I am a Communication Studies and Fine Art Major; I declared at the beginning of my freshman year and have become exponentially more fanatical about these subjects every passing year. Having such a passion for the arts and double majoring in liberal arts subjects causes some grief and awkwardness for me on a regular basis. I want to articulate things that I get asked or told every time I tell someone (student or adult) what my majors are; Specifically, assumptions about studying art.
Perhaps 15 percent of the time when I tell people I am studying art and communication, I get positive reactions. This being said, the vast majority of responses include awkward pauses, and darting eyes (obvious disapproval). Frankly, it’s pretty uncomfortable. In these awkward moments, it’s hard to quickly explain to someone who disapproves, what you actually do. Recently, I have been increasingly frustrated about the misunderstanding. I recognize that most of the issue is caused by a general lack of knowledge of what studying art means and why it’s important. I hope my responses to these three common remarks will shine some light on the topic.
1. “Your only homework is painting anyway”
This is false. For one, I am double majoring. I write essays, I give speeches, I give presentations, I take tests, and I have assignments. In addition to this, yes, I do paint, take pictures, build things using materials I have never used before, and have to put tons of time in outside of class to master a technique that I am only getting graded on for one piece (in some cases).
2. “Do you EVER have tests?”
Yes. I have tests for some of my classes (mostly communications or art history); but, in terms of studio art classes, tests are in the form of critique. When an art piece is due, you display the project you have worked on for weeks and put your entire soul into, in front of your classmates and professor. You then have to talk about your creative choices. Your peers and professor critique, compliment, or rip to shreds your art piece in front of the entire class and you have to sit there and pretend like it doesn’t kill you that your professor hates your work (sometimes). I challenge anyone who thinks art classes are “easy, dumb, or not stressful” to put hours of your life into a project you are proud of and then have the person giving you a grade tell you it’s terrible in front of your entire class. Just saying… scariest form of a test I’ve even been a part of.
3. “You won’t get a job”
Is that so? In all seriousness though, I work hard. I am a good student. I have been blessed with multiple job and internship opportunities. I’m doing great things with my life, if I do say so. I am not just sitting twiddling my thumbs. It is insanely painful to have other students or adults assume that because my chosen field is art making, I do not work hard. This is so entirely not true that it makes me want to scream. It is aggravating to have people who know nothing about me, or art for that matter, tell me that what I am doing isn’t good enough.
Nowadays, it’s not about your major anyway; it’s about networking and taking opportunities as they come. I am studying two things that I am good at and that I love–and there shouldn’t be a negative connotation to that. No two people have the same career or lifestyle goals. It shouldn’t matter what your friend's major is, we are all here just trying to make the world a better place–we just chose different ways to accomplish that, and that’s OK.
I have a great deal of respect for students studying any subject frankly because I know what it feels like to not be taken seriously. Art, Theater, Dance, Psychology, Communication Studies, History, English, and other liberal arts majors are important and our world would not function the way it does without people specializing in these fields.
