Questions about values have become frequent in the arts and humanities and developing research fields such as visual culture studies. This essay identifies and explores different kinds of value question, some made more pressing by what many see as a crisis facing the arts and humanities in higher education. Martha Nussbaum's political defence of arts and humanities education in the context of rapid globalisation and Richard Sennett's advocacy of ”craft” suggest ways of legitimizing not only creative, imaginative culture but also practices that value sensory, embodied skills marginalized by postmodern styles of thinking and a drive to expand educational provision while dramatically reducing unit costs. The strengths and weaknesses of both approaches are examined in light of some tensions and conflicts inherent to modernity.