Each semester students find themselves enrolled in Art History classes for the first time. Ideally, they enrolled because they wanted to study the history of art and are enthusiastic about the prospect. This isn't always the case, however. Students may take Art History because it is required, or it seems like a good choice for AP credit in high school, or even because it is the only elective that fits into that semester's class schedule. When one of the latter three scenarios apply and a student realizes that Art History is not going to be an easy "A," questions invariably arise: why did I take this class? What's in it for me? Why should I study art history?
Why? Here are five compelling reasons to cheer you.
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Because Every Picture Tells a Story
The single most fun reason to study Art History is the story it tells, and that doesn't just apply to pictures (that was merely a catchy headline for folks who were Rod Stewart fans back in the day).
You see, every artist operates under a unique set of circ*mstances and all of them affect his or her work. Pre-literate cultures had to appease their gods, ensure fertility and frighten their enemies through art. Italian Renaissance artists had to please either the Catholic Church, rich patrons, or both. Korean artists had compelling nationalistic reasons to distinguish their art from Chinese art. Modern artists strove to find new ways of seeing even while catastrophic wars and economic depression swirled around them. Contemporary artists are every bit as creative, and also have contemporary rents to pay—they need to balance creativity with sales.
No matter which piece of art or architecture you see, there were personal, political, sociological, and religious factors behind its creation. Untangling them and seeing how they connect to other pieces of art is huge, delicious fun.
Read More10 Tips for Art History StudentsBy Beth Gersh-Nesic
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Because There Is More to Art History than You May Think
This may come as news, but art history is not just about drawing, painting,and sculpture. You will also run across calligraphy, architecture, photography, film, mass media, performance art, installations, animation, video art, landscape design, and decorative arts like arms and armor, furniture, ceramics, woodworking, goldsmithing, and much more. If someone created something worth seeing—even a particularly fine black velvet Elvis—art history will offer it to you.
As was mentioned in the introductory paragraph, art history is not an easy "A." There is more to it than memorizing names, dates, and titles.
An art history class also requires you analyze, think critically, and write well. Yes, the five paragraph essay will rear its head with alarming frequency. Grammar and spelling will become your best friends, and you cannot escape citing sources.
Don't despair. These are all excellent skills to have, no matter where you want to go in life. Suppose you decide to become an engineer, scientist, or physician—analysis and critical thinking define these careers. And if you want to be a lawyer, get used to writing now. See? Excellent skills.
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Because Our World Is Becoming More and More Visual
Think, really think about the amount of visual stimulation with which we are bombarded on a daily basis. You are reading this on your computer monitor, smartphone, iPad or tablet. Realistically, you may own all of these. In your spare time, you might watch television or videos on the internet, or play graphic-intensive video games. We ask our brains to process immense amounts of images from the time we wake until we fall asleep—and even then, some of us are vivid dreamers.
As a species, we are shifting from predominantly verbal thinking to visual thinking. Learning is becoming more visually- and less text-oriented; this requires us to respond not just with analysis or rote memorization, but also with emotional insight.
Art History offers you the tools you need to respond to this cavalcade of imagery. Think of it as a type of language, one that allows the user to successfully navigate new territory. Either way, you benefit.
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Because Art History Is YOUR History
Each of us springs from a genetic soup seasoned by innumerable generations of cooks. It is the most human thing imaginable to want to know about our ancestors, the people who made us us. What did they look like? How did they dress? Where did they gather, work, and live? Which gods did they worship, enemies did they fight, and rituals did they observe?
Now consider this: photography has been around less than 200 years, film is even more recent, and digital images are relative newcomers. If we want to see any person that existed prior to these technologies we must rely on an artist. This isn't a problem if you come from a royal family where portraits of every King Tom, Dick, and Harry are hanging on the palace walls, but the other seven-or-so billion of us have to do a little art-historic digging.
The good news is that digging through art history is a fascinating pastime so, please, grab your mental shovel and commence. You will discover visual evidence of who and where you came from—and gain some insight on that genetic soup recipe. Tasty stuff!
By honing skills of close looking, description, and the judicious use of historical sources, art history offers tools and vocabulary for interpreting the wealth of visual culture that surrounds us, as well as building a historically grounded understanding of artistic production in varied social and cultural contexts.
It helps us to make sense of our own lives and identify with the lives of others. It is also increasingly recognized as a driver of the innovative thinking needed to solve our world's most pressing problems. Learning and practicing art, and tapping into your creativity, can make you better at whatever you do.
Historical paintings, sculptures, photographs, and architecture can offer vivid expressions of a particular moment in history. Historians have developed methods that allow them to carefully analyze historical documents. In a similar way, art historians have developed methods to understand works of art.
Art is an important and perhaps unexpected tool in teaching history. Photos, drawings, and paintings can communicate an abundance of information about historical events. Students can analyze pieces of art to assist them in digging deeper into investigating an artist's perspective and decision-making.
Art historians study the significance of visual arts (painting, sculpture, and architecture) in the period they were created. Establishing the authorial origins of artworks, or learning who created a certain work of art, when, where, and why, are some of the main goals of Art History.
Art history – the study of art from across the world, and from the ancient to the present day – covers virtually every aspect of human history and experience. This is because it looks at works of art not just as objects, but as a way of understanding the world, and the societies in which they were created.
Training in the critical analysis of art seeks to clarify the perception—and understanding—of how artworks relate to the techniques and materials used in their making, and to the environment in which they are seen. It also fosters the ability to make and explain judgments of quality and value.
Throughout history, art has played an important role in documenting, reflecting, and shaping the cultural, social, and political developments of different societies. Art has often been used as a means of expression, both for the individual artist and for a particular community or culture.
Learning how to track trends in art and its evolution over time brings with it a marketable set of skills and numerous career opportunities. If you are interested in art and a student of history, then pursuing an art history might be a good plan for your education.
One way to make art history interesting is to break down how art history changed around the world. Classrooms are filled with students from all different backgrounds, so bringing in different cultures can help students relate to the artwork — even if they're not from that culture, they might have a friend that is!
Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time. Research has shown art affects the fundamental sense of self. Painting, sculpture, music, literature and the other arts are often considered to be the repository of a society's collective memory.
Artists provide creative, intellectual and emotional insights into society at large, impacting the masses and challenging the status quo. Art helps cultures unite and boosts economic growth—helping the world become a prettier, better and happier place to live in.
The close relationship between history and art is a reflection of the cultural, social, political, and economic values of a particular period. Art has a unique ability to serve as a historical document, capturing and preserving the experiences and perspectives of individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time. Research has shown art affects the fundamental sense of self. Painting, sculpture, music, literature and the other arts are often considered to be the repository of a society's collective memory.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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