Art is frickin' awesome... seriously. I go to an art school and I'm surrounded by it every single day. When you put things into perspective, you come to realize that we're all surrounded by different forms of art in our everyday lives; from the music videos we watch on YouTube to the TV shows we binge in our dorm rooms until 2AM, and even to the doodles we make in the margins of our notebooks as our business teacher blabs on about supply and demand - art is everywhere.
The more I sit and ponder the great beauties of the art world, I have come to an epiphany. Yes, alert the presses. I have reached an EPIPHANY, people! In thinking about and looking at famous paintings by some of the world's greatest artists, I have come to realize how relevant some of them are in summing up particular college experiences. I've managed to narrow it down to 10 pieces of artwork that are just "too real" and hit home when it comes to college.
1. When it's the first day of classes and you realize you're sitting in the wrong classroom.
C'mon, we've all been there. If not, we know or have seen someone who has. Twenty minutes into "Math 101", a kid raises his hand and says, "Wait, so this isn't Oral Communication and Presentations?" Sorry kid, you'll get it right.. someday.
The Scream, Edvard Munch
2. When you're hanging out with your friends and you must leave for your three hour night class.
I know this feeling all too well. Everything is all peachy keen. You're chilling with the squad, enjoying some instant Mac (cause that's all you can afford and have time to make), shooting the breeze, then the feeling of abandonment creeps in. Goodbye, my friends. Goodbye, cruel world. Here I come, three-hour sociology class. Here I come.
The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo
3. When you come back to campus after break looking fly as hell.
Maybe you dyed your hair a rad color, maybe you went on vacation to the beach and got super tan, maybe you got some new kicks, or maybe you just got a pretty cool pearl earring that you want to flaunt to the world. Whatever it is, just WERK IT. *snaps*.
Girl with the Pearl Earring, Johannes Vermeer
4. When you lose track of time because you and your roommate decide to stay up until the wee hours of the morning trying to solve the world's problems.
WHAT THE-- it's 4 AM already?? Been there, done that. You both crawl into bed, getting ready to fall asleep at a decent hour and all of the sudden you find yourselves discussing society's oppression and whether or not it's too late to quit college and become a side show performer. Too real. These clocks are me.
Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali
5. When your school is full of actors, singers, musicians, visual artists and you remember you can't even hold a guitar properly.
This needs no explanation. I'm just bitter.
The Old Guitarist, Pablo Picasso
6. When you're waiting in line at the cafe for so long that you not only turn into a skeleton but you also change species.
All I want is some apple juice - that's it. Why must you have one person at the cash register when clearly we need about 500 more? Having only 10 minutes between classes and a line for food that physically cannot be contained within the cafe limits is something I will never understand. The skeleton life is the life for me.
Ram's Head, White Hollyhock-Hills, Georgia O'Keeffe
7. When your teacher says you can probably find the book online for under $5 but you cannot even find it for less than $50.
Over this. What website are you looking at Professor Lie-To-Me? Please send me the link to the cheap version or cough up the cash to pay for a book I probably won't even touch. You tell me it's cheap and I need it, when in reality it's expensive and useless. OH WHAT A WORLD! *shakes fist in sky*
At Eternity's Gate, Vincent Van Gogh
8. When you and the homies decide to stay in for the night, not in the mood to party, yet your night turns out to be just as lit.
It's Friday night. There are no classes tomorrow. Your night goes from "YO LET'S GO TO A PARTAAAY" to "HEY I GOT A FULL HOUSE!" Sometimes hanging out in the comfort of your room with some close friends is much needed. Now if only dogs could ACTUALLY be allowed in the dorms..
Dogs Playing Poker, C.M. Coolidge
9. When you're forced to carry your entire life in your backpack because you don't know if you'll ever make it back to your room.
Psychology book, Psychology notebook, English notebook, copies of Death of a Salesman, The Old Man and the Sea, Catcher in the Rye, laptop, laptop charger, planner, phone charger, water bottle, Cheez-Its, Sour Patch Kids, application for a work study position, umbrella, pencils, pens, whiteout, the entire continent of North America. Literally, it's as if someone shoved the entire inventory of Target into your backpack.
The Flower Carrier, Diego Rivera
10. And finally, when you spent the months of summer wishing you were back on campus and you are FINALLY reunited with your people.
REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD. It is great to be back.
School of Athens, Raphael
