“Oh, you’re an art major? That’s...cool.”
If you’re an art major of any kind, you’re definitely familiar with getting this response from people. The uncomfortable look on their face, the long pause when they hear the words “art” and “major” in the same sentence, the inevitable giggle that may even slip out. It’s as if they can’t believe you would seriously consider making art for a living. “What are you gonna do for the rest of your life?” someone once asked me in horror, looking as if I had just told them I was majoring in making hats for the magical wizard I believed lived in my closet. “Oh, it probably won’t work out, my backup plan is getting involved in the drug trade,” I replied. They didn’t find it funny.
We all know the stigma that goes along with careers in the arts. Art majors are typically looked at as the “fools” of college; why spend all this money for a useless degree? Why not major in something more stable, like computer science or finance? Let me answer that for you.
BECAUSE.
Art is my biggest passion. To me, it provides a sense of euphoria that nothing else compares to. I couldn’t imagine life without it. When you ask me questions like “What are you gonna do for the rest of your life?” insinuating art is not a valid career choice, it’s not only rude and insulting, but completely misguided. Careers in the arts are valuable to society and help make the world a brighter, better place. Crazy, right? Not really. Art is around you in more ways than you realize, everything from the movies you watch to the food you eat at restaurants is art; a career people went to school for, got a degree in, and get paid for.
You know how there’s that unfortunate stereotype that all artists are struggling or broke? Yeah, well that’s not true either. That being said, obviously society isn’t trading all of its STEM majors for painters, actors, and screenwriters (and it shouldn’t, because we need STEM majors!). But make no mistake, art majors can also make a good living for themselves in their job field. For instance, the 2013 national average salary for graphic design majors was $96,650, and the national average for theater arts majors was $90,240. Gone are the days where artists are viewed as hippie burnouts. Now, businesses everywhere are beginning to realize the importance of art and all that art majors bring to the table. While it is true that we’ll probably never make as much money as a lawyer, studies show that those with a degree in the arts tend to lead happier lives. “Artists generally are happier than the rest of the population,” says research director Bruno S. Frey. So take that, everyone who has ever questioned my decision to be an artist.
So next time you hear someone is an art major, resist the urge to roll your eyes or give them unsolicited advice on how “unstable” their career path is. And if you’re an art major, don’t listen to the people who tell you you can’t achieve success with your degree. There is no need to panic or buy into the old-fashioned cliche that artists are useless to society. The world needs you, whether they realize it or not. Keep on doing what you love; you’ll be just fine, I promise.
