A Summary

Well, this is the last post in the series regarding the history of humanities.  There may be future posts to come, that are strictly highlights of a certain artwork, or song, or book, but for now, this is it.  I thought for this post that I would show my favorites, and tell you why they're so great.

First, Chopin.

Lately, I have been playing through some Chopin etudes when I need a break, or just want to play the piano. His music is beautiful and it's natural.  Because it was from the Romantic Era, it was meant to be very emotional, and to me, it most certainly is.  I feel that if Chopin were alive, we would be able to understand one another perfectly, strictly based on the music we chose to play.  It's sort of an interesting thought, but I believe everyone has some form of self-expression, or a self-identifying feature that they completely enjoy and can become immersed in.  Chopin's music is mine.

Next is Monet.

I love his work because it doesn't tell me how to feel; it's an impression, and it just is.  It's natural and speaks of the person that Monet was.  Chopin's music encourages me to feel a certain way, while Monet's art just gives me an impression.  Then I can choose to interpret however I choose.  

Last is Wordsworth.  Wordsworth is one of the greats when it comes to poetry.  Though cryptic at times, to me it's fascinating to uncover the meaning in his poems and to know that I'll never know exactly what he meant; the poem will always be a mystery.  I think there is always something to be learned from reading and rereading poetry written by inspired men.  Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite poems: I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud.

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

As a last little note (a.k.a., a plug), Humanities may seem like the study of art history, music history, and written history, which on the surface, it is.  It is also a study about how people expressed themselves.  In essence, it is a study about ourselves.  I hope you can all come to enjoy, or at least appreciate, those works of the past that have done such a tremendous job of representing  the history of humankind.  We wouldn't be ourselves without them.