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Institute for Humanities offers spring seminar Maybe taste isn't arguable, but it is discussable The Institute for the Humanities (IH) is presenting a spring seminar, "Style and Taste," on May 7-9 in the Rackham Building, 915 E. Washington. The springtime retreat for exploring the humanities takes as its organizing text the proverb De gustibus non est disputandum (there is no arguing about taste). "Taste is a window into culture and personal idiom, raising for the humanities the issue of respect for diversity on the one hand and standards of excellence on the other," says IH director Daniel Herwitz, the Mary Fair Croushore Professor, professor of history of art and of philosophy. Noting that certain cultural styles and personal choices are difficult to compare (for example Chinese vs. Texan tastes in landscape, Mexican vs. Japanese tastes in food, eschewing elitism while also refusing to accept the view that in life, "anything goes"), Herwitz says that taste is "as vexing an issue for scholarship as it is ubiquitous in personal and public life." Faculty from several fields will lead discussions on taste in the Ancient World, in China, on the home front of American cultures, in philosophy and in theatrical performance. Seminar faculty include June Howard, American Culture, English and women's studies; John Pedley, classical studies; Martin J. Powers, art history and Chinese studies; Leigh Woods, music, theater and drama; and Ted Cohen of the University of Chicago's philosophy department. Space is limited. Fees for the weekend include meals, receptions, presentations and advance materials. Reservations are $300 per person, until April 8; after that date, $350 per person. To request a registration brochure or for more information, visit our website at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/humin/events/outreach/; send an email to nkiver@umich.edu; or call (734) 936-3518.