How or why did you first get involved in the humanities and arts and what do they mean to you? I remember you telling the class you were raised on the importance and power of stories; did that influence your passion for the Humanities?

I was lucky to grow up with literature, art, music, and dance within my immediate family and community, which is probably a major reason why the Humanities have been a central part of my life and career. I was always encouraged to explore the arts and to create. Both my parents have always loved to read and listen to or make music. My mom read to us at night and my dad played music and made musical instruments. My mom is a painter and both my parents were into photography and film. My brothers and I were sometimes the subjects of their art. Growing up in Big Sur, CA in the late 1970s, and not having a television for long periods of time, meant that storytelling, books, and dressing up and acting in our own improvised plays were our entertainments. When I was nine, a couple moved to our community and started teaching Arabic dance and drumming. They formed a community performance group and my parents joined. I started studying “belly dance” and had my first live performance when I was around 10 years old at a famous restaurant in Big Sur called Nepenthe. Later, I attended the Children’s Experimental Theater in Carmel under the direction of Marcia Gambrell Hovick (1922-2012) and joined its Traveling Troupe, bringing theater to schools around the Monterey Bay Area.

How did you get started in Flamenco dance, you recently taught us that it has roots in Romani cultures; did a study in folklore and literature lead you to Flamenco dance or the other way around?

I saw flamenco while I was studying abroad in France in 1988-9, and when traveling to Spain during holidays. I made a promise to myself to study this art form that totally captivated me with its intensity. I started flamenco dance lessons in Santa Cruz, CA in 1991. My dad told me about a teacher he wanted me to study with and offered to pay for my first month of classes–he even came and took the class which me! He had studied flamenco guitar and was exposed to flamenco as a kid by my grandfather who was stationed in Spain with the U.S. air force. My grandfather was Mexican American and his first language was Spanish. He really connected with Spanish culture and later took my dad to see Jose Greco’s Spanish dance company when they toured the U.S. I became interested in Romani literature due to a broader interest in Romani culture which I first encountered through flamenco. A number of my flamenco teachers have been Romani (or “Gitano” as they say in Spain). In graduate school I started studying representations of Romanies in western literature and completed two self-designed independent studies on Romanies and flamenco. I also wrote about this topic in both my Master’s thesis at UCSC and my Ph.D. dissertation at UO.

Similarly, how does your professional dance intersect with your involvement in academics? I know you wrote your master’s thesis and Ph.D. dissertation on dance in film and literature, what was that like?

Since dance and literature have both always been a big part of my life, it made sense to combine them. Dance has also helped me balance my academic studies since it is more physically and emotionally expressive. My academic exploration of dance isn’t just from an anthropological standpoint but also looks at epistemological and philosophical questions about ways of knowing and the relationship between self and other, which I explore through the performer-audience connection. All of this I try to understand through the lens of feminist analysis of power relations and subject-object relations. It has been my great pleasure to also be involved in educational outreach and to be an invited lecturer in different classes sharing the art and history of flamenco. This fall 2022, some flamenco colleagues and I will be collaborating with the Portland Opera to do some outreach lecture performances in support of their production of Bizet’s opera Carmen. It will be exciting! Stay tuned!

This is a purely selfish question, but how has your specialization in Women’s and Gender studies impacted you or your view of the humanities? The Chalice and the Blade was one of my favorite pieces of writing we looked at last term so I’m keen to know your thoughts on similar subjects.

My specialization in Women’s and Gender studies is undoubtedly a product of having a mother who is an artist, who struggled as a single parent to support us and to create art, and from being a dancer myself. I’m acutely aware that female dancers have been objectified and sexualized. I’ve always had a fierce conviction that women artists are important and that they are often ignored or forgotten by history. I’m deeply curious about other cultures and the experiences of people who create on the margins of the dominant culture. Feminism has been a home for me because it has given me the tools to talk about art, performance, and literature in a way that humanizes “the Other” and even questions that category altogether.

I know for a lot of students, myself included, deciding what they want to study or make a career of can feel incredibly intimidating and permanent, as someone who has more experience would you have any advice for these concerns? Did you always know you wanted to teach and study literature or was it something that evolved over time?

