Katelyn Wilburn, Campus Carrier opinions editor
Arts and humanities have been the backbone of cultural development throughout history. They preserve our past and help us better our future. Despite this, these subjects are often treated as expendable in educational systems today. Modern-day education often focuses on STEM pathways, especially when it comes to allocating finances. When budgets shrink, it is the music rooms, dance studios, art programs and humanities departments that face the first cuts in funding.
We need to stop treating the arts as optional and start giving them the essential funding that they need. Without the arts, we lose the very tools that help us critically think, communicate in diverse ways and inform us to become thoughtful, well-rounded citizens.
An example that we can look at is the University of Wisconsin (UW). Since 2022, 63 programs have been suspended or eliminated with no replacement, with 27% in the humanities, 23.8% being social sciences and 7.9% in the fine arts. Although UW system spokesperson Mark Pitsch said that this is just moving where student and job market demands are, the unemployment rate of recent UW graduates is 6.6%, which is higher than the general population at 4%. The highest of these unemployment rates are computer science (6.1%) and Computer engineering (7.5%). Since their reduction of humanities degrees, their graduates have been struggling to find jobs. Yes, there is less demand for these departments at their university, but that is because there are fewer opportunities to study in these fields. Students who want to go to a school centering around arts programs will most likely choose a school with resources to support their future career goals.
The arts teach learners how to think critically. Every college student has taken an English course either in high school or in their undergraduate studies. There is a very clear difference between knowing that the door was blue versus understanding why the door was blue in the short story. Students learn how to interpret words in different contexts and ask questions that make themselves dive deeper into the text. Every text has many different meanings, and students learn in their English classes to it up.
Although written art tells us many meaningful stories, there are many other forms of expression that help us communicate in diverse ways. Painting can express emotions that are impossible to put into words. Specific combinations of colors invoke distinct emotions in different individuals, making everyone’s perception of a specific piece different. Art gives us multiple languages to express ourselves, and these different forms of communication are especially important for individuals who struggle to express themselves with words.
In pop culture, the arts of music and dance are at the forefront of trends and our social movements. The combination of song lyrics with the instruments and choreography creates something that invokes deep feelings into the listeners. Think of Bad Bunny’s recent Super Bowl half-time show: he performed beautiful music that represented his culture alongside a dance performance contextualizing his message for the political climate. Bad Bunny effortlessly illustrated his message of love and unity while giving an entertaining and lively performance.
Furthermore, programs in the arts and humanities promote important skills, such as thoughtful writing, fluent communication and an inquisitive nature, which gives them a lead when applying for jobs. For example, someone with an English degree is capable of working as an author, a teacher or a journalist. But they can also work in medicine as a medical writer to create reports and necessary documents that patients and doctors need for treatments. These degrees aren’t so specific that only one pathway works; rather, students can pursue and apply to more jobs for their future.
Preserving our arts is crucial for maintaining an open mind. By engaging in artistic experiences and creations, we broaden our horizons and embrace diverse perspectives, fostering a more inclusive mindset. Without art, our lives would become monochrome, devoid of ambiguity and excitement, leaving us in a state of perpetual boredom. Therefore, investing in arts and humanities is not merely a matter of aesthetics but a necessity for cultivating a society that values curiosity, empathy, and cultural humility.