ISHA Long Description

Interdisciplinary Seminar in the Humanities and Fine Arts

Description

College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Interdisciplinary Seminar in the Humanities and Fine Arts

Click below for quick links to the different sections of this description.

• Appointments and Resources

• Conclusion

Philosophy

As universities enter the twenty-first century, there can be no doubt that a changing landscape will both challenge us and also offer us stimulating opportunities for exploration, both intellectually and creatively. In a world of rapid transformation, who better placed, we might ask, than those in the humanities and fine arts to think outside customary boundaries, to establish creative links, to consider the implications of change for the society and culture we inhabit? Ideas are our currency, exploring meanings in the world our objective. In this setting, it seems imperative to establish a venue for such exploration to take place, and for faculty too such a venue will be re-energizing and refreshing. Faculty take to the academic profession not least because of its promise of continuous intellectual stimulation; but they work hard, they face deadlines, they have grading to do, complex lives to live, they may feel caught within isolated pockets of limited interaction. What then of a venue which in a spirit of exploration and pleasure renews their engagement with one another, and therefore with their own work? How does one keep alive the energy and commitment that junior faculty bring? How does one connect them with their peers? How does one keep mid- to senior-level faculty involved and continually growing in their work? How does one give practical expression and embodiment to the reality that, for a variety of reasons, in the context of the ‘new university’, we all need to be linked with one another, more than ever?

This outline for an interdisciplinary seminar in the humanities and arts is a proposal by way of response to some of these issues. The activities suggested below are open-ended, exploratory, with no presumption as to specific end-purposes. Yet there is a belief that should these activities be undertaken we will be gratified and even surprised by the results that occur. The idea is to set up a combination of structures part of whose rationale is to develop new purposes and aims. The focus is not so much on the interdisciplinary as an end in itself; rather, through a focus on certain themes and objectives, groups will gather and cohere. The interdisciplinary will be a result, as new objects for study and discussion are constructed. And, at the very least, we will re-introduce the promise of intellectual adventure and play, unembarrassed about pleasure and its positive effects for academic engagement.

Contexts

There are a number of settings and contexts which reinforce the need for and the promise of this work. Among them:

Faculty Numbers: Over the last decade our campus, in common with many others across the USA, has seen an overall decline in faculty positions as hiring freezes and slowdowns have had their effect. As a consequence of this it has become quite clear that every position, every faculty member, counts, if possible, more than used to be the case. While by no means accepting the logic of the downsized university, how, in this setting, do we allow faculty in such positions to reach their fullest potential? One option is to open the frame beyond the department, facilitating engagement for those involved in like-minded projects or activities, creating cohorts, networks, nodes and webs of strength.. This is where ISHA fits in: to create venues for such encounters, identifying projects or themes of value, and then allowing faculty to explore them together.
Generational Transition: According to recent University figures, even on some ‘slowed-down’ model the next decade should see fairly massive change in the generational profile of the campus, as new hiring takes place. In this setting, ISHA should respond productively to current realities as well as reinforce the energies of this change as it occurs. Currently, we are asymmetrical in generational terms, with the vast majority of our faculty not only being tenured professors but also approaching retirement. Whereas many of these professors were appointed when UMass was in a period of growth and innovation, now the paucity of junior faculty means that opportunities for contact and connection for those coming onto this campus have to be sought out and created, often with difficulty. From this point of view, ISHA should provide an valuable venue for linkage and stimulation, and the value will only increase as we hire more people. What could be more important, in this setting, than providing focal points for those who will make the future of the campus to establish the linkages and connections which will provide its essential fabric and texture?
The ‘New’ University: There is currently much discussion (perhaps too much) over what the shape of the new university of the twenty-first century will be. How far will it be driven by technology and distance learning? How will the classroom transform? How will the very disciplines we teach–and which we have constructed–alter, and what new disciplines will open up? No doubt the obituaries for the old university are premature; there is much that it still does exceedingly well, and it is by no means certain that the essential experience of the classroom will become extinct. Yet as these issues are discussed, it also essential that faculty are part of the discussion and meditation that ought to be applied. If we wish to think about technology both practically and philosophically, then ISHA is an ideal venue for such a discussion. If there are fields of debate which are current, or new objects of study which appear to be emerging, then again we will have a venue. If we want to protect the space of the classroom from wholesale invasion by the logic of the market, how are we to do it? At any rate, as the ‘new’ university forms, we want to be sure we are part of that discussion as self-fashioning subjects rather than simply as inarticulate objects to be manipulated. And some of the new is of course genuinely exciting.
College Identity: On the UMass-Amherst campus it is clear that, for any unit, having a sense of identity is fairly crucial. Hiring must be justified according to departmental and college plans; personnel actions are evaluated not only with regard to the accomplishments of the individual but also to the congruence of that individual’s activities with larger patterns and profiles within the department or college. There has also been some recent discussion on the need for the campus, and units within it, to be able to ‘tell their story’ to a range of audiences, whether that be the legislature, the public at large, the trustees, or even ourselves as we fashion a sense of who we are. Telling the story and creating an identity are mutually reinforcing, and they have consequences in important respects, not least in garnering resources from various sources. No doubt the ISHA seminar and related activities will be significant in this arena: the whole enterprise offers to be energizing, defining, creative for the College as a whole. Even as we look to this ‘resource model’, however, we should not lose sight of the fact that this will be a satisfactory result of a more fundamental good cause (if one can term it that way). This cause will be the intellectual and creative life of faculty in the College, which the seminar and its activities will hugely reinforce.

