Digital archives- A textual analysis
  • Why pedagogy lacks a focus
  • Information access issues in society
  • How online publishing affects humanities
  • Tools for cultural analysis- Why they are vital for humanities
  • Doctors’ role in assisted suicide
  • Violence perpetrators and administrators’ role in campus
  • Capital punishment and its ethical downside
  • Legal drinking age- Who should determine it?
  • Why achieving modesty is difficult nowadays.
  • Crisis- When international intervention is justified
  • African socialism- How it compares between the 1950 and 1980s
  • Lessons learned from Europe and US immigrant crisis
  • Comparing and contrasting foreign policies in the UK and China
  • Should governments ban alcohol and beer advertisements?

Please choose a topic from this list and develop it via extensive research. Ensure that your paper has relevant information to impress the educator.

Easy Humanities Topics Ideas

Maybe you’re searching for an easy idea to explore in your paper. In that case, consider these ideas for your essay.

  • Investigating age and changes in body image
  • How social environment prompts people to relocate to cities
  • Deviance development among urban youths
  • Does reading more books make people less or more social?
  • Illegal immigrants- Should governments make them legal citizens?
  • How does gender-based violence affect kids’ personalities
  • Sociological perspectives of child development and interracial adoption
  • Parental control limits on child’s personality
  • Investigate the adverse effects of teenage pregnancies
  • Analyze war negotiations strategies- Provide 20th-century case studies

These are relatively easy topics to consider for academic papers. Nevertheless, they still require some research.

Arts and Humanities Research Topics

Are you interested in humanities and arts research topics? If so, this list has some ideas worth exploring.

  • Contemporary art and the feminist movement
  • Art education- Why it helps learners think differently
  • Advertisements- Should the audiences view them as modern art?
  • Mythology’s impact on Ancient Greece’s sculptures
  • Government accountability and democracy in the US
  • How did the cultural revolution affect the Chinese art
  • The second migration- How it affects Harlem Renaissance’s art
  • Sharing pieces of art and music online- Is it a legal practice?

Consider these titles if you want to write about art and humanities. However, prepare to spend sufficient time researching your topic before writing.

Medical Humanities Topics

Do you want to explore medical humanities in your research? If so, here are some interesting titles to consider for your essay and help you take the first step toward a good research paper done for you.

  • Does global warming cause tropical diseases?
  • Child vaccination- Should the government make it mandatory?
  • How exercising can affect a person’s life negatively
  • Is using animals in drug tests a good idea?
  • Should governments limit drug tests on humans?
  • Is the world ready for another pandemic?
  • How the world managed the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Medical research- The threats and their mitigation
  • Should hospitals test individuals with mental issues in or outside their immediate communities?
  • Doctors should provide medical assistance against the guardian’s wishes
  • Parents should regulate social media use to prevent or reduce the addiction impacts
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic prompted society to rethink global healthcare coordination

These are good humanities research topics that touch on the medical field. Nevertheless, they also require some research to write high-quality papers.

Topics in Digital Humanities

Digital humanities are also worth exploring in academic papers. Here are exciting titles to consider in this category.

  • Printing press history and its role in information dissemination
  • Art presentation in America during the digital age
  • The information technology age and humanities studies
  • How video games contribute to violence in modern society
  • Is digital technology a bane, or does it provide an improved life?
  • The influence of modern gadgets on individuals’ mental health
  • Social media and its impact on people’s lives
  • Technology and modern devices- How they affect relationships

After extensive research, these are some of the best topics worth writing humanities papers about in college. However, every student should choose a title according to guidelines from their teacher or professor.

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Human Resources Research Topics

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Incredible Humanities Research Paper Topics For Students

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Table of Contents

As humans, we have an insatiable desire to understand the world around the people who inhabit it and us. From the earliest days of civilisation, we have used various means to express our curiosity, including art, literature, music, philosophy, and religion. Today, we call these fields the humanities, and they continue to be a vital part of our lives and society.

Humanities research topics are as varied as the human experience itself. They encompass everything from the study of ancient civilisations and cultural artefacts to contemporary issues such as climate change, globalisation, and social justice.

Whether you are interested in the history of art, the philosophy of science, or the literature of a particular era, there is a humanities research topic that can captivate your attention and fuel your intellectual curiosity.

One of the most exciting things about humanities research is the way it can challenge our assumptions and broaden our perspectives. By delving into the past and present of different cultures and societies, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and diversity of human experience. We can also develop critical thinking skills, hone our communication abilities, and learn to appreciate the power of creative expression.

Moreover, humanities research topics can be an essential tool for addressing contemporary issues and advancing social change. From analysing the role of media in shaping public opinion to exploring the ethical implications of emerging technologies, the humanities can provide valuable insights and perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

In this blog, we will explore some of the most fascinating and thought-provoking humanities research topics. Whether you are a student looking for inspiration for your next research project or a lifelong learner seeking to broaden your horizons, we hope that these ideas will spark your curiosity and inspire you to delve deeper into the world of the humanities.

How To Choose The Right Humanities Research Topics?

Choosing the right humanities research topic is essential for a successful and fulfilling research experience. However, with so many fascinating topics to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to begin. Here are some tips to help you select the right humanities research topic for you.

  • Explore Your Interests: 

Start by exploring topics that genuinely interest you. Consider your passions, hobbies, and personal experiences. Do you love reading novels or studying art history? Have you always been fascinated by philosophy or anthropology? Identifying your interests can help you find a research topic that you will enjoy and be invested in.

  • Find The Gap:

Look for gaps in the existing literature on a particular topic. What questions have not been answered or explored in-depth? This can provide you with a unique angle for your research, and it can also help you make a significant contribution to your field.

  • Consult With Your Mentor: 

Consult with your academic advisor, mentor, or professor for guidance and advice. They can offer valuable insights into potential research topics, provide feedback on your ideas, and offer suggestions for further exploration.

  • Consider The Feasibility Of The Topic: 

Make sure that the topic you choose is feasible within the time and resources you have available. Consider the scope of the research, the availability of sources, and the practicality of the research methods you will use.

  • Consider the significance of the topic:

Consider the significance of the topic you choose. Will it make a meaningful contribution to your field or discipline? Will it have broader implications for society or culture? Choosing a topic that has broader significance can make your research more meaningful and impactful.

  • Brainstorm with peers: 

Brainstorm with your peers and colleagues for fresh ideas and perspectives. Collaborating with others can help you identify potential research topics that you may not have considered on your own.

  • Stay flexible: 

Finally, it is essential to remain flexible and open to change. As you delve deeper into your research, you may find that your initial ideas and assumptions need to be revised or adjusted. Staying flexible and open to new ideas and perspectives can lead to more fruitful and meaningful research.

Choosing the right humanities research topic requires a combination of personal interests, research feasibility, and broader significance. By following these tips, you can identify a research topic that is both fulfilling and impactful and that will contribute to your field and to society at large.

Top Trending Humanities Research Topic Examples

Take a break from all the cliché humanities research suggestions and explore our list of the top trending topics in various specializations. Our experts have chosen the best of the lot just for you.

Check this Humanities Research Paper Topics Examples

Humanities Research Paper Topics

Are you looking for subject specific Humanities research paper topics or type specific topics? You will find everything here. Keep reading!

Subject-Based Humanities Topics For Research

  • Humanities Research Topics on History
  • The Role Of Women In The French Revolution
  • The Impact Of The Cold War On American Society
  • The Cultural Significance Of The Renaissance
  • The Influence Of Ancient Greek Democracy On Modern Politics
  • The Social And Economic Effects Of The Industrial Revolution
  • Humanities Research Topics In Philosophy
  • The Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence
  • The Philosophical Implications Of Quantum Mechanics
  • The Philosophy Of Consciousness And The Mind-Body Problem
  • The Concept Of Justice In Political Philosophy
  • The Philosophy Of Art And Aesthetics.
  • Humanities Research Paper Topics On Literature
  • The Representation Of Race In Literature
  • The Role Of Women In Contemporary Literature
  • The Impact Of War On Literature
  • The Use Of Allegory In Literature
  • The Influence Of Postmodernism On Literature.
  • Good Research Topics For Humanities On Linguistics 
  • The Impact Of Language On Thought And Perception
  • The Origins And Development Of Language
  • The Role Of Language In Culture And Identity
  • Language Acquisition And Learning
  • The Impact Of Bilingualism On Cognitive Development.
  • Humanities Research Topics Based On Religion 
  • Comparative Study Of World Religions
  • The Relationship Between Religion And Violence
  • The Role Of Religion In Shaping Social And Political Movements
  • The Impact Of Religious Beliefs On Health And Well-Being
  • The Concept Of The Divine In Various Religious Traditions.
  • Humanities And Arts Research Topics And Art History
  • The Cultural Significance Of Ancient Art
  • The Role Of Women In Art History
  • The Impact Of Technology On Contemporary Art
  • The Symbolism And Meaning Of Art In Different Cultures
  • The Influence Of The Avant-Garde On Modern Art.
  • Humanities Research Paper Topics On Anthropology
  • Cultural Anthropology And The Study Of Human Societies
  • The Relationship Between Environment And Culture
  • Human Evolution And The Origin Of Homo Sapiens
  • The Impact Of Globalisation On Cultural Identity
  • The Role Of Anthropology In Contemporary Social Issues.
  • Humanities Research Topics On Archaeology
  • The Archaeology Of Ancient Civilisations
  • The Use Of Technology In Archaeology
  • The Study Of Human Migration And Settlement Patterns
  • The Interpretation Of Archaeological Data And Artefacts
  • The Role Of Archaeology In Heritage Management And Preservation.
  • Humanities Research Topics On Cultural Studies
  • Popular Culture And Its Impact On Society
  • The Relationship Between Media And Culture
  • The Study Of Subcultures And Countercultures
  • The Role Of Cultural Institutions In Shaping Cultural Identity
  • The Impact Of Globalisation On Cultural Diversity.
  • Digital Humanities Research Paper Topics 
  • The Impact Of Digital Technology On The Humanities
  • Digital Archives And Their Use In Research
  • Text Mining And Computational Analysis In The Humanities
  • The Ethics Of Digital Humanities Research
  • The Development Of Digital Tools For Humanities Research.
  • Medical Humanities Research Topics 
  • The Role Of Narrative Medicine In Healthcare
  • The Relationship Between Medicine And Culture
  • Medical Ethics And The Treatment Of Vulnerable Populations
  • The Impact Of Art And Literature On Health And Well-Being
  • The Use Of Humanities-Based Interventions In Medical Education.
  • Humanities Research Paper Topics On Musicology
  • The History And Development Of Classical Music
  • The Cultural Significance Of Jazz Music
  • Music And Identity In Popular Culture
  • The Impact Of Music On Emotional And Cognitive Processes
  • The Study Of Music In Different Cultures And Traditions.
  • Humanities Research Paper Topics On Film Studies
  • The History Of Cinema And Film Technology
  • The Representation Of Gender And Sexuality In Film
  • The Role Of Film In Shaping Cultural Identity
  • Film Theory And Its Impact On Film Criticism
  • The Influence Of International Cinema On Hollywood.
  • Humanities Research Paper Topics On Theatre And Performance Studies
  • The History Of Theater And Performance
  • The Role Of Theatre In Social And Political Change
  • Performance Theory And Its Application To Contemporary Theatre
  • The Relationship Between Theatre And Identity
  • The Impact Of Globalisation On Theatre And Performance.
  • Humanities Research Topics On Gender And Sexuality Studies
  • The Social Construction Of Gender And Sexuality
  • Queer Theory And Its Application In Gender Studies
  • Feminism And The Intersection Of Race And Gender
  • Gender-Based Violence And Its Impact On Society
  • The Role Of Gender And Sexuality In Popular Culture.
  • Humanities Research Topics On Communication Studies
  • The Impact Of Digital Media On Communication
  • Communication In Intercultural Contexts
  • The Role Of Language In Communication
  • The Study Of Persuasion And Rhetoric
  • The Impact Of Communication On Social Change And Activism.
  • Humanities Topics For Research On Political Science
  • Theories Of Democracy And Their Application In Contemporary Politics
  • The Role Of International Organisations In Global Governance
  • The Relationship Between Religion And Politics
  • Political Polarisation And The Rise Of Populism
  • The Impact Of Media On Political Communication And Discourse.