I see and understand the anxiety students are dealing with when it comes to educational and career choices. I recall a conversation with a student whose father wanted them to go into computer programming but they had no interest in this field and really wanted to pursue art. They were so unhappy and it made me sad that their dreams weren’t being supported. I still always tell students to pursue what they are deeply drawn to do and have faith that they will find their unique path if they stay true to themselves. This can be very challenging but you can change direction and reinvent yourself if you need to. My professional life has definitely evolved over time as I grew and encountered new learning situations. I had some vague notions about changing “the system” from within when I was in high school. I don’t recall that I set out to teach but this initial impulse evolved into a teaching and a dance career where I get to mentor and share my interests with students, who I also learn from. I initially planned to major in art but changed my declared major to French literature when I had the chance to study abroad. I just knew that I needed to travel and I was able to do this with scholarships and grants. I have always loved languages and reading and studying abroad set me on my path to investigate other cultures and become a comparative literature major with an emphasis in performance studies, feminist philosophy, and postcolonial studies. I took six years off after my undergraduate degree before going to graduate school. I realized that I wanted to push myself further. I tested the waters with a Masters program and then went on to a Ph.D. program. My final advice would be to find your passion and don’t give up! Be diligent. Stay curious. Be open to possibilities and opportunities and put your heart and soul into your endeavors. You may not become wealthy but you will have a rich and meaningful life.

If there is anything I missed or anything you would like to include or expand on, please feel free! I only know a fraction of your experience in academics and the humanities so if there is anything else you would like to talk about that you think is worthwhile, I would love to hear it.��

I think I’ve taken up enough space already but I’m happy to chat with anyone who is curious about pursuing dance or literature. They can contact me via my PCC email at:
elena.villa@pcc.edu.

Elena Villa is a lifelong dancer whose parents introduced her to Middle Eastern music and belly dance in the late 1970s. She began flamenco studies in 1991 and has pursued flamenco and belly dance with equal devotion, often seeking out intensive study with native teachers in the U.S. and abroad. Elena began teaching belly dance in 1996 and flamenco in 2001. She performs with several professional live music groups, including Flamenco Pacifico and The Bedouin Spice Orchestra of the Oregon Country Fair’s legendary Caravan Stage, where she coordinates the talent. Elena travels regionally to teach regular workshops, perform in theaters and at festivals, and work in educational music and dance residencies in schools and colleges with Flamenco Pacifico. Elena pursued her love of dance academically by looking at dance through the fields of literature, cultural studies, and performance studies and has a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Oregon, where she taught from 1998–2012. Elena currently divides her time between teaching flamenco and belly dance, collaborating with other professional performing artists, and teaching writing, literature, and film.

Elena will be performing “Dance, Music, and the Archetype” at the Tigard Library on October 22nd at 2pm.

“This happens for two reasons. First, many of the latest technical skills that are in high demand today become obsolete when technology progresses. Older workers must learn these new skills on the fly, while younger workers may have learned them in school. Skill obsolescence and increased competition from younger graduates work together to lower the earnings advantage for STEM degree-holders as they age.

“Second, although liberal arts majors start slow, they gradually catch up to their peers in STEM fields. This is by design. A liberal arts education fosters valuable “soft skills” like problem-solving, critical thinking and adaptability. Such skills are hard to quantify, and they don’t create clean pathways to high-paying first jobs. But they have long-run value in a wide variety of careers.”

PCC has a wide array of liberal arts and humanities courses that offer students these kinds of “soft skills” that have value in a wide variety of careers. Learn more HARTS programs.

“There are so many roles that the arts and humanities plays in a college. The primary work we do is to teach students to think critically and learn what is commonly referred to as “soft skills”. Arts and humanities are a pivotal part of this work. The role, of course, goes far beyond pure intellectual growth. Arts and humanities allow for the expression of thought and emotion that are unique from other academic areas at a college.” – Dr. Rob Steinmetz

Beginning August 1, 2017, Dr. Rob Steinmetz became the vice-president of student affairs for ˿����Ƶ.�� Rob helps provide leadership and vision to all areas of student affairs including campus student development offices, enrollment management, and student success. He also co-chairs the colleges Achieving the Dream effort, Yes to Equitable Student Success (YESS).

In addition to an Associate of Science from Chattanooga State, Rob has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, as well as a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama.

