by Jon Lackman | 19 February 2010 | Uncategorized
“The trouble with art history? It’s boring,” writes The Guardian’s Jonathan Jones:
At just the same time that Simon Schama was calling on art to help bring social history to life, art historians were disappearing up a dark theoretical hole. They were rejecting the kind of old-school art history epitomised by EH Gombrich or Kenneth Clark and instead modelling themselves on post-structuralisms of various varieties. The “new art history” is no longer new. But it still seems to result in books that don’t quite work as either history or criticism. Sometimes they’re all right. But often in reading the old art historians – for example Panofsky – I am struck not so much by scholarship that may or may not have stood the test of time, but a strong, humane insight into an artist.
Meanwhile, according the Hamilton Spectator, a major Canadian university is considering eliminating its art-history degree:
The art history degree could soon be history at McMaster as the university considers redirecting resources to meet growing demand for a broader fine art program … Demand for spaces in the standalone art history program has dwindled to the point where only seven students chose the specialty this year … There are now 37.5 students in all years of the program, making it about one tenth the size of English or history by comparison. Meanwhile, there is a lineup to get into the 35 spaces available in each year of the existing studio art program … all current students would be able to finish their art history degrees, with the door closing behind them as they graduate. Though the proposal has yet to enter a four-stage approval process, the idea of phasing out the art history degree is already causing an uproar among art history students, who have started a campaign to save their program … Art history courses would continue and possibly expand under the new degree programs, but there would be no specialty degree in the field of art history … McMaster’s art history BA has earned [a reputation] in the field, with grads going on to prestigious schools and programs such as those at Harvard, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
The Dean’s Numbers are wrong….here are the facts2009/2010 Art History enrollment numbers: 1) There are 66 students currently enrolled in the program, 44 full time and 22 part time. 2) 2nd year: 7 full-time students, also 6 students enrolled part-time. 3) 3rd year: 22 full-time and 12 part-time students. 4) 14 full-time and 4 part-time students.
Sure, 2nd year enrollment is low but the Dean’s comment (in The Spectator article) mentions ONLY full-time numbers in 2nd year (‘only seven students chose the specialty this year”). Talk about presenting a distorted image of the program….
To this date the Dean DR. S CROSTA has not met with her students, the AH or SOTA faculty or the Faculty at the Humanities level. She has as well eliminated
1) Combined Hons. BA Women’s Studies
2) Hons. BA Comparative Literature
3) Hons. BA Italian
4) Hons. BA Spanish
5) Hons. BA German
6) MA German
7) MA Music
**If the decision to phase out Mac Art History is approved by the Senate, McMaster University will be the FIRST NORTH AMERICAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY to reduce this discipline to a minor. SHAMEFUL
PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!
We fight not only to save our program but to STOP THE DEGRADATION OF THE HUMANITIES AT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY.
Mac Art History is a small program with a small but mighty voice. We encourage all students and alumni to make their opinions known by writing to the University Secretariat, President George, the Provost, VP Academic, the Dean of Humanities and the Director of the School of the Arts.
If you are concerned about the DEGRADATION OF THE HUMANITIES AT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY please contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Also, feel free to inform the INCOMING PRESIDENT:
Dr. Patrick Deane ([email protected])
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cc: [email protected]
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Be very clear that it is not just a matter of keeping the program open but ADDING MORE RESOURCES to the program by HIRING MORE FACULTY! This is what would be necessary to keep it going as a viable program.
An online petition you can sign, “Stop the phasing out of the McMaster University Art History Program”
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/macarthistory/
Thank You….
The CHIEF AMBASSADORS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ART HISTORY AT MCMASTER.
This Article is More accurate…
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/202955
INFORMATION on our facebook group to keep up to date with current facts and figures:
“Stop phasing out the McMaster Art History Program!”