A term to address specialists in the arts

Question

Hello,Could you please say is there an appropriate term to describepeople who specialize in the arts (historians, writers, ...)? A personwho specializes in sciences and technonlogy may, I suppose, becalled a technician. Is there a similar term for the arts?My dictionary suggests the term "humanist", but I'm not surewhether it is right. For me, a humanists is someone who displayshumanity, that is kindness, sympathy, forgiveness, etc.Thanks in advance.--Victor

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Well, 'technician' is certainly inappropriate formany whose speciality is science/technology.  You are liable to draw unpleasant looks with that.  I think you are making a mistake in attempting to describe a group of people in such broad disciplines with any single word.  If you do, you are stuck with 'humanist' (meaning #2).

Avangi · Answer

I think it depends on what you mean by "the arts." If you separate all human endeavor into two categories, the sciences and the arts, I'd be inclined to call one who practices the first a scientist, and the second, a humanist. "Humanist" here has a broader definition than the one I believe you have in mind.

Consider the old bacalaureate degrees: BA & BS.
Of course these days the MBA is king. (and then there's the double-E)

But on the other hand, if you're inclined to call the first a technician, you probably shouldn't call the second a humanist.

Victor_amelkin · Answer

Hello Mr Micawber,

Thanks for the comment.

> I think you are making a mistake in attempting to describe

> a group of people in such broad disciplines with any single word.

So, in your opinion, addressing physicians, surgeons, neurologists,

etc. as "doctors" or "medics" is also inappropriate? As far as I know,

medicine also consists of a vast number of disciplines.

--

Victor

Avangi · Answer

It reminds me of grammar. We used to have eight parts of speech and now there are a dozen.
Is it refinement or corruption?

I'm thinking of a very old song popular at gang sings, ending:

Now both of them to college went, for reasons quite specific,
Bohunkus academic was, Josephus scientific.

Coloraday · Answer

Wouldn't Virtuoso make sense?

Victor_amelkin · Answer

Hello Avangi, coloraday,

Thanks for your comments.

> Wouldn't Virtuoso make sense?

I believe that a virtuoso is an extremely skilled person

regardless of one's field of endeavor.

--

Victor

Renan torres-rivero · Answer

Hi, Victor.

I think we are missing the point here. You originally wanted to know how to address these professional people (Bachelors in Arts). Bearing in mind what you pointed out:

«So, in your opinion, addressing physicians, surgeons, neurologists,

etc. as "doctors" or "medics" is also inappropriate?»

Well, yes. It's inappropriate. English speakers don't say "medic" to address a Physician, not even "physician", but "doctor". In normal speech, few addressing titles are used in English, to wit: senator, doctor, professor, officer, judge, master, coach, ambassador, and few other.

So, I think we should address historians, writers, etc, as what their academic or professional degree shows. For instance: if you want to address a writer who holds a BA you may say: "Mr. X" or "Ms. Y". Unless you know they teach at a University, then you may say: "Professor X" or "Professor Y".

Our humble MISTER and MS. are enough to address people.

But if you want to point out the highest level a person has achieved academically or professionally (not addressing), then you have a broader range to choose from. Check wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

RENAN

Lima - Peru

Victor_amelkin · Answer

Renan,

I suppose, this discussion goes in a wrong direction

This is probably

my fault and I should have provided a context for my question. Here it

is. I recently wrote an essay on the topic which sounds approximately

this way: "Why the belief that studying literature and history is more

important than studying of science and math is wrong." As you can

guess, the central idea of such an essay is to argue that both humanities

and sciences are important for both types of people, that is for those

who specialize in humanities and for those who specialize in sciences.

To develop this idea, I need to address somehow these two kinds of

specialists. It is doubtless that the devision of all specialists into "physicists"
and "lyricists" is not precise. However, I cannot repeat again and again

"people who specialize in the arts" throughout the essay, or these phrases

will occupy a half of the whole essay. Consequently, I do not need to

address any particular person, and, thereby, Mrs, Ms's, Professors, etc.

won't be of any use for me. But, anyway, thanks for the information;

it will surely be of a great use if I'm going to address a specialist by

his or her title.

--

Victor

Renan torres-rivero · Answer

Well, my friend, in this case, don't have a storm in a teacup.

You can say "Science Students" and "Humanities Students".

Just keep it simple. That's the best way.

Good luck with your essay!

Cheers,

RENAN

Avangi · Answer

Also, science majors, arts majors.  Is it needed that the terms include the faculty as well?

A term to address specialists in the arts

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