We're Only Human?

American literary journalist and professor Sarah Churchwell speaks to Singapore book author Melissa De Silva about politics, history, and literature’s role in being human

- Grace Tay

“Sciences study the natural world and humanities study the human world.” That is Professor Sarah Churchwell’s simple exposition, which she uses as a working definition of both fields – one that a layman would instantly understand.

The high-spirited American author and professor of American Literature and Public Understanding of the Humanities at the University of London elaborates: “We aren’t going to solve terrorism, for instance, without an understanding of religion, of conflict, of the history of different regions, of languages. These are all humanities. Part of what is so confusing about the world right now is that we don’t have the humanities context that would help us understand it.”

To shed light on Donald Trump’s presidency and the us’s current political landscape through the lens of history, Churchwell penned the highly acclaimed Behold, America: A History of America First and the American Dream (it was a Guardian Book of The Year 2018).

She is also Director of Being Human, a 10-day event in the uk. Taking place every November, it sees a slew of activities held across the nation to promote public engagement with humanities research. Through talks, film screenings, performances, workshops, exhibitions and other fun, off-kilter activities, the festival aims to foster a better understanding of how everyday lives and relationships are impacted by language, visual and performing arts, history, literature, philosophy, religion, law, politics and even fashion.