By Aliza Flug
While it seems like most students at Stern choose to major in subjects such as psychology or biology, there are many other majors that people either aren’t aware of or aren’t very accepting of. I, for example, am a studio art major but I have yet to actually declare my major. A big part of the reason why I’m afraid to make it official is because of the reactions I’ve been receiving when I tell people I’m considering majoring in art. I have heard things like, “You are going to get a Bachelor’s degree in art?!” and “You should major in something real,” and “Art is a hobby, not a job.” I’ve even gotten the comment, “That’s just a waste of money.” While comments like these can be hurtful, they make me feel very conflicted. On the one hand, I can understand why people have doubts about the financial outcomes of an art major. On the other hand, I, among many others, are very passionate about art and creativity. Personally, I plan on incorporating art into my future career. People always talk about the importance of finding a job that you love, so why is there an exception when it comes to art?
Clearly it is apparent that people think art is not a legitimate major. Many assume that art students have it easy, have no work to do, and no tests to study for. I can assure you that this is not true. While my assignments may be different from chemistry recitations – and are arguably more enjoyable – they are nonetheless real assignments that take a lot of time and effort to complete and receive real rigorous grading. No, us art majors are not majoring in ‘arts and crafts.’ Our projects are not easy or cute. They are intense assignments that require an immense amount of dedication, technique, and vigor to complete.
After talking to a friend, I realized that I am not the only one who experiences pushback from other students. My friend described an experience she had while talking to a biology major. She expressed how she felt this student completely lost respect for her once she revealed that she was an art major. “I’ve always hated how being able to enjoy the school work I do seems to make other majors think that it’s all fun and games when compared to their misery and workload,” she said. Just like every other major, having a passion for the subject that we are studying should not diminish the fact that the art major is official and legitimate.
Another reason why people might think the art major is ‘not a real major’ is because the structure allows for so much flexibility. While there is flexibility in terms of what classes you can take, people don’t realize that the studio art major is actually structured very similarly to most other majors; it consists of several required classes along with elective options in a student’s chosen emphasis point. This means that students can choose an area of emphasis within the art major and take classes specifically related to that area, such as graphic design, animation, fashion design, interior design, and art therapy. The art major also features a senior project which is an exit requirement for the major. Although there is more flexibility within the art major and what classes one can take because of this structure, it by no means delegitimizes the major or makes it any less real or rigorous than any other majors.
I spoke to a friend, Shalva Englander (SCW ‘25), who is also an art major, who described the unique differences involved in doing artwork compared to doing assignments in other classes. She says that in addition to readings, research, and/or writing, most art classes require hours of outside work in order to complete intense projects. The difference with these projects is that you have to consider the materials that are required and their transportability. “Unlike an essay, I can’t bring plywood and sculpting wire home with me to get a head start,” Shalva says. As an out of towner, I can relate to this. There have been times where I had to cram in projects before I went home because I simply could not bring a 19 x 24 inch piece of paper with me on an airplane. Additionally, the art floor, which is in Stern’s 215 Lexington Avenue building, closes at 12 AM each day, and therefore, unless art majors are able to find a way to bring their projects back to their dorms, they are forced to finish their work by this hour.
Despite all of this, I am not, in any way, trying to discourage people from majoring in art. I speak for myself and many others when I say that I am extremely grateful that Stern offers a studio art major with a variety of classes to choose from. I couldn’t be happier that I get to spend my college years studying a topic that I truly love and enjoy. While I understand that choosing to major in art may not be the right decision for everyone, I believe that it is important to respect everyone regardless of one’s choice of study.