In an ever-evolving world, an open-mindedness towards the Arts is a mark of prudence.
With the Humanities and Arts rapidly gaining relevance in the modern world, why is it that we still subconsciously sideline them?
I’ve been focusing on the Humanities since Year 3, and ever since I’d made that decision, I’ve faced incessant questioning from my peers, family, and even teachers.
They often ask, “Why the arts, when they can bring you nowhere in life?”
The sentiment runs strongly across generations of Singaporean students and parents that academically pursuing the sciences is far more prudent than exploring the arts.
Yet, upon critical examination, these perspectives prove to be myopic. To this, I posit that
- it is detrimental to overlook the arts in the modern day; and
- upending the systemic condescension of parents and students toward the arts is crucial to promoting a more holistic education for students.
Mistaken Perspectives
The perception of the sciences to be superior to the arts is a prevalent phenomenon among Singaporeans, which in turn diminishes the value of the humanities and arts.
The origins of this mindset are clear. Our parents lived in an age when Singapore was in a stage of rapid development. The swift advancement of technology necessitated the labour force to be adept at the hard skills of science and technology.
The less developed arts scene, as well as employers’ disproportionate emphasis of qualifications in scientific fields, precipitated a bias toward the sciences.
Students in Junior College science streams were perceived as more academically capable, rendering them more employable in career fields.
While I concede that the sciences have had their time in the limelight, it is extremely unwise to inherit and adopt this same standard in the 21st century, when the competencies granted by the humanities are being increasingly valued by the world.
Yet, even till today, I see my peers looking at the arts with disdain, and even my supportive parents have displayed hints of hesitance when I proposed my desired academic pathway to them.
I’ve seen friends who are evidently not inclined to the sciences entering triple science classes solely due to their parents’ insistence, and it genuinely saddens me.
Not only is a solely science-focused approach losing relevance in this day and age, but it also overlooks the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all educational solution for all of Singapore.
When artistically-inclined pupils are made to focus on subjects that they prefer less, the joy of learning is robbed from them, and they lose the opportunity to maximise their potential.
It is truly detrimental to overlook the arts in the modern day.
The Danger of Overlooking the Arts
Pragmatists often argue that employers value science-based qualifications over arts-based profiles.
Yet, with Generative Artificial Intelligence gaining prevalence, the world is gradually beginning to value soft skills, creativity and critical thinking over hard skills. These perspectives and competencies are precisely what the Humanities can grant.
For instance, in the study of English Literature, we gain insight into the human experience through the foregrounding of language. The process of understanding fictional characters and their worlds highlights various prevalent real-world phenomena and issues, promoting empathy and connection to the world. In the study of Geography, we learn to see things through a geographical lens, understanding systems in the world around us.
The relevance of many humanities-based concepts to the real world widens our worldviews, allowing us to better understand the people and phenomena around us.
Class discussions also provoke thought, training us to structure our ideas clearly and convey them sharply.
Generative AI takes over repetitive jobs and outperforms us in hard skills, so isn’t it more prudent to equip ourselves with the soft skills that really matter to our future employers?
And what better way to gain competency in these skills than in our academic subjects, which provide platforms for learning and discussion?
It is truly a wasted opportunity for these platforms to then be sidelined, looked upon as lesser than the sciences.
The negative impacts of disregarding the arts are far-reaching and severe, and something must be done to change this.
To Change Stubborn Minds
We often see the arts as distant or unimportant, when it holds a much larger role in our lives in reality. Evidently, upending our systemic condescension towards the arts is crucial in promoting future-readiness among our students and youth.
The Arts stream and Humanities combination are not pathways meant for the less “smart” or less capable students, but rather provisions of alternatives for students more inclined to the namesake field of study.
I believe that the sidelining of the arts is a matter of systemic perception, and this must be changed. Students and parents alike ought to be more open-minded toward the arts and humanities, in order to truly see their value.
Festivals that celebrate the Humanities and Arts are already a very good start. For instance, ARTStage 2025 provided student artists and musicians a platform to showcase their hard work to the public, for all to appreciate and enjoy.
These festivals make the Arts accessible to students and parents, allowing genuine exposure and interaction in their celebration.
Yet, only so much can be done on the school’s part. More importantly, however, an understanding of the Arts’ significance must be obtained by students and their parents alike.
Mark my words, the Humanities and Arts will inevitably gain prevalence in due course. As such, I urge you, my readers, to pay a bit more attention to your History, Literature, Geography, or Social Studies classes the next time your teacher comes in. Try to understand how they impart skills and concepts whose impact on your daily life is seemingly imperceptible, yet profound.
And maybe, if we could all appreciate the Humanities a little more, we could prepare ourselves for the bright future that lies ahead.
