Final Humanities 202 Lecture

Jul 20, 2024

Final Humanities 202 Lecture

Introduction

  • Final lecture of Humanities 202 Summer Edition
  • Congratulations on completing the course (pending final reflections and discussions)

Collapse of the USSR

  • Significant event in contemporary history
  • Establishes modern political, economic, and cultural dynamics

Policies Leading to Collapse

  • Mikhail Gorbachev: Leader prior to collapse
    • Perestroika: Effort to decentralize USSR, influenced by Western commercial success
    • Glasnost: Policy of increased openness and critique of leadership

Key Events

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989-1990)
    • Reagan's call to "Tear down this wall"
    • Actual fall due to internal issues, corruption, and realization of leaders' exploitation
    • USSR's leaders were not adhering to principles of communal wealth

Aftermath

  • Shift towards Western materialism and economic models (e.g., Poland)
  • Struggle in many countries to balance justice and economic equality with Western flexibility
  • End of History: Premature declarations of capitalist democracy as a final form of government
    • Increase in wealth disparity and unresolved ideological tensions (e.g., Russia-Ukraine conflicts)

Post-Colonial World

  • Continued battles between future materialism and past socialistic principles
  • William Butler Yeats' Influence: Modernity as tension between future and past
  • Women’s Rights: Ongoing struggle between traditional roles and future liberation
  • Okot p'Bitek's Poem: Illustrates tension in relationships between Western influence and native traditions

Contemporary Questions

Addressing Terrorism

  • Does terrorism indicate ongoing historical battles or need for perpetual enemies?

Rise of the Internet

  • Pros and cons of technological advances
    • Considerations around democratization vs. critical engagement and enlightenment

Human Identity in the Age of Machines

  • Extension of early 20th-century industrial logic
  • Grapes of Wrath: Commodities valued over human life
  • The challenge: Balancing technological efficiency with human value

Reflection on Learning in Humanities

  • Recognize patterns in history and literature of conformity and rebellion
  • Learn from past pitfalls to avoid future mistakes

Intersection of Humanities and Christian Values

  • Healthy tension between critical thinking and religious beliefs
  • Emphasize reason, fearlessness, and social justice
  • Overcoming materialism and objectification

Final Message

  • Fearlessness and confidence in tackling the future
  • Continual quest to understand what it means to be human
  • Humanities as a valuable, albeit challenging, field of study

Conclusion

  • Look forward to reading final reflections
  • Encouragement to stay in touch for future assistance
  • Enjoy the remaining summer and continued exploration in humanities

Thank you for a great semester! 🎓

Note: This lecture emphasized the importance of historical events, critical thinking, and the intersection of humanities with broader social and philosophical questions.

Emoji: 🏛️