Human evolution is long, profound, and
undeniably filled with more vicissitudes than we can handle. The same goes to
the evolution of human knowledge and our understanding of the world. Just
fixing our eyes in Europe we see an abysmal change of human perspectives in
each era. From the dark middle ages to the surge of Latin’s importance in the Renaissance;
from the enlightenment of the French evolution to the hybrid- almost chaotic-
perspectives of knowledge that we have today, we see that everything, and
everything we feel about the academics is changing little by little. While some
may sense energy in this change of thought, I take the issue otherwise, and as
a language major, I process this change through a more pessimistic overview.
Putting aside the flourishing field of
science, the humanities are declining in almost every way imaginable. In the 14th
century, the Renaissance and the enlightenment of Latin, brought about
excitement and expanded the human potential in most areas of development.
Literature and art were thought to be the propellers of prosperity, and people
believed that without culture, the society stayed soulless, dead, meaningless…
Throughout the following five hundred years, society continued to passionate
for the literary arts, but in a rate less impressive than the Renaissance.
Until today, in the 21st century, I trust there is little to expect
from the literary world- not because the quality of contemporary literature is unacceptable,
but because the society in general negates the value literature without getting
to comprehend its ultimate value. Even in my very own department, where literature
seems to be the key of its survival, we see no spike of interest for literature
and art among students of European Philology. People scorn, despise the
literary arts, and view language learning as merely a manner of expediting
international trade and commerce. This shallow side of the society has yet to
be improved before the soul of our humanites sinks forever.
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