HOUSTON (Nov. 2, 07) – The humanities? Why do I need to take humanities? Isn’t that about a lot of old guys like Aristotle, Plato and the history of ancient Egypt, the Renaissance and the Spanish Inquisition?
In fact, Bryan Barrows, professor of speech communications and humanities at North Harris College, not only teaches humanities...he has also recently served as a contributor to a new textbook called, “The Humanities,” authored by Henry Sayre.
Called “the most readable text in the humanities to date” and described by student Brittany Simpson as a “story textbook…that reads like an interesting story,” the new text is an integrated narrative that connects cultures across the disciplines of literature, music, art and architecture.
Barrows, who is known across the south as a playwright and a popular, original play on civil rights, has portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King for the last 20 years. His background in speech and interdisciplinary studies make him a natural contributor to the new humanities test.
“We began the process on the next textbook with focus groups, sharing our views as well as our experiences in the classroom,” Barrows said. “It was our goal for the new textbook, “The Humanities: Culture, Continuity and Change,” to capture the voices that have shaped and influenced human thinking and creativity through the ages. As a result, the book helps students make connections across the humanities by tying together the entire cultural experience through a story-telling approach.”
“Author Henry Sayre is able to weave the political and cultural history of the periods into an engaging and compelling story,” said Sonia Sorrell, associate professor of art history at Pepperdine University. “Sayre writes in an accessible manner that will, undoubtedly, engage students. I would describe it as the best humanities text…I have ever read.”
“The new book is different,” said Barrows, “because it’s comprehensive in many ways. In some cases, humanities courses are required to pull resources from different sources together. This book comes with an interactive power point presentation, using some of the new computer technologies that make it possible to look at a particular detail, change angles and this can be done with hundreds of images from the periods the book covers.
“It was our intent to make it possible for an instructor to design the course to best fit their personal teaching styles,” Barrows said. “With a background in speech, I – for example --focus my own courses on the great rhetoreticians of the various periods. This book gives the student as well as the instructors choices about their focus.”
Why are the humanities of continuing importance to learners of all ages?
“The humanities help students place their own lives into a broader perspective,” the North Harris College professor pointed out. “It’s difficult to know where you’re going if you don’t know from whence you’ve come. Solomon said, ‘There’s nothing new under the sun,’ and philosophically, the human condition is repeating scenarios that have been happening for thousands of years.
“Even though technology has advanced, we’re seeing the same realities. Particularly in this day in time, I’m noticing a trend – the only thing that matters to most students is the here and now,” Barrows continued. “That’s myopia and we can do something about that…by students learning about their heritage, the diversity of world cultures, their contributions and the relevance of it all.”
Barrows, who has been guest lecturer at Grayson County College on civil rights for the last 15 years, uses racism as a prime example. “Racism was not an invention of the 1950s or 60s in America – nor was it developed prior to the civil war,” he said. “Racism has been part of the humanities process for thousands of years. My point is, this information is good for students. It takes them outside the boxes of their neighborhoods and their personal experiences and allows them to see the roots of many of the issues of today.
“By learning and experiencing issues from the perspectives of others, students develop empathy for things outside their daily perspective,” Barrows said. “In the end, it enhances the individual’s perspective, based on similarities to their own.
“Courses, such as the humanities, allow students to delve into new perspectives, is a way to understand and gives them an opportunity to change their perspective for the better. Once they study humanities, they are able to answer the basic questions, ‘Who am I? Where am I from? How did I get here? ... and why am I here?’ Using humanities, we find answers to those questions.”
North Harris College is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit www.northharriscollege.com.
North Harris Montgomery Community College District, among the five largest and fastest growing community colleges in Texas, comprises, Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers, and The University Center.
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