Tone & Type-Based Humanities Topics For Research

  • Easy Humanities Research Paper Topics 
  • The Cultural Significance Of Tattoos
  • The History Of Chocolate And Its Cultural Significance
  • The Impact Of Social Media On Self-Expression
  • The Art Of Storytelling In Different Cultures
  • The Relationship Between Fashion And Identity.
  • Simple And Easy Humanities Research Topics 
  • The Cultural Significance Of Food
  • The History Of Board Games And Their Social Impact
  • The Use Of Music In Religious And Cultural Rituals
  • The Role Of Dance In Cultural Expression
  • The Influence Of Technology On Language And Communication.
  • Excellent Humanities Research Paper Topics 
  • The Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence In The Humanities
  • The Impact Of Colonialism On Indigenous Cultures
  • The Relationship Between Literature And Mental Health
  • The Influence Of Architecture On Social Behaviour
  • The Role Of Museums In Shaping Cultural Memory And Identity.
  • Top-Quality Humanities Research Paper Topics 
  • The Relationship Between Language And Thought
  • The Impact Of War On Cultural Heritage And Identity
  • The Intersection Of Race, Class, And Gender In Contemporary Society
  • The Representation Of Disability In Art And Literature
  • The Role Of Art In Social Justice Movements.
  • Interesting Humanities Project Ideas For Exam 
  • Create A Documentary On A Historical Event Or Cultural Phenomenon
  • Design An Art Exhibit On A Social Or Political Issue
  • Write A Collection Of Short Stories Exploring Themes Of Identity And Culture
  • Conduct A Linguistic Analysis Of A Particular Language Or Dialect
  • Develop A Website On The History And Cultural Significance Of A Particular Tradition Or Festival.
  • Best Humanities Project Ideas 
  • Create A Multimedia Installation Exploring The Relationship Between Technology And Human Emotions
  • Write A Historical Novel Based On A Significant Event Or Era
  • Develop A Comprehensive Oral History Project On A Particular Community Or Cultural Group
  • Produce A Feature-Length Film Or Documentary On A Contemporary Social Issue
  • Curate An Art Exhibit Exploring The Intersection Of Art And Science.
  • Captivating Humanities Research Topics 
  • The Portrayal Of Women In Media And Popular Culture
  • The Influence Of Globalisation On Local Cultures And Traditions
  • The History And Cultural Significance Of Street Art And Graffiti
  • The Relationship Between Religion And Politics In Contemporary Society
  • The Impact Of Environmental Degradation On Cultural Heritage And Identity.
  • Amazing Humanities Research Paper Ideas 
  • The Role Of Empathy In Literature And Art
  • The Impact Of Technology On The Music Industry
  • The Representation Of Mental Illness In Literature And Film
  • The Impact Of Social Media On Political Activism And Social Movements
  • The History And Cultural Significance Of Traditional Medicine And Healing Practices.

In conclusion, the humanities offer a diverse range of research topics that are fascinating and impactful. From exploring historical events and cultural traditions to examining contemporary social issues, there is no shortage of fascinating and thought-provoking areas of study. Whether you are interested in literature, philosophy, art, music, or any other aspect of the humanities, there are endless possibilities for research and discovery.

The humanities help us to better understand ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. By engaging in humanities research, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of human experiences and make meaningful contributions to our society and culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what are some good humanities research paper topics.

Some good humanities research paper topics include the influence of Greek mythology on modern literature, the impact of the Renaissance on art, the relationship between religion and politics, and the history of human rights.

2. How do I choose a humanities research paper topic?

To choose a humanities research paper topic, consider your interests, the scope of the assignment, and the resources available to you. Narrow down your topic by asking questions and doing preliminary research.

3. What should I include in my humanities research paper?

Your humanities research paper should include a clear thesis statement, supporting evidence, and an analysis of your findings. It should also be well-organised and properly cited using a recognised citation style.

4. How can I conduct research for my humanities paper?

You can conduct research for your humanities paper by using online databases, visiting libraries and archives, and conducting interviews with experts in your field. Be sure to evaluate your sources and use reliable information.

5. What is the best way to organise my humanities research paper?

The best way to organise your humanities research paper is to start with a clear outline that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use headings and subheadings to organise your ideas and make sure your paper flows logically.

6. How do I write a strong introduction for my humanities research paper?

To write a strong introduction for your humanities research paper, start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention. Provide background information on your topic and clearly state your thesis statement.

7. Can I use first-person pronouns in my humanities research paper?

It depends on the guidelines provided by your instructor or the requirements of the assignment. Generally, it is best to avoid using first-person pronouns unless you are specifically asked to do so.

8. What is the difference between a humanities research paper and a scientific research paper?

A humanities research paper focuses on the study of human culture and creativity, while a scientific research paper is based on empirical evidence and experimentation. Humanities research papers often use qualitative research methods and rely on analysis and interpretation.

9. How can I improve my writing skills for my humanities research paper?

You can improve your writing skills by practising regularly, reading examples of strong academic writing, and seeking feedback from your peers or an instructor. You can also attend writing workshops or use online writing resources.

10. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a humanities research paper?

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a humanities research paper include plagiarism, poor organisation, lack of focus, and failure to cite sources properly. Be sure to proofread your paper carefully and use reliable sources.

Alexander Andeerson

Alexander Andeerson

Hi, my name is Alexander Anderson. I am 30, and I am an English writing expert based in Melbourne. I started writing and blogging from a young age, and most of my write-ups are based on real experiences and self-taught. Currently, I write Academic Blogs for Students all across the Globe at MyAssignmenthelp.com. In addition to guiding students on their writing projects, I have also written on the topics of modern and contemporary art. If there’s something that I love more than Literature and art, it’s my Hungarian furry bud “Amos”. When I am not working, I am spending time with this greatest blessing in my life. 

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120 Original Humanities Topics To Write Best Essay

humanities topics

There are several interesting humanities topics for students to explore. Suppose you’re studying anthropology, cultural studies, or anything in history, you will need humanities project ideas that could boost your creativity while searching for research ideas or writing your paper or project. Topics in humanities are also essential depending on your career interest as a lawyer.

Finding the creativity needed to spur project humanity essay topics for your work is often difficult. You need to think in-depth, refer to your notes, and spend hours online for original topic ideas. Whether you’re a high school, college, MBA, or Ph.D. student, this article is for you.

How To Write Good Humanities Essay

Sometimes, even as a writer, it’s hard to make your paperwork the best at one go. You need the best strategies to create an excellent essay or report, even after gaining humanities essay topics ideas.

If you need to finalize if you’ve done right by what you’ve written, ask these questions after reading your draft:

  • Is my topic broad enough? You need to consider this if you have a broad topic. You’d want to break it down into smaller parts and simplify it. For example, suppose your essay is about how technology has affected communications, break the topic into two subtopics: traditional communication methods and the role of major social media platforms.
  • Is my topic too narrow? If your topic is too narrow, ask yourself if there are other ways of looking at your subject from other perspectives and include them.
  • Is my paper organized in the most logical order? Now is the time to look at the overall organization of your paper if you’ve read through your rough draft and gained feedback from an editor. A good way to do this is by using a topic sentence for each paragraph which leads to the next question:
  • Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence? Topic sentences are an essential part of any paragraph. They let the reader know your main point and guide them through each sentence, ensuring that it fits in with your topic. A good topic sentence is clear, concise, and specific and comes in the first paragraph. It also states the main idea of a paragraph.
  • Proofread your essay: Proofread your essay for capitalization, grammar, and spelling errors. If you’re unsure how to spell a word, use a dictionary or a spell checker. It will help if you consider using synonyms in place of common words where appropriate. This can help to create more interesting sentences.
  • Take a break and reread your essay: The best way to improve your essay is by taking a break and then rereading it with fresh eyes. Take some time to rest, do something else, take a walk — whatever helps you clear your head and come back to your essay with a new perspective.
  • Reread it as a reader would: If you still don’t know how to fix the issues in your essay, try “rereading” it as if you were an outside reader. This will allow you to see any inconsistencies you may have missed earlier.
  • Ask someone else for help: If none of these suggestions worked for improving your essay and making it better than before, ask someone else for help. Let this person read because they might spot things you’ve never discovered before. Take this feedback and see how you can implement the suggestions.

You can use or rephrase any of these topics for your next thesis. You will also learn how you can improve a bad essay at the end of these original humanities topics ideas:

Humanities Essay Topics

You may have already guessed that humanities is an interdisciplinary field. There are many disciplines within the humanities, each with a specific focus. You can brainstorm with the following ideas:

  • Examine the challenges that lead to migration
  • Does reading more books reduce socialization?
  • Argue why immigrants should be legalized as citizens?
  • What are the consequences of domestic violence on children?
  • How does domestic violence between couples affect a conservative environment?
  • Discuss why domestic violence is a norm in many Muslim societies
  • With reference to three wars, what is the core agenda of war?
  • How does childhood influence a child’s personality?
  • Explain when teachers and parents should teach sex education
  • Discuss the challenges of child marriages and examine if poverty is a core reason.
  • Analyze the best ways to tell kids about sex
  • Explain why people around the world should care about Ukrainians
  • Explore the arguments in support of isolating a country because they’re insistent on keeping nuclear weapons
  • What are the factors responsible for social and political backwardness in developing nations?
  • Comment on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing and what should’ve happened to the US
  • Comment on whether or not any country or body can check the US government’s excesses
  • What is your comment on UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and Asia in the past decade?
  • What are your thoughts about US withdrawal from Afghanistan a year ago
  • Would you say the UN has failed in the Palestine Question?
  •  Would you say the world wars and the Cold War brought global order or challenged existing systems?

Humanities Argumentative Essay Topics

Humanity is a course that requires an argument, opinions, and creativity banters. You also need to be knowledgeable to be capable of presenting controversial topics in the best ways. You can source inspiration for your next paper from these humanities paper topics:

  • Is war a prerequisite for peace in modern societies?
  • Are humans responsible for climate change?
  • Elon Musk once said that his money could not solve world hunger; what do you think are the intricacies affecting the resolution of global hunger?
  • Men don’t deserve paternity leave: here is why.
  • Freelancers should be placed on pension in the companies they work with
  • The tax system is unfair and corrupt.
  • Should people adopt cryptocurrency to avoid taxes?
  • Is automation a tragic invention?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in research?
  • Are smartphones a desperate invention, and do they endanger us?
  • Should the government keep tracking and monitoring humans?
  • Should torture to considered a norm for criminals?
  • Should citizens be allowed to own guns, especially in societies with an active police force?
  • Are artists the mirrors of their countries?
  • Should developing countries be kept in debt?
  • Is the death penalty an effective judgment?
  • Gun violence is a consequence of popular access to guns: discuss
  • Men should use condoms: discuss
  • Those that don’t support abortion want to control women.
  • Beauty pageants and shows are exploitative, and they’re right to be so: discuss.

Humanities Research Topics

You need to let your mind wander and muse around various humanities topics to find the best for your next essay. As a required field that deals with humans and how the world works, here are research topics that may pique your interest and challenge your beliefs:

  • An in-depth assessment of polygamy in America
  • An in-depth assessment of polyandry in (country of your choice)
  • What do religions say about the afterlife, and what do atheists say?
  • Examinations are more of a trap than an intelligence assessment
  • Rationalize the heat toward the LGBTQ community
  • Marginalized people will remain marginalized, and here is why
  • Euthanasia is a human right and should not be questioned: discuss
  • Why there should be restrictions on what teachers teach students in school
  • Here is how to reduce healthcare costs in the US
  • The main challenges of pandemics
  • Do NGOs play a major role in developing countries or contribute to destroying them?
  • Statement: rich countries are not obligated to help developing countries
  • Organ transplant services: an examination on how crime has infiltrated the industry
  • Reasons why college athletes deserve compensation
  • How a reduction in childbirth will not (or will) end the climate crisis.

Interesting Humanities Topics

Humanity essay topics are also expected to be interesting and not necessarily humorous. They must be insightful and smart in the delivery too. Here are original humanities essay topics to impress your teachers, professors, and colleagues in class:

  • Comment on music and criticism
  • A comment on the study of humanities
  • The science field is better than the humanities
  • Obesity should be a problem for any thinking parent
  • What is the Enlightenment Age all about?
  • The role of predictions in how the world works
  • The impact of labor on politics
  • The most active members of the societies are the busiest and play less role in their politics
  • Comment on the black lives matter movement
  • Prostitution should be made a job
  • Prostitutes are endangered species, but they’re humans
  • Laws protect some people yet endanger some who are not even criminals
  • An opinion on the case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
  • Are activists the true voice of their movements?
  • How fashion trends affect rationality in the world.

Humanities Project Ideas

Humanity is a vast subject, and you need to be informed before embarking on any projects. You can source ideas from these 15 humanities topics ideas:

  • How does social media affect society and vice versa?
  • Bullying is like terrorism: discuss
  • Relationship between food and culture
  • Relationship between food and religious beliefs/biases
  • Is social media activism effective?
  • Account for the start and finish of the #MeToo movement
  • Examine the nature of human and animals sacrifice
  • Discuss cultural stereotypes and the role of superstitions
  • Lessons about migration and its effects
  • How suicide is becoming a culture
  • Sexist advertisements and how they shape gender narratives
  • India and its popular sexual violence culture
  • China and its popular human rights abuses
  • The role of the US in human rights abuse in Libya
  • The role of the World Bank in the poverty of selected developing countries.

Topics In Digital Humanities

Digital humanity is a growing field that is constantly evolving and changing. It’s a way to learn about technology and discover how it affects or helps people. Here are a few research topics around digital humanities:

  • Technology and its influence on the study of humanities
  • How technology controls the future
  • The role of online casino games in socialization
  • The role of gaming in creating an idle American youth population
  • The challenges of remote work and productivity
  • An overview of the printing press and present technology
  • The destructive power of America, thanks to technology
  • An in-depth look into how technology shapes the century
  • How humans interact with technology or robotics
  • The perspectives of Elon Musk on technology
  • Communications and how technology could make the world unsafe in the future
  • Videogames and violence: a critical review
  • A critical review of the effect of online gaming and people’s health
  • Identify why millennials fear missing out on technology
  • How significant is TikTok in modern marketing strategies?

Humanities And Arts Research Topics

Exploring the history of humanities is a fascinating subject. Both music, art, and culture contributed to the growth witnessed, and here are a few topics that might pique your interest when you begin your custom essay writing :

  • An overview of afrobeat in the international music industry
  • How music is being used as propaganda
  • The role of Caribbean music in understanding the history
  • What’s the relationship between art and mystery
  • Books with objectionable words should be banned: discuss
  • Liberal laws are not liberal because they don’t protect some people: discuss
  • The influence of cultural revolutions in selected countries
  • The impact of advertisement on people’s perception of the world
  • The role of popular media in advocating feminism
  • The role of music in promoting violence.

