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In this experience, you will learn that Liberal Arts is an interdisciplinary field that fosters critical thinking and creative problem-solving by integrating knowledge from history, science, and the arts. Rooted in the ancient tradition of artes liberalis, Liberal Arts emphasises flexibility and collaboration to address the world’s ‘wicked problems’, such as climate change and social inequality. You will learn that culture is shaped by everyday experiences, as noted by Raymond Williams in Culture is Ordinary, and that knowledge is built through both formal education and lived experiences. You’ll also analyse concepts and objects like pop music and the stiletto shoe and apply interdisciplinary lenses of history, culture, and technology to understand their evolving social meanings. In the practical activity, you will develop skills in critical thinking, close reading and creative problem-solving, merging history, art, music, and cultural studies. Ultimately, this experience will empower you to engage with complex issues across various disciplines and set you up for a Liberal Arts education.
Betsy PorrittUniversity of BirminghamArt
All episodes
1. What is Liberal Arts?
2. Beyond Indecision, Toward Interdisciplinary
3. Using a Liberal Arts Perspective to Investigate (Case Studies)
4. Activity: Reading Poetry Through an Interdisciplinary Lens
About the university
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham was established in 1825 and was the first Russell Group university to receive a royal charter. As a member of the coveted Russell Group, the University of Birmingham is a prestigious university and considered a top representative of British education. As would be expected from such a high ranking institution, the university has produced many notable alumni including two UK prime ministers - Neville Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin.
University of Birmingham profile →Meet the academic
Betsy Porritt
Betsy is a poet and literary scholar, with a special interest in post-war American poetry. Her PhD at the University of Kent researched the interdisciplinary practice of painter, writer, sound artist, and archive diver Susan Howe. Betsy’s own poetry practice uses visual and sound elements to think about the poem as site of potential resistance and reimagination.
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Interactive quizzes and activities
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Content to enhance students’ personal statements
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Certificate of completion
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