Introduction to humanities 15-PHUM-NA-11

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the most significant concepts of humanist studies. The course presents the history and evolution of the understanding of humanities from the Antiquity to the twenty-first century. It explores the notion of humanism and its paradoxes which have led to the rivalry between humanist and scientific studies which has eventually resulted in the crisis of humanities. The core of the course will be the discussion of the tasks, role and the methods of humanities in modern social life. The emphasis will be placed upon the evolution and the transformations of philology, of literary studies and the paradigm shift it experienced as a result of the rise of cultural studies. The course will finish with the introduction of digital humanities and a brief overview of posthumanist disciplines. The course includes 30 hours of lectures.