Arts and letters

The discipline of ‘Arts and Letters’ now involves the decomposition and understanding of the subcategories of humanities and the surrounding criticism of each medium.

Geoffery N. Berry is quoted interpreting the study as “criticism as an exploration”[1] and states that the category “makes a commitment to the affairs of the world as well as books, history and science”.

'Arts and Letters' can be studied as a bachelors, major, honours, masters or doctorate program and is often recognised under the institutions faculty or college of arts.

Established in 1842, the University of Notre Dame holds the largest and oldest college of ‘Arts and Letters' in North America with over 20 departments and research centres dedicated to the discipline.

For example, by 1889 students at Swarthmore College were sorted into two categories of study: "Arts and Letters" or "Science and Engineering.

"[8] A resurgence occurred in the 19th-century American essayist movement which saw the centralization of the discipline in a formally recognized institution and society.

[9] The peer-reviewed journal details the annual meetings of the society that were held by “The Academy” in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and select locations in France during 1916.

The journal offers an insight into the place “Arts and Letters” had in intellectual society in the early 20th century as well as the global reach of its discoveries.

Techniques and styles in the study of this category have evolved over the years and have since been applied to collegiate programs, scholarly thesis’ and academic journals.

By extension, the online magazine has labelled itself as “the voice of genre” and has reformed the previously historical and intellectualist interpretation of ‘Arts and Letter’s’ to a more reachable audience.

The “New Books Network” tracks digital humanities through “insightful interviews with scholars about their new art” which is a modern iteration of the academic category.

Global platforms such as Arts and Letters Creative Co have unified the study of multi-media and the collaboration of artists around the world.

Social media, collaborative platforms and online forums have enabled public commentary on 'Arts and Letters' and contributes to its expansion.