Art isn’t fine nor liberal

Aneeshka Vyas | Contributor

Featured image: Liberal and fine arts offer university students more than material wealth. | Sophia Goshulak

When one thinks of the arts, images of beautiful dancers, elaborately designed stages and magnificent paintings come to mind because we are exposed to several forms of art throughout our lives.

Yet in many cultures and nations, an arts education tends to be considered a luxury. Students starting their university education are encouraged to choose the sciences or businesses, regardless of how passionate they may be about the arts. Many governments cut funding for liberal and find arts degrees, feeling as though only the wealthy benefit from an arts education.

This sentiment echoes true for biology student Aasman Gill.

“If you are from a family with a good financial background, it is more feasible to consider a career in arts since you have some financial support even when the going gets rough.” Gill gave up her pursuit of a dancing career to study professional healthcare.

Indeed, it is difficult to find opportunities as a professional dancer, with many resorting to other sources of income or returning back to school once they’ve passed their prime. For careers in the theatrical arts, prospects can be dismal too. It takes some time to start earning a solid income. Many in the creative fields are encouraged to start with unpaid volunteering positions before landing a paid gig.

Some, like theatre student Brian Le, are torn between pursuing their passions and being able to work in their chosen field after graduation.

“What I feel about my arts education is a mix of apprehension and liberation,” says Le. “Liberation in the sense that I am pursuing what I want to do and love, but a bit apprehensive in that it is a pretty tough field to directly pursue without straying off to a subsidiary plan, like law school, teaching, or business.”

In spite of there being uncertainty surrounding arts as a career, a lot of students are going for it and loving the process.

An arts education allows students to better express themselves and apply that ability outside of an arts degree, says Christina Zisko, a liberal arts student. Even so, Zisko worries that her liberal arts degree may not have as much market value as a math or science degree.

“Everyone has different talents and I know I would not be as happy with my education if I was sitting in math classes all day long—it’s just not where my passion is,” says Zisko.

As Zisko hints, the arts allow students to develop more than just their technical skills. It provides students with a unique perspective on life.

Professor B.W. Powe, a writer, poet and associate professor in York’s English department, stresses the imaginative potential of the arts.

“We desperately need new ideas. The arts degree prepares the ground for students to make their dreams articulate. It takes a lot to come up with a new idea, and the arts degree can be the necessary prelude to learning how to envision or dream well.”

Instead of just feeding students facts that they regurgitate for exams, the arts cultivate a fresher understanding and develop a broader perspective of the world. The right hemisphere of the brain is activated when playing musical instruments, dancing or making art, in turn helping students develop intuition, imagination, emotional intelligence and communication skills. These skills are quite useful for personal health and growth and are part of soft skills that can easily translate into other fields.

All fields of study have their pros and cons. There is no guarantee of financial success in any field so students might as well study what they enjoy. Professor Powe beautifully summarizes the importance and vitality of the arts: “It teaches us the hardest and simplest lesson: be different.”