arts and letters
Culture's twin pillars
Arts and letters encompasses creative and intellectual pursuits—literature, visual arts, music, philosophy, and humanistic scholarship.
The phrase often appears in institutional contexts: a college of arts and letters, an academy of arts and letters.
It suggests cultivation and learning in the humanities, distinguished from sciences or technical fields.
Study of fundamental truths
- historyRecord of past events
- classicsWorks of lasting value
- literatureBody of written works
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
linguistics · ethics · aesthetics · archaeology · sociology · epistemology · humanism · jurisprudence
Metrical literary composition
- proseUnversified language
- fictionImagined narrative work
- novelNew and unusual
- essayShort argumentative prose work
drama · nonfiction · epic · sonnet · haiku · ballad · fable · allegory
Pigment on canvas
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- musicOrganized auditory art
- theaterVenue for live drama
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
architecture · photography · film · ceramics · printmaking · opera · ballet · composition
Celebrated achievement recipient
- honoreeOne being celebrated
- prizeReward for winning
- medalMetal honor token
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
endowment · patronage · accolade · distinction · commendation · grant · residency · commission
Institution of learning
- universityHigher education institution
- facultyInherent power or ability
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- tenureProtected employment status
publication · journal · dissertation · symposium · lecture · seminar · scholarship · doctorate
philosophy
Study of fundamental truths
- historyRecord of past events
- classicsWorks of lasting value
- literatureBody of written works
anthropology · linguistics · ethics · aesthetics · archaeology · sociology · epistemology · humanism · jurisprudence · rhetoric
poetry
Metrical literary composition
essay · drama · nonfiction · epic · sonnet · haiku · ballad · fable · allegory · satire
painting
Pigment on canvas
dance · architecture · photography · film · ceramics · printmaking · opera · ballet · composition · illustration
laureate
Celebrated achievement recipient
fellowship · endowment · patronage · accolade · distinction · commendation · grant · residency · commission · retrospective
academy
Institution of learning
- universityHigher education institution
- facultyInherent power or ability
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
tenure · publication · journal · dissertation · symposium · lecture · seminar · scholarship · doctorate · professorship
- CEGEPsgeneral education
arts and letterssciences
Organized bodies of knowledge
STEM · natural sciences · hard sciences · science and technology · engineering
arts and lettersvocational training
Job-skill education
commerce · industry · manual trades · business · crafts
arts and letterscommerce
Exchange of goods, services
industry · business · trades · manual labor · practical arts
arts, letter, letters, artist, artistic, artistry, artisan, lettered, unlettered