The urban studies program takes the idea of a liberal arts education to heart. The idea of a liberal arts education is to allow the individual the liberty of freedom in thought. In order to do this the liberal arts educators will ideally provide the individual with the education and resources to help guide the individual in their thinking.
A way of thinking about this is to say that the common individual will embark on a great intellectual quest which, despite its many trials and tribulations, will end in a meaningful life. The new intellectual will then use their higher intellectual powers to help the rest of the world.
The thesis of Joseph Campbell’s book “The Hero with a thousand faces”:
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.
Campbell says that this hero motif is seen in cultures across the world. Now, imagine if we liberal arts educated are the heroes, going from commonality, higher wonder and education, various conquering of difficult tasks (during which growth is achieved), and triumph. Finally the hero will return to the common world and improve it with his new exalted gifts. Harry Potter, for example. Or Buddha. Or Jesus. Or Simba or Naruto. Follow? The story of the hero basically falls in line with the goals of a liberal arts education, is what I’m saying.
And since the program is so liberal arts, we’ve spent tons of time identity/individual actualization oriented (more to come on identity later) the ACM has been spending the better part of the last week acting as our psychoanalysts. They understand us. They motivate us. And when we leave our trials of internships and blog entries, we will feel like we’ve overcome some decent obstacles on our way to growth. And when we triumph in our life’s work with the help of some previous help from prior comrades— a career aided by some recommendations, for example— the individual is ideally ready to return to the common world and help the commoners out with his special powers. (of high education).
SO, I’ve been getting at my own realization of the hero motif of a thinking liberal arts curriculum. Not that this is meant as a criticism— rather, the hero motif and its role in religion and history should show that the individual experiences liberty and individual triumph by following the hero motif, which in our modern society is a dynamic education.
SO, thus far only a week into the program we have done some basic exploring of the city of Chicago, and we’ve done some basic identity awareness so we can become the heroes we want to be.Hopefully we’ll get self satisfaction and be able to go back to the common world whence we came and do some good.
SO… I guess all that’s been leading me to my study abroad program giving me and then informing me on my identity type. According to them I am an ENFJ. I knew I was an NF already, which means I’m super way into people. I knew that already though, and my possible internships reflect that.
The E for extroverted and J for judging was what took me by surprise. I’ve taken this test several times in the past and have come up as slightly introverted each time. I believe I still am, but I also believe that may be changing. I also might believe that that may only be a good example for this particular program, with its good vibes and friendly persons all around. Or maybe I’m just good at first week impressions.
The J for judging has actually swung back and forth pretty regularly. J means law school and P for perceiving means education for me, though. And I’m a J. And I’m supposed to be a charismatic leader, socially flung out onto each person and personally invested. ENFP and I’m a one on one interaction maniac. Not a leader tho.
I’ve actually been thinking about this as I’ve been choosing an internship. More to come on the internship process for me tomorrow, but for now I’m really needing to sleepy.
Things to remember:
Call Nagle
Icons of Chicago Paper due Mon
Get coffee grinder
Get better alarm clock
Get longer TV cable
Get Nicole some more wine
Um…..
Get on a bike or at least on a running trail sometime soooooon
