An Interview with Peter Beal

Art History/Humanities Lead Front Range Community College

Resident of Colorado for 30 years, Peter earned an art history degree not long after moving here and started his tenure at FRCC in 2004. An avid climber and trail runner, he lives near Boulder with his family and an assortment of animals.

What is the history of the study of Humanities? Why is the study of humanities important in higher education?

The study of the humanities first emerges in ancient Rome as a foundation for educating future leaders and orators. The word “humanitas” is created around this time by the author and statesman Cicero, whose writings profoundly influenced many cultures including that of the founders of this country. Studying the humanities is important for understanding the diverse ways in which human beings have confronted the challenges of finding meaning and purpose in the world. The problems of the distant past bear a striking resemblance to those of the present.

Do you have a humanities tidbit that can entice us? Something small that will challenge the way we think?

Watching student’s eyes light up as they realize that Plato’s cave is a remarkably specific depiction of our skulls and brains and the limits that structure imposes on our understanding of the world. What we “know” as the real world is only a small sliver compared to what is actually there.

How does inclusivity fit into humanities? Does inclusivity play a part in the design of your curriculum How can humanities represent many cultures, world views or different people?

What is the future of the humanities program at Front Range Community College? What is your part in it?

The future of the humanities at FRCC is potentially bright as students begin to realize the power of this vital aspect of preparing for their futures. No other area of study has quite the breadth and depth of topics for students to explore that has such relevance to their daily lives. My job is insisting on the importance of this subject to the college and students.

What is the one absolutely imperative class all students need take?

I don’t have any imperatives but any HUM or art history courses are a great introduction to an entirely different (for most people) view of the world.

Inclusivity is at the heart of the humanities. Diverse voices abound throughout history representing a wide multiplicity of perspectives and enable students to more easily understand the complex world we live in. The humanities are in a constant process of adding new sources and interpretations.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

–Dalai Lama

Design is intelligence made visible.

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