What Does It Mean To Be Human - Intro Paper

 The Processes of Humanity vs. The Processes of the Human

It is a fact of life that humanity is flawed, from the biblical moment of the first sin to a daily encounter of discrimination, or simply the shortcomings of otherwise healthy human bodies. Humanity exists within the boundaries of physical form and has created boundaries of mental and societal nature as society has progressed. Societal structure often harms the individual thinkers within it, separating humanity as a concept from the individual figure of a “human.” What it meant to be human to me is not as much a question of consciousness or knowledge, but a question of place and identity within a surrounding culture. 

Humanity as a culture seeks similarity. The act of forming communities often involves seeking uniformity, a pleasant monotony in those nearby. While the fostering of cultures is integral to the progression of society, lest cultures fade to obscurity in favor of similitude, it is an undeniable truth that communities will continue as varying sectors of shared ideas, traits, or beliefs. An integral piece in the history of human society is the concept of segregation, the act of separating one or more from a whole due to an identifying difference. While seen in large-scale tragedies like the United States’ continued history with racism or the German pursuit of assumed “purity” through the Holocaust, segregation is also seen in small ways throughout history, influencing individuals to the point of either notability or insignificance. 

One such figure was artist Vincent Willem van Gogh, who was ostracized throughout his life for his differences but praised for them after his passing. Separated from society and seen as the common humor of his town, Van Gogh sought to capture the beauty that he saw so vividly, all the while knowing of his community’s opposition to his creation. For a man that has become a staple of art history, Van Gogh’s experience within the culture he lived in was overwhelmingly negative. However, he is often regarded as one of the most talented painters, and most intriguing people, that ever lived. His view of the world was one of indescribable brilliance, a colorful perception of the people and places he held dear. When humanity praises its progress, one of the topics often highlighted is creativity, the preservation of a soulful form of creation that can be seen and interpreted by all, each coming away with their own view on why a piece was created and what it represents. For all that is held dear within the art community, many artists of all forms have experienced a similar journey of opposition and praise as Van Gogh. Humans create in many forms, but the most notable products of creators often come from turmoil and opposition. From my perspective, I see it as near impossible to imagine a society without creativity, and creativity without separation from a whole. 

As I was raised, being human and part of humanity was about fitting in, by any means necessary. As an autistic person, I was taught that my “true self,” what I felt was wholly me, was something to hide, to let out among those closest to me, but only for small periods, in order to not scare them away. If I was too loud or too quiet, too talkative or too isolated, moved too much in ways that weren’t societally common, or didn’t follow typical notions of “normal” life, I was told that I was inaccessible as a person or friend, too isolated within my own world to possibly be someone that others would see as a possible connection. Humanity as a societal concept felt out of reach, too far to be reasonable as a goal for my life, but too close to ignore as a standard of existence beyond my “own world.” In order to be approachable and liked, I conformed to societal demands, attempting to subdue the things that made me “other.” It was only until the pandemic hit that I was able to confront the effects this suppression had on my mental health, and coming out of the extended isolation, I feel more “myself” than I have since I was a child. While the greater portion of humanity does not experience many of the small details that make my lived experience my own, each person has their weight to bear, the things they stifle in order to conform to a whole. In this age where we are approaching societal gatherings with both caution and anticipation, people are more themselves than ever, having had time to reflect as I did. Pauses like this help foster a sense of growth within society, giving people time to choose their own paths, free of outside influence.

The cultures we were raised in are undoubtedly essential to the people we grow into, the shoes we fill in our lives were often worn by those who raised us. However, when we are removed from the roles we are expected to conform to, we are left to reflect on our own beliefs through all lenses. Having gained the knowledge of those before us, we are able to reflect and choose our own paths. Many adults consider college their first venture into adult life, and while this is reflective of age at the time, it is also often the first time modern-age humans are separated from the beliefs and identities they were raised within. In giving people a chance to think for themselves, humanity advances in many ways, from spirituality to ingenuity. To me, humanity is the perseverance of individuality despite the pursuit of similarity, and the acknowledgment of differences in views based on the origin of one’s ideals and beliefs. The progression of human history reflects the simple value of community, but also highlights the influence of isolation on those who were separated from it, whether voluntarily or not. Humanity is flawed, and it is still learning, but it is unique if nothing else.