As high school seniors and college freshman approach the impending decision of what to study at the university level, numerous factors are considered. Practicality, enjoyment, and popular opinion seem to play the largest role when deciding upon a career. Perhaps it is easy to weigh in the economy. What sorts of jobs will guarantee success? It is equally common to consider passion. Is it worth financial stability over a career that is gratifying? In a perfect world, there wouldn't be such an internal debate amongst society's youths. In this nonexistent utopia, financial consideration wouldn't have as big as a weigh in, because everyone would simply do what they wanted to for the rest of their lives. The reality of the 21st century begs that we are practically minded, able to support ourselves and our families. As the cost of attending a university only rises, it makes students even more prone to chose a career that will help to free them of student loans after graduation. Even better, this career would provide financial security for future generations, and retirement. The impact that this has on colleges and universities is that certain careers are socially valued more than others, making popularity another influential factor when it comes to selecting a career. What does this mean for those less popular majors? I refer your attention to the English majors, the history majors, and, the focus of this piece, nearly everything under the scope of the Arts.
Are the arts dying? Are they a highly sophisticated society that are comprehended by the elite only? Are they being shamelessly sacrificed for financial security over a good job in engineering or the medical field? College freshman may begin to explore the purpose of the subject matter. What is a world without art? Art is what gives definition to the complex, and often misinterpreted human spectrum of emotion. It is what allows the human mind to be first observed, then related to, then understood. Why, then, is something so critical given such little financial credit? Why do we consistently perpetuate the image of a starving artist? The answer lies within the attitude of the artist. What exactly are you paying for when you hire a professional musician? Not just time, but years of preparation, the cost of equipment over those years, and, in many cases, travel. What is the true cost of a professional portrait? Again, years of study and preparation, cost of equipment, time, and the experience that lends good judgment and artistry to the painter. Therefore, in order to make the arts a more reputable career, we need not exemplify their crucial role in society. It is far better to help the recipient understand what they are really purchasing. To put a price on time is one thing, but to put a price on time, experience, and preparation is what one does when professional artistry is employed. As artists, we cannot undervalue the skills we have put our entire lives into. The world will never have lack of a need for art. Therefore, we must treat our skills as the inelastic product in society as they are.