Medical Humanities Essay Topics

The medical part of humanities is sensitive and can sometimes be controversial. This is because you’ll attempt debating what’s ethical and what should be done. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Doctors support patient request for euthanasia out of pity
  • Nurses and the concept of sympathy
  • Medical ethics and practices triumph racial and religious differences: discuss
  • Should doctors report their clients to authorities for putting their health in jeopardy?
  • Doctors are responsible for drug abuse: discuss
  • The vulnerabilities of healthcare software and why they shouldn’t be used
  • Should drug prices increase because demand increases?
  • Every medical practitioner should be unique with their treatments: discuss
  • An overview of different medical beliefs in three countries
  • An analysis of unethical beliefs and bias in global health care.

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For centuries, scholars, philosophers, and aestheticians have debated over a definition of "art." The challenging range of arguments encompasses, among other considerations, opposing points of view that insist on one hand that "art" must meet a criterion of functionality-that is, be of some societal use-and, on the other hand, that "art" exists for its own sake. In this text, we survey rather than dispute. Thus, in these pages, we will not solve the dilemma of art's definition. For example, we might define "art" as one person's interpretation of reality manifested in a particular medium and shared with others. Such a definition, while agreeable to some, finds objection from others for various reasons, among which is the fact that it is completely open­ ended and does not speak to quality. It allows anything to qualify as "art" from the simplest expression of art brut, naive art, or "outsider art" such as drawings by children or psychotics to the most profound masterpiece. Such are the tantalizing possibilities for disagreement when we try to define art. We can however examine some characteristics of the arts that enhance our understanding.

Art has always had, a profound effect on the quality of human life, as the pages of this reading will help us to understand. Its study requires seriousness of purpose. But, we must not confuse seriousness of purpose in the study of art with putting works of art on a pedestal. Some art is serious, some art is profound, and some art is highly sacred. However, some art is light, some humorous, and some downright silly, superficial, and self-serving for the artists. But eventually, we will desire to make judgments and once again the text will help sort out the details.

THE ARTS AND WAYS OF KNOWING

We humans are creative species. Whether in science, politics, business, technology, or the arts, we depend upon our creativity almost as much as anything else to meet the demands of daily life. Any study of the arts comprises a story about us; our perceptions of the world as we have come to see and respond to it and the ways we have communicated our understandings to each other since the Ice Age, more than 15,000 years ago.

Cave painting of horse and bison

Photography of Lascaux animal painting from Wikimedia Commons by Prof saxx . Public domain

We have learned a great deal about our world and how it functions since the human species began and we have changed our patterns of existence. However, the fundamental characteristic that makes us human -that is, our ability to intuit and to symbolize- have not changed. Art, the major remaining evidence we have of our earliest times, reflects these unchanged human characteristics in inescapable terms and helps us to understand the beliefs of culture including our own and to express the universal qualities of being human.

Visual art, architecture, music, theatre, dance, literature, and cinema, among other artforms, belong in a broad category of pursuit called the "Humanities." The terms arts and humanities fit together as a piece to a whole. The “Humanities” as a discipline constitutes a larger whole into which the arts fit as one piece. So, when we use the term Humanities, we automatically include the arts. When we use the term arts, we restrict our focus. The arts disciplines- the visual arts, the performing arts, and architecture (including landscape architecture)- typically arrange sound, color, form, movement, and/or other elements in a manner that affects our sense of beauty in a graphic or plastic (capable of being shaped) medium. The humanities include the arts but also include disciplines such as philosophy, literature, and sometimes, history, which comprise branches of knowledge that share a concern with humans and their cultures. We begin our discussion with a look at the humanities.

The Humanities-as opposed to the sciences, for example- can very broadly be defined as those aspects of culture that look into what it means to be human. The sciences seek essentially to describe reality whereas the humanities seek to express humankind's sub­ jective experiences of reality, to interpret reality, to transform our interior experience into tangible forms, and to comment upon reality, to judge and evaluate. But despite our desire to categorize, few clear boundaries exist between the humanities and the sciences. The basic difference lies in the approach that separates investigation of the natural universe, technology, and social science from the search for truth about the universe undertaken by artists.

Within the educational system, the humanities traditionally have included the fine arts (painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, dance, and cinema), literature, philosophy, and, sometimes, history. These subjects orient toward exploring humanness, what human beings think and feel, what motivates their actions and shapes their thoughts. Many answers lie in the millions of artworks all around the globe, from the earliest sculpted fertility figures to the video and cyber art of today. These artifacts and images comprise expressions of the humanities, not merely illustrations of past or present ways of life.

In addition, change in the arts differs from change in the sciences, for example, in one significant way: New scientific discovery and technology usually displace the old, but new art does not invalidate earlier human expression. Obviously, not all artistic approaches survive, but the art of Picasso cannot make the art of Rembrandt a curiosity of history the way that the theories of Einstein did the views of William Paley. Nonetheless, much about art has changed over the centuries. Using a spectrum developed by Susan Lacy in Mapping the Terrain: New Genre Public Art (1994), we learn that at one time an artist may be an experiencer , at another, a reporter , at another, an analyst ; and at still another time, an activist . Further, the nature of how art historians see art has changed over the centuries summit- for example, today, we do not use an artist’s biography to justify all of the motivation for his or her work- and we now include works of art from previously marginalized groups such as women and minorities. These shifts in the disciplines of the arts suggest important considerations as we begin to understand the nature of art.

Most importantly, we can approach works of art with the same subtleties we normally apply to human relationships. We know that we cannot simply categorize people as "good " or "bad," as "friends," "acquaintances," or "enemies." We relate to other people in complex ways. Some friendships remain pleasant but superficial, some people are easy to work with, and others become lifelong companions. Also, making a good friend takes time and repeated meetings and shared activities. This is also true of making friends with a painting, or a sculpture or, a ballet. So, when we have gone beyond textbook categories and learned how to approach art with this sort of openness and sensitivity, we find that art, like friendship, has a major place in the growth and quality of life.

THE CONCERNS OF ART

Among other concerns, art has typically con­cerned creativity, aesthetic communication, symbols, and the fine and applied arts. Let's look briefly at each of these.

Art has always evidenced a concern for creativity-that is, the act of bringing forth new forces and forms. We do not know for sure how creativity functions. Nonetheless, some­thing happens in which humankind takes chaos, formlessness, vagueness, and the un­known and crystallizes them into form, design, inventions, and ideas. Creativity underlies our existence. It allows scientists to intuit a pos­sible path to a cure for cancer, for example, or to invent a computer. The same process allows artists to find new ways to express ideas through processes in which creative action, thought, material, and technique combine in a medium to create something new, and that "new thing," often without words, triggers human experience-that is, our response to the artwork.

AESTHETIC COMMUNICATION

Art usually involves communication. Argu­ably, artists need other people with whom they can share their perceptions. When artworks and humans interact, many possibilities exist. Interaction may be casual and fleeting, as in the first meeting of two people, when neither wishes a relationship. Similarly, an artist may not have much to say, or may not say it very well. For example, a poorly written or produced play will probably not excite an audience. Similarly, if an audience member's preoccupa­tions render it impossible to perceive what the play offers, then at least that part of the artistic experience fizzles. On the other hand, all con­ditions may be optimum, and a profoundly exciting and meaningful experience may occur: The play may treat a significant subject in a unique manner, the production artists' skills in manipulating the medium may be excellent, and the audience may be recep­tive. Or the interaction may fall somewhere between these two extremes.

Throughout history, artistic communication has involved aesthetics (ehs-THEH­tihks). Aesthetics is the study of the nature of beauty and of art and comprises one of the five classical fields of philosophical inquiry-along with epistemology (the nature and origin of knowledge), ethics (the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by the individual in relationship with others), logic (the principles of reasoning), and metaphysics (the nature of first principles and problems of ultimate reality). The term aesthetics (from the Greek for "sense perception") was coined by the German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten (1714-1762) in the mid-eighteenth century, but interest in what constitutes the beauti­ful and in the relationship between art and nature goes back at least to the ancient Greeks. Plato saw art as imitation and beauty as the expression of a universal quality. For the Greeks, the concept of "art" embraced all handcrafts, and the rules of symmetry, proportion, and unity applied equally to weaving, pottery, poetry, and sculpture. In the late eighteenth century, the philosopher Immanuel Kant (kahnt; 1724-1804) revolutionized aesthetics in his Critique of Judgment (1790) by viewing aesthetic appreciation not simply as the perception of intrinsic beauty, but as involving a judgment-subjective, but informed. Since Kant, the primary focus of aesthetics has shifted from the consideration of beauty per se to the nature of the artist, the role of art, and the relationship between the viewer and the work of art.

Art also concerns symbols. Symbols usually involve tangible emblems of something ab­stract: a mundane object evoking a higher realm. Symbols differ from signs, which suggest a fact or condition. Signs are what they indicate. Symbols carry deeper, wider, and richer meanings. Look at the Greek cross below. A Greek Cross has arms of equal length and was one of the most common Christian forms used in the 4th century. Some people might identify this figure as a plus sign in arithmetic. But as a Greek cross, it becomes a symbol because it suggests many images, meanings, and implications. Artworks use a variety of symbols, and symbols make artworks into doorways leading to enriched meaning.

Greek Cross Public Domain

Symbols occur in literature, art, and ritual. Symbols can involve conventional relationships such as a rose standing for courtly love in a medieval romance. A symbol can suggest physical or other similarities between the symbol and its reference (the red rose as a symbol for blood) or personal associations-for example, the Irish poet William Butler Yeats's use of the rose to sym­bolize death, ideal perfection, Ireland, and so on. Symbols also occur in linguistics as arbitrary symbols and in psychoanalysis where symbols, particularly images in dreams, sug­gest repressed, subconscious desires and fears. In Judaism, the contents of the feast table and the ceremony performed at the Jewish Passover seder (a feast celebrating the exodus from slavery in Egypt) symbolize events surrounding the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. In Cluistian art, the lamb, for example, symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ.

FINE AND APPLIED ART

One last consideration in understanding art's concerns involves the difference between fine art and applied art. The " fine arts "- generally meaning painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, dance, and in the twentieth century, cinema- are prized for their purely aesthetic qualities. During the Renaissance (roughly the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries), these arts rose to superior status because Renaissance values lauded individual expression and unique aesthetic interpreta­tions of ideas. The term “ applied art” sometimes includes architecture and the " decorative arts " and refers to art forms that have a primarily decorative rather than expressive or emotional purpose. The decorative arts in­clude handcrafts by skilled artisans, such as ornamental work in metal, stone, wood, and glass, as well as textiles, pottery, and bookbind­ing. The term may also encompass aspects of interior design. In addition, personal objects such as jewelry, weaponry, tools, and costumes represent the decorative arts. The term may expand, as well, to mechanical appliances and oilier products of industrial design. None­theless, even the most common of objects can have artistic flair and provide pleasure and interest. The lowly juice extractor (see below), an example of industrial design, brings a sense of pleasantry to a rather mundane chore. Its two-part body sits on colored rubber feet and reminds us, perhaps, of a robot. Its cream and brown colors are soft and warm, comfortable rather than cold and utilitarian. Its plumpness holds a friendly humor, and we could imagine talking to this little device as an amicable companion rather than regarding it as a mere machine. The term decorative art first appeared in 1791. Many decorative arts, such as weaving, basketry, or pottery, are also commonly considered "crafts," but the definitions of the terms remain somewhat arbitrary and without sharp distinction.

359px-BrAun_Multipress_1960s.jpg

Braun Juice Extractor-"Multipress" available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication .

640px-Perspectives_-_Art,_Craft,_Design_and_the_Studio_Quilt.jpg

Quilt art exhibit installation view, International Quilt Study Center & Museum, University of Nebraska – Lincoln CC BY-SA 3.0

THE PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS OF ART

Another way we can expand our under­standing of art involves examining some of its purposes and functions. In terms of the former-- that is, art's purposes-- we ask, What does art do? In terms of the latter-- that is, art's functions-- we ask, How does it do it? Among some of art’s purposes, art can: (1) provide a record; (2) give visible or other form to feelings; (3) reveal metaphysical or spiri­tual truths; and ( 4) help people see the world in new or innovative ways. Art can do any or all of these. They are not mutually exclusive.

Until the invention of the camera, one of art's principal purposes involved enacting a record of the world. Although we cannot know for sure, very likely cave art of the earliest times did this. And so it went through history. Artists undertook to record their times on vases, walls, canvases, and so on-as in the case of the eighteenth-century Ital­ian painter Canaletto (can-ah-LAY-toh), in highly naturalistic verdute (vair-DOO-tay; Italian for "views") that he sold to travelers doing the grand tour of Europe.

640px-Canaletto_-_Rialto_Bridge_from_the_North_RCIN_400668.jpg

Canaletto - Rialto Bridge from the North Public Domain

Art can also give visible form to feelings. Perhaps the most explicit example of this aspect of art comes in the Expressionist style of the early twentieth century. Here the artist's feelings and emotions toward content formed a primary role in the work.

Edvard_Munch,_1893,_The_Scream,_oil,_tempera_and_pastel_on_cardboard,_91_x_73_cm,_National_Gallery_of_Norway.jpg

Edvard Munch, 1893, The Scream , oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 91 x 73 cm, National Gallery of Norway Public Domain

In terms of art that reveals metaphysical or spiritual truths, we can turn to the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe, whose light and space perfectly embodied medieval spirituality. The rising line of the cathedral reaches, ultimately, to the point of the spire, which symbolizes the release of earthly space into the unknown space of heaven.

Kölner_Dom_von_Osten.jpg

Cologne Cathedral towers CC BY-SA 3.0 de

On the other hand, a tribal ancestor figure deals almost exclusively in spiritual and metaphysical revelation.

totem.jpg

Totem pole in Vancouver, British Columbia CC BY-SA 4.0

Finally, most art, if well done, can assist us in seeing the world around us in new and surprising ways. Art that has no representational content may reveal a new way of understanding the inter­action of life forces.

