Appreciating the Humanities

John Updike has been recently awarded the highest honor in the humanities by the federal government, the Jefferson Lecture. The award is given to an individual who has made great contributions to the humanities and who is able to convey the knowledge and wisdom of the humanities. The National Endowment for the Humanities was established in 1965 as a federal agency to support the many areas of the humanities including literature, philosophy and history.
There has been a great amount of debate over the controversy in the humanities. Many argue that the humanities popularity and importance has declined to the point that it serves no purpose. By just reading about this award and convention is it not evident that the humanities still has not lost its influence? Is it not apparent that this country still believes that the guidance of the humanities is needed? The greatest authority in the country holds an annual meeting every year and has created this agency to demonstrate the humanities’ wisdom and importance.
The lecture is apart of the National Endowment’s campaign, Picturing America, to promote American art to help others understand the events, people, and ideas that has formed this nation. This is what the humanities does and this is why it should be funded. It has great influence on the history, culture and traditions of this country. The humanities can never be forgotten because it’s apart of our history and our culture. People ask why the humanities should be funded or they say that you don’t make enough money when you study this subject, but the study of this subject is far deeper than a few dollar bills. People still value the humanities for their knowledge because not everyone can understand Shakespeare or T.S. Eliot. If it wasn’t for Shakespeare we wouldn’t have theatre which later evolved to movies.
Just because some people stopped reading books and in stead started listening to their iPods doesn’t mean we should just give up on the humanities. Sure it doesn’t promise a luxurious lifestyle, but is that the reason why people study the humanities? Does it serve the purpose of giving you six digit salaries or to spread knowledge?