Empowering Humanities: Open Access and Engaging the Public in a Visual Society

Throughout history, publishers have had the responsibility of facilitating straight-forward and meaningful communication of scientific research to the public. In the humanities, accessibility to research plays a crucial role in promoting widespread knowledge, understanding diverse perspectives, and fostering an inclusive society. Open-access publications further democratize knowledge by making it available to a broader audience. In today’s visually-driven society, visual literacy has become increasingly important given the prevalence of visual media and technology. Learning from the past when images were used to convey teachings and promote authority and influence to an audience that was not familiar with the written word, scholars today can utilize similar visual methods to engage larger audiences. Publishers can serve as mediators, empowering society with knowledge and promoting critical thinking.