Which book have you read the most times?

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

When do you listen to music?

Whenever possible: when I’m at my desk at work, in the car, while working out.

Which literary character do you admire the most?

Huckleberry Finn

What is the last film you saw in a theater?

A Star is Born…ah-mazing!

What was the first record you remember buying?

Billy Joel, Piano Man

Which work of art that you saw in a museum moved you or stopped you in your tracks?

The David

When you think of your high school years, what music comes to mind?

Garth Brooks, The Dance��was the first thing that came to mind.

What are your guilty pleasures in books, films, music?

David Sedaris is my escape during difficult times. I also love Dan Brown and Harry Potter books when I want to go back to something that’s just fun. I also love comedy films, so movies like Clue, the Princess Bride, and Noises Off are some favorites. I absolutely love Broadway musicals, so many of them are guilty pleasures I go to, including Wicked, Hedwig, Hamilton, and Dear Evan Hansen.

Which emotions are evoked by the art you admire?

Sadness or joy

How has your life been shaped or influenced by the arts and humanities?

I’ve often said that theatre saved my life. I was an introverted and disconnected student in high school. My junior year, I got involved in theatre and I began to come out of my shell. I began attending a community college when I finished high school, I quickly got involved in the theatre department. This allowed me to feel engaged at the college, think critically, make friends, and grow in confidence. I can confidently say that without these early experiences, it’s very unlikely that I would have felt motivated to succeed in college and be where I am today.

What is the role of the arts and humanities in a college?

There are so many roles that the arts and humanities plays in a college. The primary work we do is to teach students to think critically and learn what is commonly referred to as “soft skills”. Arts and humanities are a pivotal part of this work. The role, of course, goes far beyond pure intellectual growth. Arts and humanities allow for the expression of thought and emotion that are unique from other academic areas at a college.

Are the arts and humanities today threatened or in decline? If so, why?

It certainly feels like the arts and humanities are generally be threatened in today’s climate. It seems that students, government, and others are setting a higher priority on “gaining a skill” over learning how to appreciate the world around us and think critically. While gaining a specific skill is certainly part of what students need, engaging in liberal arts, including the arts and humanities, will help with long-term success and being a good citizen of the world.

PCC offers a host of medical-related programs including nursing, medical imagine, and dental assisting to name a few. By taking some humanities and arts courses along the way, students may find that they are ultimately more successful in these fields. As the article notes, “Bringing the humanities and arts into medical education is one way to help students form deeper connections with patients, maintain joy in medicine, and develop empathy and resiliency.”

But more importantly, those “impractical” courses help us to lead meaningful, purposeful lives. As he writes, “When students, and graduates, inevitably face moments of ethical decision-making, of sorting fact from fiction on social media, and of reconciling individual aspirations with obligations to their communities, they would be aided by the habits of discernment and deliberation that have distinguished the humanistic tradition for centuries. Perhaps best of all for the country is the vital role played by humanistic inquiry in the development of better, more informed, more capable citizens. That is an especially resonant value in the United States’ present moment of uncertainty and division.”

You can .

And you can find loads of “impractical” classes at PCC.

“Exposure to the arts and humanities reveals to us the complex and diverse world around us, hopefully making us more attuned to our socialization and possible transformative powers of looking at things from alternative perspectives.” – Dr. Karen Paez

Dr. Karen Paez serves at the Dean of Instruction for the Sylvania Campus at ˿����Ƶ. She has worked for PCC since 2008 in various roles, supporting both instruction and student development. Dr. Paez has worked in higher education in community college and university settings since 2000, teaching across several disciplines, including psychology, sociology, human services, college success and career guidance. Trained as a counseling psychologist at the University of Oregon, her approach to work is strongly embedded in a developmental, holistic, and learner-centered approach.

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Which book have you read the most times?

Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed is the book that inspired me to work in the field of education. I come back to it when I need a reminder of the power of social justice education and I use it to hold myself accountable when I’m off course. It’s like medicine for my educator’s soul.

Which book have you given as a gift the most?

I find myself gifting Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart to my friends and loved ones going through difficult times. There is nothing like the healing powers of a good book!

When do you listen to music?

I listen to music in the car, when I’m working out, when I’m folding laundry, and when I am in need of a dose of good energy.

