"Do I think it’s a good idea to scrap art history? No, I think it’s a terrible, tragic idea."
"In a statement to The Post, Campion said art history was the only subject she looked forward to during sixth form (year 12), and that the subject was 'a crucial step' towards her creative life in film. It was at art school that Campion started making films.
“ 'It was so helpful to discover I had visual acuity and I was actually good at something. Do I think it’s a good idea to scrap art history? No, I think it’s a terrible, tragic idea. Students like myself deserve a chance to discover themselves [and] find something they feel passionate about and can pursue to enrich their lives.'
"Art history could lead to satisfying careers in architecture, interior design, graphic design, theatre, painting, art restoration, community art, photography or cinematography, Campion said.
“ 'We are moving at rocket speed into a world of AI. How will future New Zealanders communicate with their AI bots if they have no general knowledge of art? ... It’s important to have a framework of knowledge in subjects to be able to drive AI.
“ 'It is my hope the Government reverses this decision.' "
~ Jane Campion in the article 'Art history will no longer be a school subject in New Zealand'
3 comments:
I agree. 100s of years ago when I was at school, I took art history simply as a filler subject to make up numbers. I think it ended up being one of the most interesting things I did at college. It opened my eyes to a whole new world, and as a bonus a lot of the good looking girls in that form were also in the class. I do wonder how it's taught these days though..."male gaze", "slave trading owners" and all that crap.
It clearly shows one of the issues with central planning, especially with health and education: that you're basically fucked unless you're in a majority, or plurality.
Only three percent of students enrol in art history? All right, then let's can it.
We don't do brain scans for abdominal cancers 'cos only three percent go across the blood-brain barrier? Fine too, unless you're one of those unlucky three precent. In which case, you're fucked.
It's the pincer movement between the lefties who think it's "colonialist" or about "whiteness" (and not relevant to "Aotearoa") and the business school dropkicks who only want people to learn accounting, "management studies", commerce, finance and law because it "enhances productivity". Art history is the class that keeps on giving, and I enjoyed it, it opened my horizons and STILL does. It's actual history, philosophy, culture, science and it's unsurprising that it falls between the cracks of the anti-Western bureaucrats and the "GDP growth" luddites who know nothing.
Post a Comment