Time Flies When You Love What You Do

It's strange to think I've been teaching for nearly 11-years. The intensity and joy of the learning-teaching experience allows for time to pass so quickly without our awareness. This is what some suggest it means to experience eternity; being fully present in a way that causes us to step outside of our usual awareness of—or preoccupation with—time. In To Have Or To Be? (1976), Erich Fromm writes,

"The experience of loving, of joy, of grasping truth does not occur in time, but in the here and now. The here and now is eternity, i.e., timelessness. But eternity is not, as popularly misunderstood, indefinitely prolonged time." Art source.

It seems like not that long ago a student suggested I start a Facebook page to offer a space to stay in contact with students once their time in the classroom was over. Today, that community of past students along with others around the world with a shared appreciation for the value of the humanities stands at just shy of 700.

I can honestly say I've never learned more than through my teaching experience--and all the learning and preparation required to confidently and competently teach a college class. (That doesn't mean, of course, that my earlier learning experiences as a student weren't vitally important. Of course they were.)

Humanities In Revolt

My latest project—this newsletter—is also a response to past student requests; namely, for more of my own writing. The purpose is to share some of the questions, creative works, cultural movements, and philosophical insights that I've carefully curated during the learning experience of my intensely active teaching career. Since I’ve spent most of my time as a professor as an adjunct, financial necessity has made it so that I’ve had to teach more classes than a “full-time” professor. (One of the bitter ironies of higher education is that adjuncts often teach more classes than full-time professors, but are, of course, paid less than them.)

But I’ve always loved ideas, dialogue, and opportunities for stimulating aliveness too much to simply “phone it in.” As a result I’ve spent countless hours studying and synthesizing ideas from across academic disciplines—sociology, philosophy, psychology, political science, the arts, ancient and contemporary history. Along the way I’ve also formulating curricula that emphasize critical thinking and the agency of the learner. I intend to use this newsletter to bring some of these materials to a broader readership outside of the classroom.

And, of course, I’ve also developed my own unique perspectives on key humanistic questions and the application of what I have come to see as invaluable insights to our present time and lives. As students in my classes know, I believe the best way to appreciate the full value of the humanities is by bringing them into dialogue with our lives. And this is what "Humanities in Revolt" aims to do.

On the Horizon

In the coming months I plan to publish posts on a variety of topics ranging from why Albert Einstein lauded the humanities and ethics as vital to human development, to the overlooked insights of the late pioneering black feminist thinker, bell hooks—on freedom of expression, conflict, critical thinking, class exploitation, and the pain of male socialization. I’ll also be posting about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s much forgotten “Poor People’s Campaign” and its rebirth in 2022; the importance of critically interrogating gender stereotypes directed at men as well as women; the difference between pleasure and joy, as per some of the great humanistic thinkers, along with more discussion of the mistaken claims frequently made against the humanities. I will also devote many future posts to the meaning, importance, and practice of critical thinking, a subject I’ve spent considerable time examining and teaching as a professor.

I also plan to continue crafting image-quotes that readers are encouraged to copy/download and share. The hope here is that we can use quotes to stimulate our own reflection and dialogue with others, rather than simply “let the quotes do the talking.” I know from experience that a powerful quote, presented in the right way, can ignite truly productive dialogue and facilitate open-mindedness. I am also considering posts that pose questions, present short quotes, and/or offer brief “food for thought” reflections. (Feel free to send suggestions about the topics or questions you’d like to see addressed.)

I am also exploring the possibility of including audio from my past and forthcoming public talks. I’ll also use future posts to let subscribers know where I’ll be speaking, virtually or in-person, in case you’d like to come together for an in-person dialogue.

Making it to 100: Subscribe and Share

If you are a subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Doing so helps me sustain and develop this project. For those unable to do so, you are now and will always be welcomed here and appreciated for your subscription. You can also help out by sharing posts and inviting others to subscribe.

We’re just a handful of subscriptions from the milestone of 100 subscribers! If you haven't yet subscribed, please do. While paid subscriptions are greatly appreciated, free subscriptions are also welcomed with gratitude. The goal is to develop a community of curious, creative, and critical thinking people who share a passion for self-knowledge, self-actualization, and love of humanity. Coming together in such dialogue has never been more important than in the current age of pandemic, where some of our bonds have become even more frayed.

Over the years I’ve facilitated dialogue on the most controversial topics—religion, politics, abortion, gender, morality—and have almost always succeeded in creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. In doing so I’ve witnessed, again and again, that people want more than one-sided self-assured interactions. We also long for deeper, richer encounters with the “other side”—with those who are, on the one hand so much like us, and yet quite different. I look forward to engaging with everyone in the posts and comment sections to come.

Posts You May Have Missed

Here is a selection of posts you may have missed since the inception of Humanities in Revolt.

Confucius Didn't Say That...

The Joy in Not Taking the Photo

Trying to Be Good in 2022

What Critics of the Humanities Don't Understand

Why get a paid subscription?

Paid subscriptions directly support Dr. Jeffrey Nall’s efforts to produce and share publicly accessible independent scholarship and analysis. Supporting donations can also be made through PayPal. For more about my work go to JeffreyNall.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.