Humanities Center Blog

This post was written by Sawyer Wood, BYU Humanities Center intern and student fellow. For most of my life, I thought I wasn’t a museum person. I’d been to plenty of galleries, but I didn’t see what I was supposed to do there. I would stumble through room after room, trying to match pace with …

This post was written by Sawyer Wood, BYU Humanities Center intern and student fellow. In fourth or fifth grade, my class made posters of our dream jobs and how we planned to get there. I’d loved writing from a young age and had always wanted to be an author, so I found an oversized poster …

This post was written by Nieves Knapp, a BYU Humanities Center faculty fellow. In his most recent General Conference address, President Oaks spoke about the 30th anniversary of The Family Proclamation and encouraged family activities, including learning languages together [1]. His comments made me think about my own life because in 1995, precisely when the …

This post was written by Aiden Jones, a BYU Humanities Center student fellow. I don’t mind being scolded by a poet, but a recent Billy Collins piece I read stung a bit too much for my comfort. He ends “Introduction to Poetry” with these stanzas:   But all they want to do is tie the …

This post was written by Stephen Tuttle, a BYU Humanities Center faculty fellow.   Recently, I’ve been thinking quite a lot about novelty. This is partly because I teach creative writing, and novelty is a central element in most definitions of creativity. Morris Stein’s definition goes like this: “The creative work is a novel work …

This post was written by George Dibble, a BYU Humanities Center student fellow.   How long has it been, Lord? Your voice is so quiet. Alone in a park, in cold and night, I looked. Searched by wandering, stumbling, warming my hand with the other. Closed eyes as I leaned against a tree near a …

This post was written by Julia Morgan, a BYU Humanities Center student fellow. Rock Canyon is a place I visit dozens of times per year. A small canyon in Provo, characterized by quartzite, limestone, and tillite rock, Rock Canyon is a favorite among locals. But I have a controversial opinion about it: I think it’s …

This post was written by Porter Kindall, a Humanities Center student fellow. In the summer of 2025, this video of fitness influencer Ashton Hall’s morning routine went viral. Captioned as “The morning routine that changed my life 3:50am to 9:30am,” Hall starts shirtless, with tape on his nose and mouth. He spends time working out, …

This post was written by James R. Swensen, a BYU Humanities Center faculty fellow.   Just so you know, it takes about a week (or so) to recover from a study abroad program, even when everything goes smoothly. Having directed and co-directed several programs, my family and I have learned that once the students have …

This post was written by Brooke Farnsworth, a BYU Humanities Center student fellow.   Rummaging through my attic, I recently happened upon a binder, water-damaged and falling apart. As I sifted through the well-worn papers, a familiar note fluttered into my hand. I recognized the handwriting and language as my own. The letter was titled, …