Humanities mentorships allow students to develop their critical thinking, communication, writing and analytical skills, whether delving into great works or analyzing the culture and philosophies of societies throughout the ages. With the guidance of seasoned mentors in fields like art history, theology, philosophy, classics and interdisciplinary studies like comparative literature, students interested in the humanities make connections across time and societies, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for cultural expression.

Sample projects

Paper exploring the rise of AI imagery and assessing when it can serve the truth vs. when it can hinder the truth

EACH HUGO MENTORSHIP COMBINES AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT WITH EXPERT-GUIDED STUDY

Sample projects

Paper exploring the rise of AI imagery and assessing when it can serve the truth vs. when it can hinder the truth

Academic research paper exploring the complexities of Taiwanese identity (tracing the history under Japanese and Chinese regimes)

An original illustrated children's book utilizing research-backed ideas to teach social and emotional learning principles to young children

Op-ed on the mental health struggles of athletes, proposing solutions to help with the pressure faced by athletes and providing resources

Paper comparing the art of Hiroshi Sugimoto and Takashi Murakami and the theme of cultural hybridity, with corresponding creation of original photography inspired by their work

Academic paper exploring the interconnection of the Negritude movement and Pan-Africanism, particularly in film, and their enduring relevance for the African diaspora and new imaginaries of liberation for Black people

Academic paper exploring various philosophers' views on whether conspicuous consumption can contribute to a meaningful life

A trio of essays exploring how ancient philosophers might analyze pressing, modern-day societal/political issues

Academic paper analyzing a photograph that utilized AI, a painting on a similar subject, and the ways in which AI might enhance, hinder, and/or call into question the role that a human artist plays in creating art

A series of dance analysis videos with voiceover commentary for two of Martha Graham's mythologically-influenced dances, as well as an academic paper analyzing Martha Graham's "Night Journey"

Paper exploring why Anne Brontë is not as popular as her sisters, and a corresponding presentation on forgotten Victorian female writers

Research paper exploring how culture and emotion inform music therapy and can shed light on how to use music therapy to help diverse populations

A virtual art exhibit exploring how master painters have interpreted the mythological tale of Leda and the Swan throughout art history, together with a curatorial statement and exhibition catalogue

Original ekphrastic poems inspired by two Renaissance paintings: Gozzoli's "Journey of the Magi" and Angelico's "San Marco Altarpiece," with accompanying formal analysis essays on the paintings

Academic paper exploring Seneca's philosophical teachings and how they stand in stark contrast to the values and actions of the characters in his dramatic tragedies

Academic paper analyzing the ethics of warfare according to ancient Roman perspectives, comparing Frontinus' emphasis on tactics to achieve military success to the perspectives on warfare of Cicero and Vergil

Academic paper comparing the approaches of the Shah and the Ayatollah Khomeini regarding their relations with Israel and other countries/actors in the region

Short essays on the migrant crisis and the experience of migrant children in schools, with a fact sheet on migration and NYC schools and a resource page for further learning

Two visual analysis essays on the portrayal of the African American experience in two different photographs

Draft paper on the history and effectiveness of the International Court of Justice, with a focus on use of the ICJ by countries in the Global South

Policy brief addressing the current pros and cons of AI application in the education space, with recommended AI policy "dos" and "don'ts" for the pedagogical, governance, and operational realms

Creation of a virtual NIL ("name, image, and likeness") guidebook with advice for high school and college-aged athletes on using their NIL, together with a video presentation on NIL issues for student athletes

Presentation of arguments for and against quarantine as opposed to punishment/imprisonment, with an analysis of how this relates to free will vs. determinism

Research paper comparing capital gains tax and income tax, analyzing how President Biden's tax proposals compare to past policies in U.S. history

Analysis of the rise of soccer in the U.S., how it has been influenced by European/international soccer culture, and where U.S. soccer culture might be headed in the future

Philosophical analysis of the death penalty, focusing on how the death penalty is problematic from a philosophical viewpoint because it could increase comparative justice while also increasing non comparative justice