In addition to its purposes-what it does--­ art also has many functions; in other words, how it does what it does. This includes (1) enjoyment, (2) political and social commentary, (3) ther­apy, and (4) artifact. Again, one function is no more important than the others. Nor are they mutually exclusive; one artwork may fill many functions. Nor are the four functions just mentioned the only ones. Rather, they serve as indicators of how art has functioned in the past and can function in the present. Like the types and styles of art that have occurred through history, these four functions and oth­ers provide options for artists and depend on what artists wish to do with their artworks.

Works of art can provide an escape from everyday cares, treat us to a pleasant experience, and engage us in social occasions. The same artworks we enjoy may also create in­sights into human experience. We can also glimpse the conditions of other cultures, and we can find healing therapy in enjoyment. An artwork in which one individual finds only enjoyment may function as a profound social and personal comment to another. In the case of a Chinese landscape like Walking by a Mountain Stream , it may raise a plain feature of nature to a profound level of beauty.

清_陸漢_山水八開_冊-Eight_Landscapes_MET_DP154488.jpg

Landscape Lu Han; 1699; ink and color on paper donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art .

640px-Albert_Bierstadt_-_Among_the_Sierra_Nevada,_California_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Albert Bierstadt - Among the Sierra Nevada, California Public Domain

Art may have a political or social function, such as influencing the behavior of large groups of people. It has functioned this way in the past and continues to do so. Eugene Delacroix's (deh-lah-KWAH) painting, Liberty Leading the People (July 28, 1830), illustrates this concept. In July 1830, for three days known as the Trois Glorieuses (the Glorious Three), the people of Paris took up arms to bring in the parliamentary monarchy of Louis-Philippe in hopes of restoring the French Republic. Eager to celebrate July 28, Delacroix painted the allegorical figure of Liberty waving the tricolor flag of France and storming the corpse-ridden barricades with a young combatant at her side. The painting was reviled by conservatives but purchased by Louis-Philippe in 1831. Soon after, it was hidden for fear of inciting public unrest.

607px-Eugène_Delacroix_-_La_liberté_guidant_le_peuple.jpg

Liberty Leading the People Eugene Delacroix Public Domain

The ancient Greek playwright Aristo­phanes (air-ih-STAH-fuh-neez) used comedy in such plays as The Birds to attack the political ideas of the leaders of ancient Athenian society. In Lysistrata , he attacked war by creating a story in which all the women of Athens go on a sex strike until Athens rids itself of war and warmongers. In nineteenth-century Norway, playwright Henrik Ibsen used An Enemy of the People as a platform for airing the issue of whether a government should ignore pollution in order to maintain economic well-being. In the United States today, many artworks act as vehicles to advance social and political causes, or to sensitize viewers, listeners, or readers to particular cultural situations like racial prejudice and gender equality.

459px-Bethlehem_Wall_Graffiti_1.jpg

Graffiti from a wall in Bethlehem, Israel. This photograph taken by Pawel Ryszawa This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International , 3.0 Unported , 2.5 Generic , 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.

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We Have No Property! We Have No Wives! No Children! We Have No City! No Country! — Petition of Many Slaves, 1773 (painted in 1955 ) Panel 5 of Jacob Lawrence’s series “Struggle… From the History of the American People,”

In a therapeutic function, creating and experiencing works of art may address indi­viduals with a variety of illnesses, both physical and mental. Role-playing, for example, used frequently as a counseling tool in treating dysfunctional family situations, often called psychodrama, has mentally ill patients act out their personal circumstances in order to find and cure the cause of their illness. Here the individual forms the focus. However, art in a much broader context acts as a healing agent for society's general illnesses as well. In hopes of saving us from disaster, artists use artworks to illustrate the failings and excesses of society. In still another vein, the laughter caused by comedy releases endorphins, chemicals produced by the brain, which strengthen the immune system.

Art also functions as an artifact: As a product of a particular time and place, an artwork represents the ideas and technology of that specific time and place. Artworks often provide not only striking examples but occasionally the only tangible records of some peoples. Artifacts, like paintings, sculptures, poems, plays, and buildings, enhance our insights into many cultures, including our own. Consider, for example, the many revelations we find in a sophisticated work like the cast vessel below from Igbo-Ukwu (IGH­boh OOK-woo). This artifact from the village of Igbo-Ukwu in eastern Nigeria utilizes the cire perdue (sihr pair-DOO) or "lost wax" process and reveals great virtuosity. It tells us much about the vision and technical accomplishment of this ninth- and tenth-century African society.

640px-Bronze_ceremonial_vessel_in_form_of_a_snail_shell,_9th_century,_Igbo-Ukwu,_Nigeria.jpg

Bronze ceremonial vessel in form of a snail shell, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria CC BY-SA 3.0

The Igbo-Ukwu vessel, as exemplary of art in a context of cultural artifact, raises the issue of religious ritual. Music, for example, when part of a religious ceremony, has a ritual function but the same musical piece performed in concert comprises a work of art. And theatre- if seen as an occasion planned and intended for presentation- would include religious rituals as well as events that take place in theatres. Often, as a survey of art history would confirm, we cannot discern when ritual stops, and secular production starts. For example, ancient Greek tragedy seems clearly to have evolved from and maintained ritualistic practices. When ritual, planned and intended for presentation, uses traditionally artistic media like music, dance, and theatre, we can legitimately study ritual as art, and see it also as an artifact of its particular culture.

Having said all that about purposes and functions, we must also state that sometimes art just exists for its own sake. In the late nineteenth century, a philosophical artistic movement occurred called aestheticism, characterized by the slogan " art for art's sake ." Those who championed this cause reacted against Victorian notions that a work of art must have uplifting, educational, or otherwise socially or morally beneficial characteristics. Proponents of aestheticism held that artworks stand independent and self-justifying, with no reason for being other than being beautiful. The playwright Oscar Wilde said in defense of this viewpoint: "All art is quite useless." His statement meant that exquisite style and polished device had greater importance than utility and meaning. Thus, form is victorious over function. The aesthetes, as proponents of aestheticism were called, disdained the "natural," organic, and homely in art and life and viewed art as the pursuit of perfect beauty and life a quest for sublime experience.

The question of how we go about approaching the arts, or how we study them, presents another challenge. We must choose one of the several methods available and carry on from there. We assume those most of you who are taking this course have had only limited exposure to the arts. So, we have chosen a method of study that can act as a spring­board into the arts--it seems logical to begin our study by dealing with some concrete characteristics. In other words, from mostly an intellectual point of view, what can we see and what can we describe when we look at the arts?

To put that question in different terms, how can we sharpen our aesthetic perception?

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What Is Art Essay

Art provides a person with visual and emotional pleasure. Art essays allow them to be interpreted in an understandable written format. An essay about arts may contain criticism, analysis, and thoughts on famous artists' works. Thanks to them, the cultural sphere is developing, because artists receive a significant incentive for further creative work.

In the meantime, conclusions must be well-founded and include common approaches to assessing art. Therefore, quality essays take a very long time to write, but you can speed up your work if you check out our good college essay examples .

Art Essay Examples: Best Samples

We have collected good art essay examples on our website. They are devoted not only to art in general but also to its individual areas. It doesn't matter if you plan to write about classic cultural movements or consider new industry trends, write a critical review or a laudatory review, we offer an excellent base for research. Here you can also find social science essay examples if you need to get one for your study. 

For students and other visitors of our site, viewing any essays is absolutely free. We don’t even require registration, which means that it will be enough to open our website, choose an interesting topic and read texts. Even if you are interested in narrowly focused areas, you will most likely find it in our database.

Humanities Essay Basic

To write quality work, first, you need to figure out what a humanities essay is. This science category includes disciplines that specifically consider an individual's personality and their interaction with society. For example, such sciences include philosophy, cultural studies, religious studies, psychology, history, and many other subjects. There is more than one essay on science you can find in our library.

Humanities allow expression of personal opinion, moreover, it is in disputes that their participants find the truth. Therefore, essays usually not only capture facts but also promote certain statements, which then become subjects of discussion. Humanities essays can be written at any knowledge level, from schools to universities.

Free Humanities Essay Examples

Each visitor who steps inside our site will find good humanities essay examples written by students who are experienced in this field. They are devoted to both general sciences, for example, psychology and philosophy foundations, and deepened into specific subjects. You can not only study the structure of any work but also learn new information.

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Arts & Humanities Essay Topics

As in other science branches, humanities essay topics should be relevant. The same applies to art essay topics, which are constantly appearing as art continues evolving. But it is about selecting a topic that many authors struggle with since these areas are very diverse and filled with interesting details.

We took care of students’ convenience and collected interesting topics for further elaboration in an essay format. You no longer need to worry about a vector of your work. It is enough to open our website, find a worthy direction for work and start writing.

Visual Arts Extended Essay Topics

Usually, for visual arts extended essay topics, researchers consider a huge human culture layer, sometimes touching upon whole eras. We have selected some interesting topics for you:

  • Archaic art period in Ancient Greece.
  • How graffiti was created and how it affected society.
  • Street art: Art or vandalism?
  • Modern methods of visual art analysis: With Van Gogh’s works as an example.
  • Evolution of naked women in art: From antiquity to the present day.
  • Emotional impact in impressionist paintings.

These topics are just a foundation for further work that you can use. Get inspired and get started, or check out other exciting options below.

Humanities Critical Thinking Essay Topics

If you are looking for critical thinking essay topics on humanities, you have come to the right place. Humanities educate a person in the ability to assess and think independently. Among possible promising topics for an essay, it is worth highlighting these topics:

  • Plastic surgery: Self-deception or a need to improve one’s appearance?
  • XXI century stereotypes and their impact on society. (Consult: essay on stereotypes .)
  • Happiness mode and its abstractness in social groups.
  • Look at contemporary art: new criteria for evaluating creativity.
  • Relevance of full-time work in the era of remote technologies.
  • Does religion always teach peace and virtue?
  • Television broadcasting as a method of population zombification.

If you want your essay in humanities to be done in a critical thinking style, you need to state your own thoughts. Try to find solid facts. Otherwise, your criticism will not be constructive.

Art History Essay Topics

Thousands of years in art development provide many art history essay topics that allow you to trace and evaluate evolution in this sphere. There are many topics worth considering. We have selected some good ones:

  • Monumentalism in European religious buildings.
  • Art of illustration in Renaissance texts.
  • How Gothic style developed in painting.
  • Evolution of the role of women in the art of antiquity.
  • How the cultural revolution affected art history.
  • Coincidence of the paradigms of art and society development.
  • Centers for the emergence of cultures in the Ancient World.

Thanks to such works, it is possible to distinguish aspects of art development and the main stages that led to its current state.

The Importance of Studying Humanities Essay

To write a paper successfully, you need to understand the importance of studying humanities essays . First of all, the humanities directly lead to self-knowledge as well as the development of human relations in society. Essays allow people to reveal problems and understand their reasons. Then it helps people work out a solution for the benefit of humanity.

Correctly written essays often form the basis of more global research on a specific topic. Some of them radically change approaches to science. They lead to the emergence of new trends. In addition, essays help develop your critical thinking, which is necessary in the modern world.

Arts & Humanities Essay Examples: Frequently Asked Questions

All the necessary arts and crafts movement essays can be found on our website, which contains a huge collection of themes and ready-made works. This allows you to look at the structure of an essay and find promising research areas. Then, write your own work based on them.

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It is very important to choose the correct arts and humanities essay format that will allow you to present all the information you need. First of all, keep in mind that this should be full-fledged scientific research, which is devoted to one, maximum two topics (this will allow you to concentrate on them). At the same time, you can express your personal opinion about a specific problem by making the text more accessible.

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Reflecting on the humanities

arts and humanities essay topics

Patricia Meyer Spacks is the Edgar F. Shannon Professor Emerita of English at the University of Virginia and chair of the Visiting Scholars Program at the American Academy. A Fellow of the American Academy since 1994, she served as its president from 2001–2006. Her recent books include Novel Beginnings: Experiments in Eighteenth-Century English Fiction  (2006) and Reading Eighteenth- Century Poetry  (forthcoming, 2009). She is vice chair of the National Humanities Center trustees.

Leslie Berlowitz, a Fellow of the American Academy since 2004, is the Academy’s Chief Executive Officer and William T. Golden Chair. She formerly served as vice president at New York University and was the founding director of the NYU Humanities Council. Her publications include America in Theory  (with Denis Donoghue and Louis Menand, 1988) and Greenwich Village: Culture and Counterculture  (with Rick Beard, 1993). She contributed a chapter to the recently published Letters to the Next President: Strengthening America’s Foundation in Higher Education  (2008).

The essays assembled here enact as well as reflect the humanities. As they explore the twenty-first-century state of humanistic study and humanistic commitment, they exemplify historical awareness,analytic power, and critical consciousness. In all their variety and energy, these essays demonstrate that the humanities remain alive and well – despite inadequate funding, insufficient jobs, and widespread misunderstanding of what, exactly, humanistic study involves and offers to society: all topics that appear in this collection.

The confidence marking these reflections combines with a sense of urgency. The essayists project confidence not because they believe that everyone understands the importance of the humanities or because they think that all problems have been solved: quite the contrary. They delineate a set of ongoing issues, both practical and theoretical. Their confidence comes from conviction of their enterprise’s value; their urgency at least partly from the need to make that value more apparent.

Humanists now have a new sense of their undertaking. Acknowledging problems in their situation and their practices, they discover and embrace fresh possibilities. Accustomed to asking large questions, humanists requested to reflect on their enterprise ask them. They offer provocative answers that often lead to further questions.