Which literary character do you admire the most?

My admiration for literary characters are connected to the time in my life when I discovered the wonders of reading. I admire characters like Nancy Drew and Margaret from Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” These are curious young girls showing courage exploring concepts, ideas, and mysteries. They inspired me to ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and explore new thought territories. These are qualities that led me to the field of education and mapped a courageous and confident approach to learning for me.

What is the last film you saw in a theater?

Star Wars! My partner is a big fan and since I’m a big fan of him, I went along.

Which work of art that you saw in a museum moved you or stopped you in your tracks?

When I saw Monet’s lilies at the Musee’ de l’Orangerie in Paris, I felt breath leave my body as if in a movie. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude for the privilege of being in that space to experience something so extraordinary and that I had only seen in books.

When you think of your high school years, what music comes to mind?

No shame – Vanilla Ice. My mom wouldn’t let me listen to him and it was one of the only times I broke the rules and bought his album without approval. Of course, she found it and it was confiscated. To this day, she reminds me about how I broke the rules buying that album.

What is the role of art in your life?

The act of appreciating art inspires me to create, challenge and expand my beliefs, feel emotions more deeply, and connect with others from different places, cultures, and experiences.

What is the social function of the arts and humanities?

Exposure to the arts and humanities reveals to us the complex and diverse world around us, hopefully making us more attuned to our socialization and possible transformative powers of looking at things from alternative perspectives. This has a direct influence on how we relate to one another and how we understand ourselves. The more exposure we have to the human experience in all of its forms, the more deeply we can engage in our lives. In addition, sharing in the arts and humanities supports community and connection building, which greatly enhances our lives as social beings.

What is the role of the arts and humanities in a college?

By exposing students to the arts and humanities, we demonstrate how to create space in our lives for the incredible growth that comes from opening your mind to new interests, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This exposure transforms the mind, develops critical thinking, enhances cross-cultural relationships, and ignites creativity. The arts and humanities classroom is a place where relational, cognitive, and emotional connections are born.

What are your guilty pleasures in books, films, music?

I’m an eighties child, so I’ve been known to indulge in a lazy Sunday watching John Hughes movies.

Which emotions are evoked by the art you admire?

I appreciate that art has the power to evoke the full range of emotions, but find that I’m most impacted by the experience of connectedness in the art I admire. There is something incredibly spiritual in the realization that we are all represented and interconnected through art.

Are the arts and humanities today threatened or in decline? If so, why?

It is clear that we need to be mindful of possible threats or declines to the arts and humanities, given the imperative function these disciplines play in personal and social development for our students. As we work to enhance systems to better support students in attaining their career and degree/certificate goals, a holistic approach to education will also emphasize approaches that develop students into leaders and thoughtful citizens in the ways that the arts and humanities do.

“There are so many ways that the arts and humanities are critical to our lives as individuals and as a society. I believe they help us make sense of the world around us, often in ways that are hard to define.” – Josephine Pino, Biology faculty and EAC chair.

Josephine Pino grew up embraced within the rich cultural and natural beauty of Albuquerque, NM . She received her degree in Biochemistry at the University of NM before leaving to study Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. Her career as a community college life science instructor has been geographically diverse and fulfilling.��She is now happily at PCC’s Rock Creek campus where she teaches Biology and is currently chairperson of the PCC Educational Advisory Council.��She recently enjoyed her first summer term as a Poetry student.

Which book have you read the most times?

Not counting Dr. Seuss or Golden Books, the book I’ve read the most times is A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. I love the humor, the clever use of language and turns of phrase, and most of all, I love the main character, Lucy, a young woman who is discovering her own inner strength. It is also a swoon-worthy love story.

Which book have you given as a gift the most?

Love you Forever by Robert Munsch makes a great baby shower gift!

When do you listen to music?

While grading and commuting.

Which literary character do you admire the most?

Jane Eyre – strong, intelligent and stubborn. I “met” Jane when I was a grumpy teenager and have loved her and visited her often ever since.

What is the last film you saw in a theater?

The Mountain Between Us.

Which work of art that you saw in a museum moved you or stopped you in your tracks?

Georgia O’Keefe’s vibrant flower paintings, especially the dark hollyhocks and the red poppy.