Venues and Forums: General

At the heart of the activities we are proposing will be a faculty seminar (see below). But, building on some programs already under way, there are options for a range of general and sometimes ad-hoc events. Among these are:

Speaker Series: In order to provide intellectual and/or creative stimulation for the College and campus as a whole, we envision a speaker series in which at least once a year we invite a figure whose own work in an interdisciplinary area is of note. Such speakers could be invited for one (or both) of two reasons: (a) their work impinges directly on the theme of an ISHA seminar during that semester; (b) their larger considerations of the interdisciplinary in itself will help us give shape to our own activities on this campus. In the normal fashion, presentations will be open to faculty, students, and the public, but we might also expect speakers to attend one meeting of the seminar which is under way during that semester, to provide for some follow-up and interaction in that setting.
Discussion and Work Groups: The Dean has already begun convening occasional gatherings of like-minded faculty from across the College to explore common ground. These, in areas for example of ‘writing’ or ‘linguistics’ or ‘technology’ have enabled people who don’t normally see one another to get together and exchange experiences, perspectives and ideas. Arising out of these meetings, or the ISHA seminar, or simply because a group of faculty wish to get together to explore some topic, it will happen from time to time that more formal projects will convene. These may vary from having very specific purposes to being open-ended discussions; topics may range from issues of research to practices of teaching or outreach. Whatever the focus and whatever the format, it will be the duty and responsibility of the ISHA-umbrella (obviously with some vetting of projects) to encourage, facilitate and/or host such undertakings. There is also the hope that the existence of such groups–or indeed, many of the other projects listed here–may lead to opportunities and linkages for interdisciplinary teaching in the College (or beyond).
Special Seminars/Colloquia: From time to time there will also be opportunities for special events. A distinguished writer may be visiting a department; there will be some sequence occurring through the Five Colleges; a guest with some expertise in the humanities or arts may be coming to campus: in whatever case, it should be feasible for the ISHA-umbrella to link up with such a visit or sequence, to arrange a special seminar (or short series of seminars) or colloquium for an invited group within the College who would be interested. Where the central administration wishes to host some event, ISHA will be ready and waiting to take on the role, becoming known for its expertise and energy in this capacity. In general, events will be open to faculty and selected graduate students. At every level the results should be positive.

The ISHA Seminar

As suggested above, the formal heart of these activities within the College will be an ongoing faculty seminar. In setting out principles for the seminar, a number of points are worth bearing in mind. First among these is that this is not meant to be an onerous, severely time-consuming operation for anyone involved. Everyone knows how busy faculty are during the semester; with our obligations to research, to our students, our departments and our colleagues, in general we have enough on our hands. But that is where the special place of the seminar fits in. In circumstances which can easily grind us down through repetition, routine and pressure, the seminar is meant to be enlivening and in very literal terms a pleasure. This is where participants will have time and opportunity to think, and to think freely, connectively and widely, listening to others even as they fashion their own thoughts. Ideally the seminar should be seen as a kind of prize-possession within the College. People who have participated should stay in touch; those who have truly enjoyed it can come again. In this way, over a period of years, the activities of the Seminar will resonate through the College and beyond.

Here then are some guidelines as to the operations and intentions of the seminar:

