This is a radio excerpt from WBEZ’s Afternoon Shift, that can be listened to here

Today the Modern Language Association conference kicked off in Chicago. It’s a gathering of 7,000 literature and language professors and scholars. Through the weekend they’ll be discussing everything from academic boycotts to the films of John Sayles. Today they started by reflecting on the state of the humanities. Leading them through this was our arts and culture correspondent Alison Cuddy, who joins us along with Angel Ysaguirre, currently the Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.