A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

 
 

Welcome to Arts & Humanity, The Art Institute of Washington's Journal of Art & Acts of Humanity. Sounds impressive, right? Well, don't be too intimidated by the name, because, while this is a place for intellectual analyses of art, media, and the societies they've grown from, it is also a place to simply share and appreciate art. And it's about time a publication like this was offered at this institution, for there is no shortage of free thinkers here.

WHAT WE'RE ABOUT

Whereas many other colleges focus their journals solely on scholarly essays and reviews and critical analyses of topics ranging from literature to history to science, Arts & Humanity is a little more laid back; after all, what kind of an art school would this be if such an impossible emphasis was placed on academic analysis alone?

There are a lot of endeavors welcome in this journal, including, but in no way limited to: poetry, lyrics, essays, drawings, paintings, doodles, and pretty much anything that promotes a better understanding of a thought or idea about our world.

The work published will represent a fair analysis or representation of a number of subjects relevant to the humanities; however, the "humanities" come with a bit of an artistic license. Here, we're going to leave all academic interests open to discussion -- math, science, government, culture. And, because we are examining such interests and appreciating them in an artistic sense, art is everywhere.

The overall theme of Arts & Humanity is the examination and exploration of humanity and human interaction; think of it as sociology without the pie charts meets art without the rogue indifference. It is easy to trump up phrases such as "celebration of art," or "recognizing the significance of art and its direct impression on society." But, this journal isn't only about the appreciation of sounding scholarly or "art simply to impress;" it is about direct feelings and, yes, some research. Part literary arts magazine, part critical essays, and a dash of wild (but thoughtful) ranting. This a great opportunity to collect and express thoughts and ideas in a joyful celebration of the arts -- a discussion of art and society.

AN EXCITING TIME

This is, dare I say, an exciting time for The Art Institute of Washington. Constant program expansions and a growing student population are nurturing an environment suitable for the growth of creative thought. For the first time that I can remember, this place feels like a real collegiate community full of dedicated and opinionated individuals with a lot to say and the guts to say it. There's a lot of pride here and it's inspiring.

Arts & Humanity is a giant step toward establishing our school not just as a growing pool of artistic professionals, but as an arena of thought and analysis just as dedicated to the academic understanding of our world as to our creative visions.

There is overwhelming potential at this school, and our location at the center of the free world works not only as a gateway to other cultures and histories but as a catalyst for pushing the expectations of this student body, encouraging us to think globally and to strive to represent this powerful and intellectual area.

Thinking more locally, however, this area truly is a melting pot. The pockets of ethic communities that surround us have provided this school with a myriad of diverse cultures to share, experience, and appreciate.

So bring your paintings, prose, and politics but don't forget your sense of humor and your sense of academic dignity.

      Rahmin Atarod
      Senior Editor