Faculty at all levels will be eligible, whether junior, mid-career, or senior. Where faculty from other colleges have a particular interest in the topic, they will also be welcome. The ideal number for any given seminar should be 8-12 participants.
Depending on early experience, a decision will be made on the number of seminar-series per year (each lasting a semester). Potential themes or topics will be solicited, and may be proposed from any quarter; they will be selected by the ISHA Board on the merit of intrinsic interest, suitable appeal, and relevance. Participants will apply to join, and the selection will have some view to the spread of disciplines and perspectives among the members, along with due attention to the particular interests and focus of individuals.
The seminar will meet every other week during the semester. No single individual will have responsibility for the entire course of meetings. Rather, there will be a rotating leadership, so that in turn particular individuals (or pairs, or even groups) will set the agenda and provide the initiative for discussion. The basis for discussion may be a set of readings (or images, or music), or a piece of writing or work of art composed by the presenter(s), or some combination. Where possible, these materials will be provided technologically, on the web, for consideration by the seminar in advance of the meeting.
The Director will ensure that there is intellectual and social coherence within the seminar. As the discussion rotations are set up at the beginning of the semester, and thereafter, the Director will attempt to provide the threads of continuity and connection that link everything together. Also, the Director should see to the social dimension that will punctuate the seminar from time to time; and refreshments.
Where possible, the web will be used actively as a medium in the seminar. Thus, as suggested, readings and/or writings will be provided online for the participants (taking copyright issues into account). Also, a discussion area will be set up for participants, so that interaction can be initiated and continue before and after meetings. The primary focus will be on the participants in the seminar, but we will look actively for ways of opening up to a wider public: among other options, we imagine ISHA will establish an archive of presentations to the seminar, as well as a forum for work-in-progress. All in all, the seminar should provide a testing ground for the use of the web in activities of this kind, threading together research, discussion, collaboration, and perhaps a ‘distance’ element; certainly, the web should be used to publicize the seminar, and the work that emerges from it. One benefit may well be a better understanding of the wider dimensions of the technological in our pedagogical and professional activities.
In terms of publicizing the activities of the seminar, as well as providing a further extension of its work, from time to time ISHA might sponsor panel discussions featuring seminar participants. Or, panels might provide particular opportunities for extending conversations within the CHFA to interactions with those in other colleges; all such venues should be explored.
Other principles will underlie and guide the seminar. The ethos should be democratic and certainly free and easy in the association of participants. As suggested already, it should be considered a cherished achievement in the College to be a member, and we would hope that participation in the seminar would be regarded positively as a measure of professional development.
Where relevant, wider connections will be explored. This could, in ways already suggested, involve participation from or interaction with other colleges on campus; or there may be Five College or UMass system dimensions to incorporate. All in all, in the range and energy of its activities, the seminar should enhance the profile of the College on campus, drawing the kind of attention and respect already suggested. The impact could be important, with effects all the way from morale- to fund-raising, and attracting the resources that might follow such activity. If the original activities of the seminar are successful, there may be ways of extending these in future. In every respect we would hope that the seminar will gain notice as an innovative aspect of professional and intellectual life at UMass.

Appointments and Resources

There will be a Director for the seminar, appointed by and reporting to the Dean. The job of the Director will be (a) to co-ordinate the range of activities suggested here; (b) to liaise with the ISHA Board in doing so, particularly in determining the nature and shape of the seminar and its topics; (c) to send out calls for seminar topics and for participants, and together with the Board to select participants; (d) to publicize the college activities, whether the seminar or other events, and liaise, where necessary, with the press office and other media outlets; (e) working with the Dean, to assist in setting up and running discussion and work groups, special colloquia or seminars, all as described above.
The ISHA Board, selected by the Director in association with the Dean, will act as a sounding board in all the activities described above, and generally monitor the condition of the seminar. The Board will assist in suggesting or selecting seminar topics and participants, and also be involved where necessary in the selection and maintenance of other activities, whether discussion and work groups, or special colloquia or seminars.
Administrative assistance will be provided by the Dean’s staff; special assistance may be required for the web dimensions suggested above.
Budget: One of the attractions of the seminar’s format is that there is no need for many of these activities to be high-budget events; indeed, much of this can be done in a relatively low-key way. Funding will be required for the speaker series, and for special colloquia, but, depending on the nature of the event, this can be combined from a number of sources. Beyond that, limited funding will be required for the following: (a) reproduction and distribution of materials; (b) posters and flyers; (c) refreshments; (d) some funds for research or obtaining seminar materials (participants might apply for funds to obtain material relevant to the seminar); (e) funding for technological assistance, where necessary.

Conclusion

It is our hope that ISHA, its seminar and related activities, will provide a vigorous injection of intellectual and creative energy on the UMass campus. Its range and connective potential should link faculty not only within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts but also beyond. Individual faculty will gain feedback and stimulation for their scholarly and creative work; they will develop networks with others; collaborative projects may result; some of this will feed back into perspectives and methods applied in the classroom; in some way we’ll be exploring technological methods of conducting a seminar in a continuous way. Other benefits to the campus should be apparent, from our speaker series to our panels and colloquia. We look forward to the continuing development and unfolding of the seminar and the ISHA project with the greatest enthusiasm.

Submitted to Lee Edwards, Dean CHFA,

by Stephen Clingman,

Director, ISHA

November 2000