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

Every project is unique, reflecting the students' specific learning objectives and interests. Final projects range from college-level research papers to product prototypes.
ALL CATEGORIES

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

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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