Analysis of the media's portrayal of the Black Panther Party, differences between domestic and international coverage, what this revealed about global political viewpoints at the time, and how the media's coverage ultimately had a powerful impact on the legacy of the BPP

Historical document analysis paper examining letters between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Jewish lawyer Justine Wise Polier, exploring their efforts to aid Jewish refugee children during WWII

A deep dive into the philosophical writings of Emmanuel Kant, culminating in a short academic paper

An original watercolor inspired by the Callisto section of Ovid's Fasti, with an accompanying artist's statement exploring themes in Ovid's work and how it intersects with issues of power, agency, morality and sexism today

Academic paper on the "femme forte," analyzing the work and lives of three important painters from the Renaissance and Baroque periods

An analysis of four musical movements embodying the theme of "Renaissance" with an accompanying playlist for readers

A 42-minute video essay analyzing cinematic portrayals of WWI and what they reveal about society's shifting attitudes towards the moral questions the conflict elicited

Original translation of the Daedalus story from Ovid's Metamorphosis, with a companion essay analyzing previous translator's approaches to Ovid's work

Essay on street fashion exploring the impact of designer Virgil Abloh's iconic Air Jordan 1 sneaker

A fully produced, original audio production of an excerpt from Mary Zimmerman's play, Metamorphoses

An original series of letters inspired by Seneca's De Otio offering advice to friends and the wider public

Virtual exhibit exploring themes of betrothal and marriage in Renaissance portraits

Presentation highlighting the sustainable architecture unique to Japanese culture

Academic paper that analyzes why four different U.S. states with similar voting laws have different voter turnout

Guide for high school faculty on teaching about Chinese American identity

Analysis of ancient Roman cuisine and culture, with a focus on the connection between indigestion and notions of luxury in Roman thought

Creation of photo book with explanations of Latin American female photographers, examples of their work, and original photographs in response to each artist's work

Research paper examining slavery in the ancient worlds and its impact on other incidences of slave labor, linking chattel and wage slavery iconography to classical allusions

Research paper on ancient Celtic peoples within Britain

Series of blog posts on an original website discussing female characters in Greek and Roman mythology and modern reactions to and embodiments of these mythological ideals

Draft paper based on an original research experiment examining political polarization and online posts

Recording of an original arrangement of celebrated Irish songs which involved a musical collaboration between mentor and mentee after a deep study of the historic, cultural, and musical significance of the pieces

Academic essay on Roman houses as reflections of their owners' social status in the ancient world, written through an examination of secondary sources and original Latin translations

Research paper examining historical public health crises in the US and how they have intersected with governmental policy and treatment of Asian Americans, with a focus on the COVID pandemic

Literature review paper on the history of musical instrument innovation, with a focus on the European trumpet

Research paper studying the economics of food insecurity in the US, including an analysis of food insecurity since the COVID pandemic, with proposed recommendations to improve food assistance programs

Research and cross-cultural analysis of global women chefs and an article on a female chef in Yemen submitted to Whetstone magazine

Essay exploring the history and musical evolution of Detroit techno

Exploring myths about the Olympian gods through ancient and contemporary sources

A curriculum on Asian American history created to fill existing gaps in high schoolers knowledge and to highlight underrepresented stories of Asian American discrimination

A comparative film analysis considering the concept of “time” in the two coming-of-age stories, Moonlight and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Op-eds on nepotism in the NFL, influence of race in NFL hiring practices and the legacy of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA

Analysis of how statues' significance has changed since ancient history, assessing how shifting public values impacts the monuments we maintain or tear down

Historical analysis of dance's evolution in the United States, and how "American dance" embodies the ideals of freedom and democracy

Academic paper investigating the role of nationalism in sustaining the Palestine/Israel conflict

A virtual gallery exhibition juxtaposing several works of antiquity and images representing antiquity with images that point to Classics' persistence today

Historical deep-dive into the work of Jane Adams, a pioneer of the Settlement House movement and modern philanthropic work

High-level translation of Seneca’s Thyestes from the original Latin to English with annotations and analysis

Original website sharing historical, political and economical information on the global refugee crisis with resources encouraging advocacy

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