When you think of your high school years, what music comes to mind?

Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven and anything by Journey.

What is the role of art in your life?

I love visual art, reading fiction, and have recently discovered a love of reading and writing poetry. I find that my poetry writing themes connect to my love of nature, and in particular, I love writing about those places and times where humans interact with nature.

What is the social function of the arts and humanities?

Wow. This is a big one. There are so many ways that the arts and humanities are critical to our lives as individuals and as a society. I believe they help us make sense of the world around us, often in ways that are hard to define. When we see a painting or read a book or a sentence such as the beautiful prose of Toni Morrison, we are connected in that moment to the artist and to every other person who has appreciated that art. This connection, I believe, helps us to find humanity in each other regardless of all our differences. It leads us to ask questions and to find answers. Asking questions and finding answers is something we do as children and, hopefully, continue to do as adults as a daily source of fulfillment.

What is the role of the arts and humanities in your classroom?

I teach Biology, and think about this question a lot! The graphic art that supports my students’ learning might be the most important resource we have. Artists have created drawings, paintings, and videos that help us “see” what we can’t see with our eyes. They model what we know is happening in nature, from the very tiny molecules in our cells to the entire biosphere.

Also, I have begun, in the past year, to be deliberate in bringing poetry and literature into my classroom. I start new thematic units with a poem that is somehow connected to a new life science theme. For example, I just read a poem about an old elm tree by Jimmy Santiago Baca (he writes about the neighborhood where I grew up in NM) to my Biology students on the day we discussed photosynthesis, and when we talked about the chemistry of water and its role in sustaining life, I showed a painting by an indigenous artist, depicting the same theme. I feel that these connections between our disciplines are intellectually calming and valuable. I believe they promote creative and critical thinking. Most importantly, they are fun.

What are your guilty pleasures in books, films, music?

Books: Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series (fun fact: She and I are both alumni of Scripps Institution of Oceanography! Also, she is from Arizona and I’m from New Mexico. I find it interesting that we both left the desert to study marine biology)

Films: The English Patient (I’ve watched it countless times); I am also a big fan of H. Miyazaki films. My Neighbor Totoro is my favorite of his films.

Music: I love many genres. I might listen to Metallica one minute and Andrea Bocelli the next. It depends on my mood. If I need to perk up, I listen to Latin pop. My fall back is anything acoustic.

Which emotions are evoked by the art you admire?

All of them.

I admire art that can evoke multiple emotions: wonder, love, surprise, melancholy, longing. When I like a piece of art, I might feel something different every time I look at it. I look at Emily Carr’s trees, for example, and they evoke very different feelings in the Summer compared to the Spring or Fall, even if it is the same painting.

Are the arts and humanities today threatened or in decline? If so, why?

I just recently realized, in speaking with a colleague, that a student today can actually finish college without ever being required to read literature. To me, this is heartbreaking, so yes: the arts and humanities are threatened.

Massimo argues that the importance of the humanities can’t be quantified. He notes that there are a lot of intangibles in humanities education and it is impossible to measure something like opening peoples’ minds, but that doesn’t mean there is no value in that endeavor.

The podcast episode includes a discussion about the value of story telling and thought experiments that are an integral part of humanities education. As part of the debate, Pigliucci articulates the benefits of indirect learning through reading fiction, watching a play or looking at a work of art.

Finally, Massimo and Julia discuss the research published in in which Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa published their findings on the quality of American higher education from a 2011 study. Massimo explains that their study showed that only two factors were predictive of sustained knowledge and measurable skill growth. According to Arum and Roksa’s study, reading and writing intensive courses were the only courses that contributed to student success and sustained knowledge.

Listen to the entire podcast episode here: Why Should We Care About Teaching the Humanities?

Read a summary of the study published in Academically Adrift in Inside Higher Ed.

In honor of the month, Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Policy at American for the Arts put together the Top Ten Reasons to support National Arts and Humanities Month. It’s a wonderful list that offers compelling statistics about the myriad ways the arts and humanities contribute to the well-being of the nation through its ability to unify communities, support individual well-being, strengthen the economy, and spark innovation.

Read the post here:��

Learn more about PCC’s Theater Arts Programs – find information about classes and all the recent productions including Almost, Maine; In the Heights;��and��Love and Information.

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