Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
I didn't go to school to do anything creative. I thought for a while I'd go to medical school but ended up not really connecting with my bio classes. So I switched to Journalism. It was an easy choice since it seemed like the "grown up answer" to being "a writer", which is what I really wanted to be. Truthfully, I had some classes in the journalism school that I liked but I was always being yelled at for putting in my two cents on every story. My elective classes were what really made my college experience amazing.
I took ballet. Beginners ballet started at 8AM to discourage girls from taking it "just for fun". They wanted serious dancers only and while I ended up there hungover more than once, I loved the classes so much that I never missed even one class. I also befriended the dancers in the high level courses and though I never made it anywhere with dance, I always look back on that short time where I was remotely graceful as a great time in my life.
I also took creative writing classes. In fact, I took every single creative writing class that the school offered and when I ran out, I designed my own classes under the watchful eye of my favorite writing teacher.
The point of all this?
I had choices to take art and dance. I'm worried with colleges cutting arts, theater, and dance that students will have less choices to try out creative classes. The New York Times reported again today that entire arts programs are disappearing from college campuses. While students that intend to be artists (and know it early enough to apply to art school) will not be as affected, what about the people going to school for journalism that have creative leanings? What about the accounting major that might want to get a minor in fine art?
As a result of my art classes (elective), I developed an appreciation for images and words together that led me to the advertising world. I would never have chosen that field on my own. My creative electives were absolutely instrumental in my career development.
And what did ballet bring me? I am as ungraceful as ever but I met some really fun people, learned enough steps that I can watch ballets without being bored, and have a photo of myself in my dance outfit that I love. Well worth the 3 college dance classes that I took.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
Comments
08.11.09
This saddens me. I wasn't aware of this, but it doesn't really surprise me as it makes sense financially. My ex-boyfriend is an illustrator. Over and over and over again, he'd tell me that people don't care about art. I'd deny it and point out all these people who are successful creatives.
Finally, I think I'm starting to understand it. I don't think it's that people don't care about art--not in a cut and dry way; I think a lot of people don't financially support art. We're in this microwave society where so much is fast and free, or able to be free if it's not already. Pay $50 to go to a play when I rent the movie for $4 or less? Buy your illustration for $200? Your painting for $1500? Yeah...no. It's not that I don't care; it's that I don't have the budget for it.
There is an adverse problem to removing creative classes from education, whether primary, secondary, or postsecondary. Maybe the idea is that you're more focused and don't "need" these classes, but just like in your case, Caitlin, and in mine: college is still an exploratory phase. You have ideas about what interests you and what your plans could possibly be, but many are still unsure at the heart of it.
I don't have any answers. I want to know why there hasn't been an effective business model put behind supporting art programs. Why isn't there more collaboration between, say art and business, where they obviously interplay and could work together in more fundamental ways that mutually enhance and benefit each other? Artists NEED to be more business savvy and business people NEED to be more creative.
Creativity is at the heart of life. So many of us aren't even in touch with our creative niche. It's a shame that when people are in a critical exploratory period in their lives, they lack access to a part of life that is both paramount and easily disregarded. :-/
08.11.09
I've always thought that the lack of art classes in high schools was directly contributing to the rise of graffiti in communities. The whole Utopia idea of first you create criminals, then you punish them.
I was pre-med my freshman year also, but ended up majoring in philosophy. I was missing art by my junior year, so I majored in that too (I double-majored).
While I'm not an artist, it certainly helps me stand out in marketing that I can deliver creative, as well as research.
We have to develop the whole person... in high school and college.
08.11.09
Thank you Caitlin for this post. I have to say, I completely agree with Holly, as well, for saying that "we have to develop the whole person...in high school and college", but this doesn't stop there--it can't.
Psychologists, sociologists, medical scientists, art teachers, regular people on the street have consistently throughout the years studied the effects of the arts in developing a person's brain, specifically the skills in the right hemisphere. This includes our skills of storytelling, understanding complex scenarios and grasping the big picture. Talk about skills that are more relevant in the workplace today than ever before. Continue to cut the arts, and you continue to potentially cripple your workforce.
If you're interested in learning more on the subject, please read the book A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink.
I'm thankful that I went to a conservatory and studied musical theatre for my undergrad. There were certainly times when I second guessed that decision, but without the skill set that I learned, refined and expanded upon throughout my education, I do not believe that I would be nearly as successful as I am today in my current line of work.
Thank you again for bringing up this subject!
08.11.09
Holly - That's an interesting concept!! Street art rising as a result of lowered art classes... I wouldn't be surprised since art doesn't go away if we take the classes away.
Justin - That book is amazing! I'd recommend it to anyone interested in "right brain stuff" or creativity.
I think 17 or 18 is way too young to ask students to decide what they want to do and then close them off from any other paths.
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
