Why Art History?
Apr 26th, 2005 by Kate
“How many of you did the reading for today’s class?” All of two people raised their hand- not me, and I didn’t feel guilty about it either. “I know that most of you didn’t read this and that is fine, I saved this topic for the end on purpose.”
Today was my last Methodologies in Visual Culture and Art History class (“Survey of major contributions to the development and practice of art history methodologies and visual arts studies (including theory and criticism) from the 16th century to the present.”) I am going to miss that class- not the workload or the three hour-long class, but the way that it forced me to think, to question the world around me. The way it got me so pissed off at my peers that we would get into heated discussions over who knows what, not even art. I love how all of us art history majors came together and brought our particular interests to create a one of a kind learning experience. There was Holly who is obsessed with the Italian Renaissance, me, the Medievalist, John the modernist, even Dr. Baxter whose concentration is in eighteenth-century French just to name a few. The different interests and methods of study just in our small class of twenty-four amaze me. This has been my first class of just art history majors– we are a very diverse group of people. I don’t consider myself a sterotypical art major. I can’t draw, I don’t do drugs and I like to wear colors.
Because of this class, I can no longer veg out and watch TV without analyzing it. I can’t accept things for what they are—I’ve been trained and condition to see things and break them down. Because of this class, I am aware of the fact that I am being manipulated and I am able to appreciate what I am doing.
So, why study art history? That question came up over and over. Us art historians aren’t in it for the money. Obviously. Because there isn’t any! I know I am in it for the love of it; for my obsession with medieval architecture and early Christian paintings. After the undergrad, the options are fairly limited. Most art historians are bound for museum work. Not me though—I’m going to Law School! Now I just have to figure out which one.