We read that humanistic knowledge is the necessary foundation of a democratic society; it can even provide a valuable basis for a career in business. We learn that the humanities reflect their times, even as they bring the past to bear on the present. To think of the “extreme imaginative poverty” of a world without literature reveals something of what the humanities do. Historians continue to find themselves under great pressure, but an evolving “postmodern” perspective might help them. Such observations suggest the range of concerns touched on here.

Arguably as significant and as important as the content of these essays is their tone. The sense of assurance conveyed by the reflections here contrasts with the atmosphere of the memorable volume published in 1997, What’s Happened to the Humanities?, edited by Alvin Kernan, which suggested how much had gone wrong. Some of the difficulties identified by the writers in Kernan’s book have actually worsened. Thus Harriet Zuckerman and Ronald Ehrenberg, examining the current state of funding for the humanities in a thoughtful, well-documented essay, conclude that there is “some [cause] for pessimism, and much that leads to uneasiness” in the chronic underfunding experienced by the humanistic disciplines. They do not expect matters to improve any time soon, given that “the benefits the academic humanities confer on society are not understood well enough, by a sufficient number” – a problem that the present collection tries to address. Libraries face crises not only of funding but of space, of use, and of accessibility. Young academics have difficulty finding publishers and distinguishing themselves in a crowded profession. Those professing the digital humanities find conventional departments reluctant to use scarce resources to explore potential new directions.

Nonetheless, the writers of these reflections, from various professional perspectives (philanthropist, university president, provost, former college president, foundation executives, leading members of the professoriate), look to the future with hope and with imagination. James O’Donnell points out that there is every reason for pessimism about the future – but also every reason for optimism. He raises many questions, pointing out the need for “a combination of original work and imaginative presentation”; and he clearly believes such combination possible. Edward Ayers calls on the humanities to “put themselves in play, at risk, in the world.” Caroline Bynum imagines a way to combat excessive pressure on young academics by using insights gained from the recent studies of history as a discipline. Kathleen Woodward describes the ways serious scholarship is brought to the wider public.

Communicating the excitement of intellectual possibility, these essays dramatize the humanities’ inclusiveness: the diversity of individual contributions suggests the range of approaches within the broad category of humanistic enterprise. Don Randel claims as a domain of the humanities “the study of, contemplation of, and exploration of what it means to be a human being.” To engage in such study demands a broad spectrum of resources. The present collection deploys many of them.

Contributors to this group of essays had available to them a collection of new data documenting the state of the humanities in our nation. The American Academy has recently introduced the Humanities Indicators prototype, an online resource containing seventy-four indicators and over two hundred graphs and charts tracking trends in five areas: primary and secondary education; undergraduate and graduate education; the humanities workforce; humanities research and funding; and the humanities in American life. This prototype was inspired by the thirty-six-year-old Science and Engineering Indicators of the National Science Foundation, which has been indispensable to educators and policy-makers interested in America’s competitiveness in science and technology. Until now, no comparable compendium of data about the state of the humanities has existed. As a result, Francis Oakley has noted:

Generalizations made about the humanities, whether critical or supportive, have tended to be characterized by a genial species of disheveled anecdotalism, punctuated unhelpfully from time to time by moments of cranky but attention-catching dyspepsia. 1

The Academy’s efforts to remedy this situation have proceeded along two parallel tracks: the development of the Humanities Indicators, based on existing data, and the Humanities Departmental Survey project, the collection of new data. The Humanities Departmental Survey was sent to 1,485 departments in seven humanities disciplines: history, religion, English, foreign language, history of science, art history, and linguistics. The survey covers such topics as faculty hiring patterns, faculty teaching loads, faculty policies, tenure policies, teaching and instruction, and aspects of the student experience.

The American Academy has played a pivotal role in establishing such important institutions as the American Council of Learned Societies, the Independent Research Libraries Association, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, and the National Humanities Center. The Initiative for Humanities and Culture, launched in 1998, continues the Academy’s effort to advance and advocate for the humanities.

Projects under the auspices of the Initiative have involved hundreds of participants, sponsored original research, and produced several published volumes of essays exploring the state of the humanities and the evolution of its disciplines and institutions. We anticipate that ongoing projects of the Initiative, like the Humanities Indicators, along with public forums including this special issue of Dædalus , will continue to provide serious reflections on the humanities, inspire new ideas, and generate new conversations about the vital role the humanities play in American life.

  • 1 Francis Oakley, from his presentation about the Academy’s Initiative for Humanities and Culture, October 11, 2008, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Organizing Research for Arts and Humanities Papers and Theses

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The purpose of this guide is to provide you with information on some elements that go into researching and writing arts and humanities papers and theses. Because there is no unified structure to research  and methodology in the arts and in the humanities, this guide provides general norms and suggestions, but is not comprehensive. Requirements and advice given to you by your faculty and/or committee members takes precedent and supersedes recommendations and instructions provided in this guide.

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Role of Art and Humanities Today

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Published: Aug 30, 2022

Words: 421 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

  • Nussbaum, M. C. (2010). Not for profit: Why democracy needs the humanities. Princeton University Press.
  • Sontag, S. (1966). Against interpretation and other essays. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
  • Barthes, R. (1977). Image, music, text. Hill and Wang.
  • Eagleton, T. (2000). The idea of culture. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Fry, R. (2010). Why art? Yale University Press.
  • Gadamer, H. G. (2004). Truth and method. Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Elkins, J. (2003). Visual studies: A skeptical introduction. Routledge.
  • Anderson, W. R. (1998). The truth about the truth: De-confusing and re-constructing the postmodern world. TarcherPerigee.
  • Kwon, M. (2004). One place after another: Site-specific art and locational identity. MIT Press.
  • Danto, A. C. (1981). The transfiguration of the commonplace: A philosophy of art. Harvard University Press.

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Emma Barnard: An Artist’s Perspective into the World of Medicine

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Poster saying Black Lives Matter

A great many courses within the Division of Arts & Humanites touch upon issues important to today's students of the humanities. Here is a selection of Spring 2024  courses that give these issues special prominence.

Race & Ethnicity

Gender & sexuality, politics & propaganda, climate crisis.

EMR 160: Environmental Practices and Indigenous Knowledge Systems Americo Mendoza-Mori

Throughout centuries, Indigenous communities have developed knowledge systems and practices that allow them to foster meaningful connections with natural environments and the earth. By conveying tradition with innovation, Indigenous societies from across the world engage with pressing topics such as social and environmental justice, climate change, decolonization, human rights, education, etc. For instance, while Indigenous peoples make up only 6% of the world's total population, they protect 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. This is a powerful statement of their resistance, resilience, and community-building capacity. This seminar will include fundamental principles, introductory frameworks on Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), a series of practices and wisdoms developed within Indigenous societies from across the world. It will also explore case studies and examples of how Indigenous communities navigate and contribute to the issues of climate change, food security, social disparities, healthcare and spirituality, public policy, and human rights. Community testimonies, guest speakers, multimedia content, interdisciplinary readings, and class debates will be part of the dynamics of this course. This is a speaking seminar, open to all students, that will promote oral communication and critical thinking skills through discussions, projects, and prepared presentations.

SPANSH 234: Rhetorics of travel, mobility and displacement in Latin American culture (1845-2019) Mariano Siskind

Colonial expansion, scientific and military explorations, exile, tourism, desires for global wandering, journalistic demands, the need to escape political and economic hardship, persecution, and climate disasters: travel literature and writings of displacement are crucial entry points to reflect on processes of cultural modernization in Latin America. When seen through the production and circulation of rhetorical formations of travel and displacement, Latin American culture becomes an unstable and uncertain site of global relations. In this course, we will study travelogues, novels, and crónicas that recount, think through, and witness the experience of being a stranger away from home or of having lost a place of origin in order to interrogate questions of genre and gender, cultural modernity and modernization, the gaze and desire of the (displaced) other, homeliness and homecoming, normative and fictional tropes, and the ethical witnessing of migration and displacement. We will read texts by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Rubén Darío, Amado Nervo, Manuel Ugarte, Enrique Gómez Carrillo, Victoria Ocampo, Sylvia Molloy, José Carlos Mariátegui, Beatriz Sarlo, Roberto Bolaño, Martín Caparrós, Lina Meruane and Valeria Luiselli, among others.

ITAL 75: Safeguarding Intangible Heritages : from Petrarch to Unesco Ambrogio Camozzi Pistoja

With 59 sites, Italy holds the record for the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, serving as a living laboratory for understanding the politics of  cultural preservation. This course introduces students to the concept of heritage in its varied forms - tangible and intangible, ancient and contemporary, natural and man-made, permanent and ephemeral, visible and invisible. 

Students will focus on eight case studies during the semester, engaging with different theories, methodologies and challenges that have historically and currently shaped efforts to preserve and interpret culture. The case studies adopted by the students as course work will help explore management issues raised by climate change, multiple ownership, collective memories, conflicting values and the relationship of immoveable cultural heritage to surrounding communities and society as a whole. Guest lecturers will play an important role in the course, presenting the challenges faced by professionals in the field and offering personalized feedback on student’s submissions. One external visit to a local heritage place, including contact with the organizations and communities involved in their management, will allow a first-hand understanding of how they work behind the scenes.

ENGLISH 124SG: Sex, Gender, and Shakespeare Alan Niles

This class is an introduction to Shakespeare’s writings and their representations of sex, gender, romance, love, and queerness. We will study poems about erotic and queer desire, plays that stage ideas about gender and gender fluidity, and film adaptations that bring modern perspectives to race and sexuality. Readings will include such plays as  Romeo and Juliet ,  As You Like It ,  Titus Andronicus ,  Macbeth , and  Measure for Measure ; Shakespeare’s  Sonnets ; and films by Derek Jarman, Vishal Bhardwaj, and Julie Taymor. Prior experience reading Shakespeare may be helpful but is not expected. Throughout our course, we will ask: how are the forms of gender identity and sexual expression we encounter in Shakespeare’s works familiar, or different? How might they challenge, inspire, or disturb us today?

RELIGION 1256: Gender and Judaism in Modern America Ann Braude

Contemporary Jews are as likely to view their tradition as a source of oppressive gender roles as they are to see it as an inspiration to activism for feminism or as a resource for queer identities. This course follows the construction of Jewish gender beyond the stereotypes, sometimes in collision with modern gender norms, sometimes in accommodation, and sometimes in open rebellion. It considers challenges to both demographic and cultural reproduction that place pressure on personal decisions, group dynamics, identity, and intergroup relations for members of minority religions.  By juxtaposing modern scholarship with religious texts addressing gender in Judaism, the course incorporates historical accounts of the anxieties and opportunities that accompanied the construction of modern Jewish gender identities as well as textual traditions opening alternative possibilities. 

GREEK 150: Rhetoric and Scandal in the Athenian Lawcourts Emily Greenwood

This course will examine the intersection of norms of gender, sexuality, and civic identity in Athenian lawcourt oratory from the 4th century BCE, as well as the disruption of these norms. Surviving legal speeches from ancient Athens typically depict citizenship in crisis and traffic in gossip and scandal; in the process, they offer us a rich and complex source for studying normative identities and how litigants use biographical smear tactics in an attempt to undermine their opponent’s social status and, at the extremes, to cast them out of citizenship and life itself.We will read and analyze selected speeches by Lysias, Demosthenes, Aeschines (extracts), and Apollodorus in Greek, with particular attention to the ways in which these speeches represent and negotiate categories of identity. Our primary focus will be the translation and interpretation of Athenian lawcourt speeches, informed by scholarship on Athenian rhetoric and law, citizenship in Ancient Athens, gender and sexuality in ancient Greece, and pertinent modern works of gender theory and queer theory. This course is designed to build up competence and confidence in reading and interpreting ancient Greek prose literature. You will also gain familiarity with the processes of Athenian law and relevant Athenian cultural, social, and political history. 

RELIGION 44: The Bible and Human Sexuality Benjamin Dunning

This is a course about reading, religion and sex – more specifically, the dynamic interplay between how Christians have read and interpreted their Bibles on the one hand, and how they have understood sex and human sexuality on the other. (We will deal briefly with the Bible and sexuality in the Jewish tradition, but the majority of the course focuses on Christianity.) Thus, the questions that will drive our inquiry are fundamentally questions about interpretation. What does it mean to make the claim that a particular perspective on human sexual experience is ‘biblical’?  How are we to understand the sheer variety of ways that a fixed set of canonical scriptural texts have been used as an authoritative resource for discussing and regulating sexual ethics, identity and practice?  How do changing notions of what ‘sexuality’ is (and why sexuality matters) impact the way that biblical texts have been interpreted?  We will explore these questions through the study of key texts in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament and an examination of how these texts have been interpreted from antiquity to the present.  Topics to be covered include marriage, gender identity, desire, same-sex relationships, and sexual renunciation.   No previous study in religion or biblical studies is assumed, and there are no prerequisites for enrolling in the course. This course is for undergraduates only.

NEC 101: Historical Background to the Contemporary Middle East: Religion, Literature and Politics Christina Maranci

What defines the Middle East? What long-term historical and cultural developments can we trace in the region? How do these affect contemporary global order and policy? This team-taught course in the NELCdepartment will address these three fundamental questions of great present relevance by introducing students to the ancient and modern peoples, languages, cultures, and societies of Western Asia and North Africa. The study of this diverse region is uniquely aided by a deep-time perspective afforded by thousands of years of vibrant art, writing and cultural artefacts. Relying on the classic expertise integral to area studies, the course brings together faculty from a variety of disciplines – from history and archaeology to literature and philology, and from sociology and economy to the political sciences – in a common endeavour to explore the rich cultural complex of the region through four key topics: history, religion, literature and politics.

