Why Study Art, Art History and/or Visual Studies?
Modern culture is a visual culture, of images from the popular
media -- advertising, photography, television, film and video -- to
professional contexts -- the courtroom, the hospital, the lecture hall.
From fractal theory in the sciences to computer imaging, visual competence and media literacy
is central to critical thinking in the twenty-first century. The historical
study of art, architecture and visual culture provides the understanding
and the language necessary for analyzing space and images and recognizing
their social impact. The making of art develops the ability to think
visually and resolve spatial problems, at the same time that it involves
the resonant satisfactions of creativity.
Art History is interdisciplinary. It involves the student in the culture, languages, politics
and economics of the period in which the work was produced, as well as
in its literature and religion. As in other fields of the Humanities,
students are given the opportunity to develop their ability to formulate
ideas orally and in writing. But in the study and criticism of structures
and images, students refine their powers of gathering information visually
as well as verbally. As a consequence of the historical and critical
training involved in the study of Art History, majors are well-prepared
for careers in any of the professions.
A passion for the visual artifact resides at the core of successful
work in the history or practice of art, and both Art History and Studio
training provide current and practical experience in the development and creative resolution of new ideas and their visual expression. In addition to the pleasure of a new awareness of the visual environment, these disciplines offer a new and
compelling way to think and debate, and new perspectives on the past and present.
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