McMaster Faculty of Humanities

We love performance in the Humanities and that's why its so exciting to see some of the photos from the annual McMaster English Language Development (MELD) diploma talent show! The student performers wowed the audience with dancing, singing, guitar, and more.

Technology and AI are often presented as solutions to our greatest problems. Our conversation with Benedetta Brevini will examine the environmental stakes of AI and its contributions to the climate crisis. Join us March 12 at 7:00 pm! https://youtube.com/live/ANj8rD2DJa4?feature=share

What Bad Bunny meant when he said ‘Canadá’ — and why we’re still talking about it Bad Bunny’s naming of ‘Canadá’ at the Super Bowl exposed Canada’s tendency to imagine itself as peripheral to Latin America, when its people and culture are central to its reality.

"When Bad Bunny said “Canadá,” he reminded Canadians that they exist within a story they so often imagine unfolding somewhere else." https://theconversation.com/what-bad-bunny-meant-when-he-said-canada-and-why-were-still-talking-about-it-277148

Yes, that is new grad Mackenzie Barwell doing CBC Olympics coverage. The political science and communications graduate talks about landing her dream career. https://news.mcmaster.ca/mac-grad-mackenzie-barwell-is-covering-olympics-on-cbc/

We are saddened to hear about the passing of Lyton "Red" Wilson. His philanthropy has generously supported the liberal arts, leadership and student success. https://news.mcmaster.ca/in-memory-of-l-r-wilson/

For the fourth year in a row, McMaster Concert Band has put smiles on faces with their recent concert featuring themes from video games. https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/2026/02/10/mcmaster-concert-band-explores-video-game-music-with-an-interactive-audience-experience/

Why Iran keeps turning off the internet during mass protests By cutting internet access during uprisings, the Iranian regime turns connectivity itself into a mechanism of control.

"For authoritarian regimes, internet blackouts are a powerful political tool of repression that conceal state violence," writes Communication Studies & Media Arts PhD candidate Niloofar Hooman. https://theconversation.com/why-iran-keeps-turning-off-the-internet-during-mass-protests-273793

Twelve critical research projects at McMaster including one lead by Humanities professor Sandra Lapointe will receive $3.5-million from the government of Ontario for cutting edge research. https://news.mcmaster.ca/ontario-invests-3-5-million-in-cutting-edge-research-and-infrastructure-at-mcmaster/

The rapid spread of AI-generated nude deepfakes is part of a broader and long-standing pattern of gender-based violence, a McMaster expert warns.
https://news.mcmaster.ca/ai-generated-nude-deepfakes-are-part-of-a-larger-system-of-gender-based-digital-harms-expert-warns/

New podcast alert! Generations Ahead explores the most imaginative approaches shaping the future of Canada and the world and is hosted by Wilson College External Director Sara Wolfe. https://lnk.to/generations-ahead

The Critical AI Talks lecture series continues on February 13 with ‘AI, labour, and society’ presented by our next guest! Our conversation with Aida Ponce Del Castillo will examine the political stakes of AI. More here: https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/events/ai-labour-and-society/

Aux étudiant·e·s de maîtrise et de doctorat en français au Canada et à l'étranger : le Département de français de l’Université McMaster invite des propositions de communications pour son colloque annuel. https://french.humanities.mcmaster.ca/colloques/#tab-content-2026

McMaster closed on Monday, Jan. 26 due to heavy snowfall McMaster is closed on Monday, Jan. 26 following heavy snowfall over the weekend that affected Hamilton and the region. All scheduled classes, labs, studios and events — in-person and remote — are canc...

McMaster is closed due to heavy snowfall. See the full statement here: news.mcmaster.ca/mcmaster-wil...

CBC concert series Road to the Junos heads to Hamilton in 2026 | CBC Music Cadence Weapon, Logan Staats, Julianna Riolino and more local acts will perform at shows in the lead up to the 55th Juno Awards in March.

Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) and CBC Music are teaming up to present CBC Classical Road to the Junos. The concern will be taking place in L.R. Wilson Hall this Sunday, January 25, at 3:00 pm! https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/road-to-the-junos-2026-hamilton-9.7010568

“A playground for creativity”: Arts at McMaster opens registrations for their popular summer arts camps – Faculty of Humanities | McMaster University

After a successful pilot year last summer, Arts at McMaster has now opened registration for their summer day camps. https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/2026/01/20/a-playground-for-creativity-arts-at-mcmaster-opens-registrations-for-their-popular-summer-arts-camps/

We invite you to our next live streamed lecture in the Critical AI Talks series. Our conversation with Payal Arora will examine AI, data justice, and the “privilege of pessimism” sometimes associated with AI. https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/events/ai-data-justice-and-the-privilege-of-pessimism/

McMaster will be closed on Jan. 15 due to heavy snowfall McMaster is closed on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, due to a heavy snowfall affecting Hamilton and the region. All scheduled classes, labs, studios and events — in-person and remote — are cancelled, except...

McMaster is closed today due to heavy snowfall. See McMaster News for details: news.mcmaster.ca/mcmaster-clo...

Summer arts camps are back for the 2026 season! Does your child dig digital art? Is your teen stoked about sculpture? Our summer arts camps let campers develop their creativity, learn new skills and have a blast doing art! https://artsatmcmaster.humanities.mcmaster.ca/

Expand your language horizons with an elective course in Polish this winter! Polish 1Z03 is open to students in any level and program at McMaster University. The course is available in a blended format with online lectures and in person components. Register for your seat in the class today!

Happy New Year from the faculty of Humanities! Enjoy your holiday break and we'll see you all back here in the new year!

The holidays are upon us! A quick reminder that McMaster University will close for the holiday break at the end of the work day on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and will reopen Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
https://news.mcmaster.ca/mcmasters-holiday-break-and-campus-closure/

Attention parents! Join us summer 2026 for an all new season of Arts at McMaster summer camps from July 6 through to August 7th. Registration begins January 8! Save the date!

Five Humanities students have received certificates from the Department of French in recognition of bursaries awarded for their studies in French as a Second Language (FSL) program. https://french.humanities.mcmaster.ca/french-bursaries/

Resisting AI with Dan McQuillan | Critical AI Talks Technology and AI are often thought of as being neutral, objective, technical, or apolitical. Our conversation with Dan McQuillan will examine the political ...

Join us today! Our conversation with Dan McQuillan will examine the political stakes of AI, asking what can and should be done—particularly by students and universities.

📅 Friday, December 12 at 12:00 pm EST
📍Live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/wi0u3Hs6jGU?feature=share

Concurrent Certificate in Creative Writing brings together interdisciplinary community of writers – Faculty of Humanities | McMaster University

The Creative Writing and Narrative Arts (CNWA) certificate gives students from all faculties the opportunity to develop their creative writing skills.
https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/2025/10/28/concurrent-certificate-in-creative-writing-brings-together-interdisciplinary-community-of-writers/

Resisting AI with Dan McQuillan | Critical AI Talks Technology and AI are often thought of as being neutral, objective, technical, or apolitical. Our conversation with Dan McQuillan will examine the political ...

Critical AI Talks hosts its first in a series of lectures this Friday. Our conversation with Dan McQuillan will examine the political stakes of AI, asking what can and should be done.

📅 Friday, December 12 at 12:00 pm EST
📍Live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/wi0u3Hs6jGU?feature=share

The language you learn as a child becomes the lens through which you understand the world. A team of researchers has found it also affects how you read in your second language.
https://news.mcmaster.ca/analysis-new-global-research-shows-eye-movements-reveal-how-native-languages-shape-reading/

“Young people are already deeply engaged in civic life,” says Kristina Llewellyn, professor in the Wilson College of Leadership & Civic Engagement. https://news.mcmaster.ca/youth-political-engagement-beyond-the-ballot/

New toolkit helps community groups take leading role in data management. The Community Research Data Toolkit lives online in open-access formats. Learn more: https://news.mcmaster.ca/new-toolkit-helps-community-groups-take-leading-role-in-data-management/

Seeds of Hope: How two McMaster grads turned one class into climate action across the country – Wilson College of Leadership & Civic Engagement

November 24th: Find out how two McMaster grads, Kyle Empringham and Sujane Kandasamy, turned one class into climate action across the country. https://wilsoncollege.mcmaster.ca/events/seeds-of-hope-how-two-mcmaster-grads-turned-one-class-into-climate-action-across-the-country/