COMPLIT 166: Jews, Humor, and the Politics of Laughter Saul Zaritt

By mistake some thieves found their way into Hershele’s house late at night while he was sleeping. They searched and searched but found nothing. Meanwhile, Hershele heard their rummaging and slowly crept up behind one of the thieves. He grabbed him by the arm and the thief, naturally, tried to run away. Hershele held him close, whispering, “Be still. Maybe together we’ll actually find something.” Beginning with jokes like this one, this course will examine the question of Jewish humor, exploring the concept of therapeutic joking, the politics of self-deprecation, and strategies of masking social critique behind a well-timed joke. Rather than reach some essential definition, we will instead investigate literature, stand-up comedy, film, and television of the twentieth and twenty-first century in order to 1) think together about the theory, mechanics, and techniques of comedy and humor and 2) ask how and when a text or performance gets labeled Jewish, by whom and for what purposes. Texts, films, and performers include: Freud, Kafka, Sholem Aleichem, the Marx Brothers, Belle Barth, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Larry David, Sarah Silverman, Broad City, and Rachel Bloom.

PHIL 279: Topics in Political Philosophy Lucas Stanczyk

This course will consider selected topics in political philosophy with a focus on problems of structural injustice and individual responsibility.

SLAVIC 147: Russian Fiction in the Soviet Era Justin Weir

In this course we will read several of the most acclaimed works of Russian fiction in the Soviet era, including Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita, Boris Pasternak’s, Doctor Zhivago, Vladimir Nabokov’s Invitation to a Beheading, as well as other stories and novels by Osip Mandelshtam, Yuri Olesha, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Evgeny Zamyatin. The main themes of the course will be the role of the author in a totalitarian society, politics, and the form of the novel in the twentieth century. No prerequisites. Conference course. 

ENGLISH 90MR: Race and Religion in Medieval Literature

Anna Wilson

This course focuses on representations of race, religion, and cross-cultural contact in literature written in western Europe between approximately 800 and 1450 CE, before colonial contact with the Americas. During this period, diplomats, pilgrims, and merchants crisscrossed Europe and Asia, generating fascination with far-away lands and a booming trade in exotic goods; Christian kingdoms of western Europe formed uneasy alliances under the banner of a shared religion to invade Muslim territories and sack Jewish communities in the Crusades; and a global pandemic spread via fleas on ship rats, killing hundreds of thousands and fomenting xenophobic violence. We will read texts from a variety of genres, including religious plays, romances about inter-faith marriage, chansons de geste (poems celebrating deeds in war, often grotesquely violent), and ‘armchair travel’ guides. We will trace the emergence of modern concepts of race and ethnicity in the way medieval Christian writers represented religious difference in/as bodily difference; develop a critical, historically-situated toolkit for analysing medieval concepts and terms around race, ethnicity, and nation; and analyse the role of the middle ages in current conversations about race in America.

EMR 139: Coloniality, Race, Catastrophe

Mayra Rivera

This course explores the relationship between coloniality, race and ecology through the lens of “catastrophe.” We will examine a variety of theoretical and literary sources that deploy or refute tropes of the “end of the world.” We will study different uses of “catastrophe” to denounce the destruction of a particular world, re-imagine the past, or proclaim the impossibilities of the present. Through the readings and discussions, we will analyze the aims, effectiveness and limitations of talk of catastrophe in the contemporary context. Jointly offered as HDS 2432.

PHIL 247: Social and Personal Identities

Mark Richard

We address two sets of related questions.  The first set is from metaphysics:  What sort of things are (human) persons? Is the person Mark Richard the human animal MR, or is he simply constituted by that animal?  Are properties like his sexual characteristics, gender, ethnicity, and the like essential to him?  The second set is from social philosophy:  Assuming that social identities like gender and race are not biological properties, what are they?  Are they in some sense socially constructed, and if so what exactly does that mean?  Are they malleable in the sense that whether someone has such an identity is a matter of factors which can be affected by individual or group decisions?

EMR 164: Global Rebellion: Race, Solidarity, and Decolonization

Soham Patel

In this course, students will examine the rich legacy of anticolonial struggle from around the world. Drawing upon scholarship in Critical Ethnic Studies and American Studies, we will journey through the overlapping historical, political, and intellectual formations of Black, Asian, Latinx, and Indigenous radicalism. By centering radical, anticolonial political actors, and social movements, we will discuss how BIPOC communities forged cross racial, internationalist solidarities to rebel against global white supremacy.

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15 Arts and Humanities Research and Passion Project Ideas For Middle and High School Students

arts and humanities essay topics

By Alex Yang

Graduate student at Southern Methodist University

8 minute read

The arts and humanities are extremely diverse fields that offer a lot of opportunities for creative passion projects. Through these projects, middle and high school students can share their unique stories and experiences with the world. Students can also dive into the richness of human history, traditions, and cultures, and begin to develop an appreciation for the diversity of human experiences.

In this article, we’ll dive into 15 arts and humanities passion project ideas that you can either try to execute on your own or use as inspiration for a project you design. We’ll also cover how you can decide which project or topic to focus on, and navigate the diverse range of ideas in the arts and humanities.

Finding Your Arts and Humanities Project Focus

There are a million different directions you can take with your arts and humanities research or passion project, so first it’s important to sit down with yourself and think through what personal interests you have. Maybe there’s a specific kind of art, music, dance, author, or culture that you’re already interested in. If you find yourself in that position, great! You can choose to dive deeper into any of those interests. If you’re not entirely sure what you’re interested in, do some exploring to find inspiration (e.g., go to museums or exhibitions in your area and see if anything catches your eye, utilize brainstorming steps and methods to generate project ideas).

After you’ve found some initial passion project ideas , the easiest step from there is just to Google or YouTube those topics and start learning more about them. You’ll find that as you start to conduct preliminary research into a few ideas, one will probably start to stand out to you more than the others.

As you explore different ideas, also be open to the possibility of pursuing a project that combines the arts or humanities with other disciplines. For example, maybe you start to learn interesting concepts about philosophy and ethics, and you’re simultaneously interested in genetic engineering. Those two concepts combined could make for a pretty compelling project, so always think outside of the box!

Also remember that the end product of your project is totally up to you as well. Don’t feel like the end product always has to be a research paper or presentation. You could create a website to share your learnings, do a TED Talk or podcast, and try many other ways to present your work .

15 Creative Arts and Humanities Project Ideas

1. how does aristotle inform decision-making at the end of life in the u.s. healthcare system .

All medical decisions are grounded in moral values, and clinicians should have an ethical framework to guide their decision-making process when people are near the end of their lives. This project can apply principles of Aristotle's seminal work, Nicomachean Ethics, to topics of end-of-life decision-making such as artificial nutrition, code status changes, and brain death.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Avery

2. Music Evolution Through The Decades: Analyzing The History of Your Favorite Music Genre 

Middle or high school students can pick their favorite genre of music and research the history of this genre, including key artists who influenced the genre, cities where the genre was developed, and different styles and phases the genre went through. You could also analyze different societal factors, like political climate, racial tension and community structures that impacted music production during each time period.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Mimi

3. Riots, Parties, and Protests

How can theater and performance help us understand the politics of protest? You can use theater performance as a lens for digging into the strategies of political and social movements. Analyze how groups and individuals articulate their goals and use their bodies to disrupt and reimagine everyday spaces.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Kelly

4. Is a Portrait of the King Propaganda? 

In 16th century Europe, artists like Hans Holbein the Younger worked for royal courts, creating portraits for wealthy and affluent citizens. A student could do a research project about how the art created by painters like Hans Holbein relates to propaganda as we now understand it, and how the portraits actually may have served a political purpose.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Sarah

5. Scoring a Film Scene

If you’re a teen who’s into music making and also have a passion for movies, this project is perfect for you! Select a sample scene from a film (preferably one that doesn’t already have a score in the background) and come up with an initial idea for a score for that scene. Think about how you want the audience to feel in the moment and how it complements the visual aspects of the scene.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Cody

6. Poetry and Social Media 

The rise of social media networks, particularly Instagram, have created a boom in the poetry world because of the quick and widespread way these short, imagistic poems can circulate. How has social media impacted the study of poetry as we know it? Have more people been interested in poetry because of these " instapoets "?

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Leela

7. Segregation and Colonialism in an East African City 

For this project, middle or high school students can write a research paper, visual essay, or interactive blog post about the history of segregation and colonialism in an East African city of their choice, for example Kampala or Nairobi. Drawing on colonial archives, newspapers, urban town plans, research papers, and more, students will examine how, under colonialism, East Africa's cities were designed to segregate communities along racial lines. Analyze the construction of neighborhoods, laws, and urban infrastructure to understand how and why the city was segregated.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Kristen

8. Studying Peace and Violence 

Research topics about peace and violence from a theoretical standpoint and try to develop an understanding of why different types of wars and conflicts continue to happen around the world? Depending on your individual interests, this could culminate in a traditional research paper or op-ed, or, alternatively, an educational video or podcast.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Shauna

9. Photo Ethnography of a Place 

In this middle or high school student project, you will be able to tell the story of a place in your own city or town - a museum, a zoo, a park, a cafe, a music store, a forest, a library, etc, relying only on the pictures you take of that place. You will try to tell others about why this location is important for you or your community.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Magdalena

10. Curate an Exhibition

This project will enable you to research a specific art historical topic while also learning the skills involved in curating a museum-based exhibition. You can start by selecting a general topic in art history. This could be an artistic movement (e.gImpressionism, Abstract Expressionism, The Harlem Renaissance), a specific artist (e.g., Claude Monet, Helen Frankenthaler, James Van Der Zee), or another theme of your choosing. After some preliminary research, you will decide on a title and thesis for your exhibition, then generate three “deliverables”: You will create a “checklist” of artworks to include, “wall labels” for each of these objects (i.e., a very short paragraph that explains the artwork to a viewer), and then a short brochure for potential museum visitors!

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Izabel

11. Why is America So Polarized?

Why does political polarization matter ? And can we do anything about it? This project could involve reviewing scholarly literature, gathering and analyzing data, and presenting results in the form of a scientific research paper, blog, social media account, or other platform of your choosing. You might identify potential interventions that could help decrease polarization in your school or local community. If interested, you could use research methods such as data visualization, text analysis, questionnaire design, or interviews.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Alexandra

12. Literary Magazine Concept Design

In this project, you will design an idea for a new literary magazine. First, learn about the variety of literary magazines that exist today, what their creative and practical models are, what their aesthetic is, and how they are run and funded. You will then apply this knowledge to creating a custom idea for your own literary magazine! If you are passionate about great writing and literary publishing, this is a great project for you.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Margarita

13. How to Write an Argument

Throughout our lives, we encounter arguments. They are designed to provide reasons for us to come to conclusions about the world, and are necessary to convince anyone of anything. However, arguments are often difficult to articulate and complex. The goal of this project is to learn how to become better at making arguments . Learn more about the logical structure of arguments, common fallacies, examples of strong arguments, and examples of bad arguments.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Will

14. History is Written by The Victors

Choose one event in history that you are interested in. Research three different memorials, monuments, or museums dedicated to this event. This is a good opportunity to examine bias in historical records and public memory—what gets remembered and what is lost over time? Which aspects of the event are emphasized and which are not mentioned? What is important to people now versus what was important to people in the past? 

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Rebecca

15. Costume Design Research & Sketching For Period Accuracy 

With shows like The Queen's Gambit, Downton Abbey, Mad Men, The Crown, Outlander, and Stranger Things, we are given the gift of time travel. We almost feel like we are in those times with the details and idiosyncrasies some shows and movies bring to us. But how do costume designers, production designers and fashion historians do their research? Learn more about historical fashion research and see if you can gain an understanding of how it works. If you want to take the project a step further, brainstorm your own idea for a TV show or movie set in a certain time period and think through what costumes your characters would wear to reflect that era.

Idea by arts and humanities research mentor Desira

Examples of Arts and Humanities Passion Projects Completed by Polygence Students

At Polygence, we’ve had numerous students explore arts and humanities projects with the help of a Polygence research mentor .

For example, Israel’s project focused on studying Leonardo Da Vinci and his legacy, before creating his own conceptual drawing that incorporated different facets of Da Vinci.

Hannah’s project was a five-act play that she created after studying 16th century Haarlem, a city in the Netherlands. The play incorporates accurate historical details and explores the roles of men and women in and out of wartime.

In this article, we covered how to find an arts and humanities project that interests you and shared 15 different passion project ideas from our extensive network of research mentors. Of course, these are just a few of many different potential project ideas, and we encourage you to be curious and explore arts and humanities project ideas beyond this list.

If you’re interested in pursuing an arts and humanities passion project, Polygence’s programs are a great place to start and offer excellent mentorship along the way.

Related Content

Passion projects for high school students: why they’re important and how to get started

5 exciting ways to discover your passions

Choosing the perfect project idea using ikigai

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Do Your Own Research Through Polygence

Your passion can be your college admissions edge! Polygence provides high schoolers a personalized, flexible research experience proven to boost your admission odds. Get matched to a mentor now!"

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Dynamic and playful london: community development and social change, dialogue: language and culture in contemporary france, dialogue: economic development in rwanda, spanish language and peruvian history and culture, food and culture in vietnam and cambodia, the geopolitics of borders: from security to solidarity in sicily, diversity and unity – politics and migration in the netherlands, ethnic identity and conflict in croatia and bosnia, greece, serbia, bosnia: from balkan wars to economic & security promises of european union, prague-warsaw-krakow-gdans, italian language and culture, ireland, literature and film, the twenty-first century city: tokyo and kyoto, language and culture in spain, experiencing the old and new middle east, the united nations in geneva – diplomacy from ai to global public health and climate, spanish language and culture in pamplona, bibao, and madrid, holocaust and genocide studies, new england and old england: coast, country, city.

MAGDALENE COLLEGE

Magdalene College Cambridge

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Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition

The competition is open to students attending state-maintained schools in the UK, and who are in their penultimate year of education (Year 12 in England and Wales, S5 in Scotland, or Year 13 in Northern Ireland).

Essay Questions

The essay questions cover the breadth of arts and humanities subjects offered at undergraduate level at the University of Cambridge.

Questions are often multi-disciplinary, designed to encourage entries to consider the connections between various subjects, and to allow entries to approach the question from varying angles. Effective essays will present a clear argument supported by specific, relevant examples.

1. Are there some fundamental rights which legislation cannot remove?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Human, Social, and Political Sciences , and Law .

2. Is translation more like an art or more like a science?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic ; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies ; Classics ; Modern and Medieval Languages ; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion .

3. “It's all about feeling. If you can play 1,000 notes a minute, and it just goes straight across the board and there’s no feeling, it doesn't mean anything.” – B. B. King (blues guitarist), The Life of Riley (2012 documentary film). Discuss the role of feeling in music-making, and answer the question ‘could a robot be a good guitarist?’

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Music , and Philosophy .

4. ‘Crime does not exist. Only acts exist, acts are often given different meanings within various social frameworks.’ (Christie, 2004). Do you agree?

5. For studying literature, the selection of a canon should not only be based on quality of the texts but also on equal representation, in terms of age, gender and ethnicity, of its intended readers. Do you agree?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies ; Classics ; Education ; English ; and Modern and Medieval Languages .

6. If aliens existed, would they have a concept of God?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Philosophy , and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion .

7. ‘As one reads history . . . one is absolutely sickened not by the crimes the wicked have committed, but by the punishments the good have inflicted’ (Oscar Wilde, 1891). How should punishments be determined?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Education ; History, and Human, Social, and Political Sciences .

8. Does the power of multi-national corporations now exceed that of the nation state?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in History; Human, Social, and Political Sciences ; and Law .

9. Why do languages change?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic ; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies ; Classics ; Linguistics ; Modern and Medieval Languages ; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion .

10. "We are bored when we don't know what we are waiting for. That we do know, or think we know, is nearly always the expression of our superficiality or inattention. Boredom is the threshold to great deeds." (Walter Benjamin, The Arcades Project, 105). Write an essay in defence of boredom using this quotation as a starting point.

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in English ; Human, Social, and Political Sciences ; Philosophy ; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion .

11. What can the study of sexuality in the ancient world teach us about the formation of the modern self?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Archaeology ; Classics ; English ; History ; and Human, Social, and Political Sciences .

12. "A picture is worth a thousand words". What is the place of studying texts in a world that is increasingly dependent on visual communication?

If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies ; Classics ; English ; History of Art ; Linguistics ; and Modern and Medieval Languages .

The essay questions are available to view in PDF format here:

Submissions should adhere to the word limit of 2,000 words, which does not include footnotes or bibliographies. The word count should be stated at the end of the essay.

All sources should be cited and listed in a bibliography. We understand that entrants may not have prior experience of referencing and would recommend  Harvard referencing system website  for an explanation of the Harvard referencing system. Entrants are welcome to use alternative reference styles if they prefer.

Entrants should submit one essay only. The submission must be entirely the entrant’s own work, and should not contain any work generated by ChatGPT or other forms of artificial intelligence. The competition judges are mindful of the advancements in generative AI and will disqualify any submissions which demonstrate similarities to responses produced by AI tools. Entries must not be submitted or have been submitted to an exam board as part of any coursework, extended essay, or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), either in part or in full.

The deadline for submissions is 3 May 2024 at 18:00.

Essays should be submitted by the form at the link below.

First prize: £300 Second prize: £200 Third Prize £100.

Honourable mentions may also be awarded. Prize winners will be invited to visit Magdalene College in Summer 2024.

The webinars below, recorded in 2023, may provide some advice and inspiration for researching, writing, and refining your essay.

If you have any questions regarding the competition, please contact Natalie Thompson, Schools Liaison Officer, by emailing [email protected] .

Essay-writing Webinars

Magdalene College Schools Liaison Officer is delivering a series of webinars to provide advice on the stages of the essay-writing process.

Planning and Researching

The Writing Process

Refining and Referencing

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“The Doctor as a Humanist”: The Viewpoint of the Students

Conference Report and Reflection by Poposki Ognen (University Pompeu Fabra); Castillo Gualda Paula (University of Balearic Islands); Barbero Pablos Enrique (University Autonoma de Madrid); Pogosyan Mariam (Sechenov University); Yusupova Diana (Sechenov University); and Ahire Akash (Sechenov University)

Day 3 of the Symposium, students’ section, Sechenov University, Moscow.

The practice of Medicine as a profession has become very technical; doctors rely on fancy investigations, treatment algorithms and standardized guidelines in treating patients. In a lot of universities, medical students and residents are trained without appreciating the importance of art and the humanities in delivering good care to patients and their families. Factual knowledge is imposed on us, as students, from scientific evidence delivered by highly specialized professionals: those who know more and more about niche subjects.

As a result, when someone decides to become a doctor , it seems that scientific training is the sole priority, with most attention being given to the disease-treatment model. As medical students, we are taught very specific subjects, leaving little or no space or time for any cultural enrichment programs. And yet, Personal growth as a doctor and a human being cannot be achieved unless one is exposed to the whole range of human experience. Learning from art and artists can be one such means of gaining these enriching experiences. We can learn from historians, and from eminent painters, sculptors, and writers, as well as from great scientists. How do we achieve these ends? The following essay summarizes and reviews one attempt at providing answers. The 2nd “Doctor as a Humanist” Symposium took place at Sechenov University in Moscow from the 1 st to the 3 rd of April, 2019, to explore the holistic perspective of interpersonal treatment.

To begin our essay, we would like to clarify some key concepts, such as culture, humanism and humanities, as they were employed at the conference. Culture is a complex phenomenon that includes knowledge, beliefs, artistic production, morals, customs and skills acquired by being part of a society, which can be transmitted consciously or unconsciously, by individuals to others and through different generations.

The humanities are academic disciplines that study the cultural aspects and frailties of being human, and use methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, which distinguish them from the approaches of the natural sciences. Humanism is the practice of making the human story central. Consequently, the studies of humanities, so invested in human stories, is one aspect of practicing humanism.

Technological and practical progress in medicine has been impressive in the past fifty years. Nevertheless, patients still suffer from chronic conditions such as heart failure, chronic lung disease, depression, and many others. These are conditions where technology cannot significantly change the outcomes or reverse the underlying condition. One of the ways to alleviate suffering is through compassion and empathy where the doctor is a professional who listens to, understands and comforts the patient, as well as engaging the patient as a fellow human being. We need arts and humanities as doctors’ tools to comfort and, perhaps, even to heal. We also need them to remind us that we are ‘merely human’ ourselves, and that we share our humanity with our patients, as equals.

Unquestionably, there are fundamental requirements that every physician must internalize; the conference goal was to explain that one such requirement is the humanistic view. Opera, poetry, philosophy, history, the study of dialectics, biographical readings, and even volunteering abroad can be means of engaging the world for positive change. Sometimes called  “soft” skills, these are in fact necessary and valuable qualities to empower ourselves as persons, as well as doctors. The 2nd The Doctor as a Humanist Symposium placed the corner stone in a global project that aims to understand medicine as a multidisciplinary subject, and to establish the concept of humanistic medicine both as a science and an art where the patient and the doctor are human beings working together.

The international group of students after presenting their projects.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION

The event united experts in Medicine and the Humanities from all over the world. The speakers (doctors, nurses and students) were from Russia, the USA, the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Mexico and more. Each day’s program was both intense and diverse, and included plenary lectures and panel sessions. Medical students were highly involved in all parts of the conference, offering us a great chance to introduce our projects, share our opinions on various topics, and discuss our questions connected with the role of the humanities in medicine.We participated in roundtable discussions, which were chaired by experts from different countries. Even though this made us nervous, at the same time it was very important for us, as students, to be a part of it. We discussed the future of medical humanities from various perspectives, and above all our thoughts and ideas were listened to and commented on, on an equal basis with the world’s experts. For once, we could see that our views were being taken into consideration, and we hope that in the future this will be the norm and NOT the exception. We are the future of medicine, and our voices should be heard, too.

At the end of the first day there was a students’ session, where we gave our opinions on the relative importance of the medical humanities from a multicultural viewpoint, and on this particular roundtable there were students from Russia, Spain, Iran, Mexico, Italy, as well as a Nursing resident. One of the students during the session shared her view that “I would like to see medicine through the lens of humanism and empathy, and also implement all its principles in my professional life on a daily basis”. All participants agreed, and although we were representing different countries and cultures there was no disagreement about this. Even though we have not yet faced many of the obstacles of the world of medicine, we can see the role of compassion in clinical practice better perhaps than our seniors. We shared our points of view about this question and its relevance in the different countries. It was an incredible moment, as experts and professors demonstrated a great interest in our ideas.

The program was extremely diverse; however, the main idea that most speakers expressed was how to find, sustain and not lose humanist goals. Brandy Schillace gave an impressive presentation entitled “Medical Humanities today: a publisher’s perspective”, which studied the importance of writing and publishing not only clinical trials, but also papers from historians, literary scholars, sociologists, and patients with personal experiences. The nurses Pilar d’Agosto and Maria Arias made a presentation on the topic of the Nursing Perspective that is one of the main pillars of medical practice. Professor Jacek Mostwin (Johns Hopkins University) shared his thoughts on patients’ memoirs. An Italian student, Benedetta Ronchi presented the results of an interview on medical humanities posed to the participants and speakers during the symposium. The plurality of perspectives made this conference an enriching event and showed us how diverse ideas can help us become better doctors. More importantly, it reminded us of our common humanity.

A significant part of the symposium was dedicated to Medicine and Art. Prof Josep Baños and Irene Canbra Badii spoke about the portrayal of physicians in TV medical dramas during the last fifty years. The book “The role of the humanities in the teaching of medical students” was presented by these authors and then given to participants as gifts. Dr Ourania Varsou showed how Poetry can influence human senses through her own experience in communicating with patients. She believed that many of the opinions and knowledge that we have internalized should be unlearned in order to have a better understanding of the human mind. The stimulus of poetry makes this possible. Poetry allows us to find new ways to express ourselves, and thus increase our emotional intelligence and understanding of other people’s feelings.

One of the most impressive lectures was by Dr Joan.B Soriano, who spoke about “Doctors and Patients in Opera” and showed how the leading roles of physicians in opera have changed over the centuries. People used to consider the doctor as the antihero, but with time this view has transformed into a positive one that plays a huge role in history.

It is important to be professional in your medical career, but also to be passionate about the life surrounding you; for instance, Dr Soriano is also a professional baritone singer. For students, this Symposium was full of obvious and hidden messages, which gave us much lot of food for thought. As Edmund Pellegrino, the founding editor of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy , said: “Medicine is the most humane of sciences, the most empiric of arts, and the most scientific of humanities.”

The first day of the Symposium, students from different countries during the roundtable.

CHOOSING ONE WORD

To conclude our summary of the students’ viewpoint each of us chose One word to encapsulate our thoughts about the symposium.

The Doctor as a Humanist is a multicultural event where everyone can learn and contribute to this global necessity to put the heart and soul back into medicine. Of course, we are aware and delighted that other organizations are championing the cause of the Humanities in Medicine, and in some cases, such as https://www.dur.ac.uk/imh/ , they have been doing so for many years.

As medical students, we appreciate how we have been placed at the centre of the symposium, which we believe has made this new initiative rather special. We hope that students of Medicine and from other disciplines come and participate in future symposia.

If you want to learn more, and see how you can participate, please contact the International student representatives, Mariam ( [email protected] ) and David ( [email protected] ).

Acknowledgements

Assistance provided by Jonathan McFarland (c) and Joan B. Soriano (University Autonoma de Madrid) was greatly appreciated during the planning and the development of the article.

Analysis and discussion of research | Updates on the latest issues | Open debate

All BMJ blog posts are published under a CC-BY-NC licence

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The broad range of disciplines under the arts and humanities field might leave many wondering, “What is arts and humanities?” 

Arts and humanities are critical components of human expression and culture, encompassing everything from literature to visual arts. 

The two fields are essential in helping us understand the world around us and ourselves as human beings. 

Since arts and humanities have a vast range of subjects, it is natural for you to be curious to learn more about them. 

Today, we will delve into the meaning and significance of arts and humanities, explore the interconnectedness of the two and discuss why they matter in today’s society. 

So, What Is Arts And Humanities? 

Arts and humanities are two fields of study that explore human culture, creativity, and expression. Arts deals with creating and expressing ideas through visuals such as paintings and performances such as dance. 

On the other hand, humanities encompass the study of human culture and society through; literature, language, philosophy, history, and other related disciplines.  

Arts is a vast field of study encompassing a wide range of disciplines, all concerned with the creative expression of human imagination. 

Art disciplines, at their core, try to explore how people interact and communicate with the world around them. These disciplines include: 

Visual art is one of the most prominent areas of art that include; photography, painting, sculpture, and other forms of two/three-dimensional artwork. Visual arts allow us to explore different techniques and styles of expressing ourselves. 

It also allows us to appreciate how artists use their creative abilities to communicate their ideas and perspectives. 

Performing Art

Performing art is another important area of art that encompasses dance, music, theater, and any other form of live performance. Through performing art, we can explore how humans express themselves through sound, movement, and storytelling. 

These art forms offer a powerful medium for communication and expression and are an essential part of cultures around the world. 

Literary Art 

Literary art is a written expression of art, such as poetry and fiction. We can explore different ideas, themes, and perspectives through literature and appreciate how writers use language to express their deepest thoughts and ideas. 

Significance Of Arts

Art plays a vital role in shaping our understanding of the world. Through art, we can explore different perspectives, communicate new ideas and emotions, and foster empathy and understanding between different cultures. 

Art is a significant part of our heritage and cultural identity. It offers a window into the history and traditions of different societies.

Therefore, other ethnic societies can foster a sense of belonging through art connected to their ancestors. 

The humanities is another broad field of study closely related to the arts. However, humanities encompasses many disciplines concerned with understanding the human experience. 

At the core of humanities, it explores the history, culture, literature, and philosophy that shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. 

Language And Literature 

Another crucial area of humanities is language and literature. Through language study, we can understand how communication shapes our relationship with others and our understanding of the world. 

Literature provides an open window into the human experience. Through it, we can explore many universal ideas and themes as seen in the eyes of different cultures and societies. 

Philosophy is a discipline of humanities that looks into the fundamental questions governing the existence of humans. It encompasses the nature of reality, life’s meaning, and knowledge’s limits. 

Through thoroughly examining these questions, philosophers can seek a richer understanding of our place in the world. Therefore, we can establish new ways to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. 

Philosophy shapes our way of life. A great philosopher named Aristotle idealized the principles of deductive reasoning that apply to a logical argument based on two or more propositions assumed to be true before arriving at a conclusion. 

This way of thinking spanned every known field of science and has formed the basis for arriving at scientific conclusions. 

Religion And Culture

Religion and culture are also essential humanities areas. Through studying religion, we understand how different belief systems shape our understanding of the world and how they impact society. 

On the other hand, culture gives us a deep understanding of how people express themselves and shape their communities. 

History is one of the key areas of humanities, and it explores the past to understand our position in the present better and prepare us for the future. 

Through the study of people, ideas, and events that have shaped our world, historians can provide a context on contemporary issues. Understanding the past is critical in shaping our societies and building a better future. 

Interconnectedness Of Arts And Humanities

Even though arts and humanities are often seen as separate disciplines, they are deeply interconnected. 

Studying either art can provide deep insights into humanities and vice versa. Here are some of the interconnectedness of arts and humanities: 

1. They Seek To Understand Human Experience

Both arts and humanities seek to understand and interpret human experience at their very core. Arts incorporate various forms of expression, such as music, visual arts, and theater, to explore multiple human conditions and develop a deep meaning. 

Humanities focus more on studying language, human culture, and society, trying to understand how we create and share meaning. 

Interconnectedness can be seen in the study of literature, which is an art form and a subject of study within the humanities. 

Literature allows us to gain cultural and historical contexts in which it was produced. Therefore, it enhances our understanding of those times’ social and political issues. 

Nonetheless, reading and interpreting literature is an artistic endeavor as we use experiences to garner meaning from texts. 

2. Societal Role

Arts and humanities are also interconnected by their roles in society. Both fields significantly contribute to our collective heritage and offer us a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. 

They also challenge, transform, and inspire society, enhancing a thriving civilization. For example, the arts can raise awareness about social and political issues, while the humanities provide insights into their complexities. 

3. They Intersect Interdisciplinary Fields

Arts and humanities often intersect interdisciplinary fields such as cultural, media, and gender studies. The fields combine insights from disciplines to explore complex social and cultural issues in greater depth. 

4. Historical Context

The study of history is a field within humanities that provides context for understanding the social and cultural environment where artistic movements emerged.

For example, by exploring the social and political climate evident in the 1960s, we can understand the messages expressed in literature and music at that time. 

5. Social Commentary

At many times artistic expression engages with social and political issues, providing a lens through which we can examine and critique society. 

Humanities offer tools for analyzing and interpreting the messages conveyed through art. Therefore, we can garner more profound insights into the human experience.  

Importance Of Arts And Humanities In Today’s Society 

Some of the importance of arts and humanities in today’s society include: 

1. Self-Expression 

Through the different arts and humanities disciplines, humans can express their emotions and different perspectives of their ideas. 

Self-expression is an important aspect that allows new technology development and human civilization to thrive. 

2. Explore Different Experiences

We can explore different aspects of human experiences through literature, art, and music. This discipline helps us foster empathy and understanding and build better community interactions. Better community interactions promote peace and development in society. 

3. Communication 

Arts and humanities offer a powerful means of communication, allowing us to express ideas and emotions that might be difficult to express through words alone. 

For example, art can communicate thoughts and emotions in a way that exceeds language and cultural barriers. 

4. Shaping Our Cultural Identity

Arts and humanities are the backbone of shaping our cultural heritage and identity. They allow us to explore and appreciate the history and tradition of various societies and cultures and even celebrate the richness and diversity of human experiences. 

Through it, humans can build a sense of belonging to their communities and foster a deeper appreciation for the world around us. 

5. Promotes Creativity And Innovation 

Arts and Humanities are vital as they promote creativity and innovation within the community. They motivate us to think outside the box and develop new ideas and perspectives that might lead to discoveries. 

Additionally, we can develop new ways of thinking and forms of expression necessary when shaping our world’s future. 

We could use philosophical ways of thinking to solve scientific problems enabling us to solve different issues affecting our society today.  

6. Prevent Past Mistakes

Arts and humanities connect us with our history us human beings. By reflecting on our pasts, we can correct our mistakes and prevent history from repeating itself. Nonetheless, history is a road map that shows where we come from and where we are heading. 

Therefore, we can spend more time following the same direction for the greater good of society, hence living more fulfilling lives.  

Conclusion 

The question of what is arts and humanities cannot be fully answered with a single definition, as the two fields encompass a wide range of creative and intellectual pursuits. 

They shape our understanding of human culture and the expression necessary to appreciate the world around us. 

By studying arts and humanities, we can better understand ourselves and our position in the world. All in all, arts and humanities are crucial in enriching our lives, helping us appreciate the human experience’s richness and diversity. 

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Reciprocal Reflections: Nostalgia for the Present in Vladimir Nabokov’s “A Guide to Berlin” and Walter Benjamin’s “Moscow” Essay

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Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education

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April guide to the arts at the U

Joel Lamere (center), professor and director of the graduate program in the School of Architecture, conducts a review of first year graduate students' first project of the semester in The Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building.

By Brittney Bomnin Garcia [email protected] 03-29-2024

Explore a roundup of events this month, including concerts, exhibitions, and undergraduate student presentations during the annual Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum. Learn more about The U Creates —the University’s digital hub for the arts, culture, and creative expression—and view the full calendar of events .

VIEW ALL: Bill Cosford Cinema | Center for the Humanities | Jerry Herman Ring Theatre | Frost School of Music | Lowe Art Museum | School of Architecture | University Libraries | UM Art Galleries

Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. | in person and streaming, purchase tickets

Frost Music Live!: Schubertiade for Violin and Piano

Frost School of Music’s piano professors will join renowned violinist Charles Castleman to unveil the magic of Franz Schubert. A tradition that began in 1815 honoring the then 18-year-old Schubert, the Schubertiade originated as an unpublicized, informal concert of his music, but quickly spread throughout Europe, and eventually to the United States. Purchase tickets .

Newman Recital Hall, Knight Center for Music Innovation, 5513 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Monday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. | in person, free event

Book Talk: ‘Roman Satire’

With particular attention to authorial and national identity, artistic self-definition, and literary reception, Jennifer Ferriss-Hill, professor of classics and senior associate dean for faculty affairs and college diversity at the College of Arts and Sciences, shows how four ancient Latin poets—Lucilius, Horace, Persius, and Juvenal—asked and answered these questions between the second century BCE and the second century CE as they invented and reinvented the genre of Roman verse Satire. Save your seat .

Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134

arts and humanities essay topics

Tuesday, April 9, noon | virtual, free event

Slow Looking with the Lowe: Highlights from the Campus Art Collection

During this virtual program, Tola Porter, Lowe Art Museum educator for academic and public programs, will lead participants through a 30-minute mindful and interactive session exploring selected artworks from the Lowe’s collection. Sign up now .

Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Wednesday, Apr. 10, noon to 4 p.m. | in person, free event

Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum (RCIF)

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach offers students from all disciplines the opportunity to present their research to a wide audience consisting of their peers, faculty and staff members, and the larger University community. In collaboration with the Center for the Humanities, RCIF has added a panel presentation component this year for students and peers to develop their presentation skills and further engage with their research in the humanities. Learn more .

Donna E. Shalala Student Center, 1330 Miller Drive, Miami, FL 33146

Thursday, April 11, 4 p.m. | in person, free event

Edith Bleich Lecture Series: Jennifer V. Evans, professor of history at Carleton University in Canada

In her lecture, “Why We Need Queer Kinship Now More Than Ever,” Evans asks how the queer and trans past has often been drawn upon to make a series of claims about liberal democracy itself, including the place of identity in rights-based discourses of experience, policy, and governance. Register now .

Otto G. Richter Library, Third Floor Conference Room, 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Thursday and Friday, April 11–12 | in person, purchase tickets

Smart Cities MIAMI 2024

The School of Architecture, in collaboration with the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing, will host the 8th Annual Smart Cities Conference . This event will explore the theme of artificial intelligence in design, offering a platform to delve into the cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of architecture. Registration is $50 per person.

Lakeside Village Expo Center, 1280 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

arts and humanities essay topics

Saturday, April 13, 6 p.m. | in person, free event

M.F.A. in Creative Writing thesis reading

Graduate students Guillermo Leon, Dorie Spangler, and Swetha Siva, who are pursuing Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, will share their thesis. This event is open to the public.

Thursday April 17, 6 p.m. | in person, free event

Lowe Connects: Exploring Art, Marine Biology, and Engineering to Address Climate Challenges

U-Link partners from the departments of art and art history, marine biology, and engineering will speak about the connection between scientific research, engineering, and art. Guests will learn about the ways that the University of Miami is catalyzing interdisciplinary collaboration to advance knowledge on the impacts of climate change and other stressors, and the development of practical solutions to meet society’s changing needs. Register now .

Mindfulness programs are offered virtually at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and in person at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Otto G. Richter Library.

Friday and Saturday, April 19-20 and Friday and Saturday, April 26-27 | in person, purchase tickets

‘Urinetown, the Musical’

Join the revolt in a dystopian future where water is worth its weight in gold, and one of the most basic human needs is under the control of an evil bureaucracy. Wickedly witty, this Tony Award- winning musical satire pokes fun at politics, social irresponsibility, capitalism, and musical theater itself. University students and staff and faculty members can use code THSUTOWN before selecting their seats to receive a discount. University students can obtain free entry to an 8 p.m. show Thursday, April 25, by presenting a valid ’Cane ID. Purchase tickets .

Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Saturday, April 20, 6 p.m. | in person, free event

Catherine Kramer: ‘Known/Unknown’

On view from April 5 through April 26, the University community is invited to the opening reception of “Known/Unknown,” an exhibition by Master of Fine Arts candidate Catherine Kramer. Drawing inspiration from Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung and his process of active imagination, Kramer intentionally works with subconsciously produced imagery while creating her artwork. Learn more .

University of Miami Wynwood Gallery, 2750 NW Third Ave., Suite 4, Miami, FL 33127

On view now through Saturday, April 20 | in person

The Annual Juried Exhibition

Organized by the Department of Art and Art History and hosted by the Lowe Art Museum, the exhibition features works of art across various media created by undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Miami. Learn more .

Monday, April 22, 4 p.m. | in person and streaming, free event

Adobe Scholars Reception

Meet and engage with the 2023-2024 Adobe Scholars as they share the results of their projects. This event is free to attend and open to the public. The online component of this hybrid event will be hosted using Zoom software. Sign up to participate .

arts and humanities essay topics

Monday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. | in person, free event

‘Sing Sing’

Attend a sneak preview of “Sing Sing,” the story of an inmate at the infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, NY, who forms a theater troupe with his fellow prisoners. Admission is free. Registration is required .

Bill Cosford Cinema, Dooly Memorial 225, 5030 Brunson Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Thursday April 25, 6 p.m. | in person, free event

ArtLab | Miya Ando: Sky Writing lecture and reception

Join the Lowe for a talk and reception featuring artist Miya Ando to celebrate the ArtLab 2024 exhibition, Miya Ando: Sky Writing, on view through Saturday, June 1. This student-curated exhibition features multimedia works by Miya Ando, whose oeuvre explores nature’s ever-changing moods and the fragility of human existence. Register to attend .

Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. | in person and streaming, purchase tickets

Frost Music Live!: Michel Camilo and the Frost Latin Jazz Orchestra

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, Michel Camilo bridges the genres of jazz, classical, popular and world music with his artistry and virtuosity. The Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner joins forces for one night only with the Frost Latin Jazz Orchestra and Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto. Purchase tickets .

Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, Frost School of Music, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Saturday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. | in person and streaming, purchase tickets

Frost Music Live!: Beethoven’s 9th

The Frost Symphony Orchestra season finale presents a symphonic masterwork alongside four American orchestral miniatures by Augusta Reed Thomas, Bernard Rands, Daren Hagan, and Chen Yi. Purchase tickets .

Featured: RCIF Humanities Hub

As part of the Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum, the Humanities Hub will feature representatives from the University's humanities departments to provide attendees with information about the humanities as well as answers to specific questions about fields of study, research pursuits, and career opportunities. The Humanities Hub aims to create a stronger connection between research and the humanities within the undergraduate student body and also promotes the different ways in which students can get involved in the humanities.

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