Was that Gervase? (No idea if you remember this but I was a year ahead of you on the course)
I really like this piece and as to your point about art history as a vehicle for posh people to talk about knowingly, I always thought it should just be considered a really deep specialisation within anthropology, rather than some sort of appreciative and subjective dilletantism. Like – that term “material culture” always made a lot more sense to me than “art” or “architecture”.
For me, anyway, art was always just a tool, a window into the minds of the people who made it, and a way to understand how they differed to us. Like that merchant who commissioned Duccio, for example.
Hi Tom, Gervase of course! I think the last time I saw you was at his retirement party. Thanks for saying, I appreciate it, and yes agree that art history is somehow too niche and obscure for BA. (Although there's another argument as to whether it should be an A Level, which I think it should.) Material culture is tempting sometimes but then it tends to flatten out the particularity of art and the specific kinds of attention we bring to it. Art history can seem elitist but it's also a way of speaking from within the tradition which I think is valuable too
I didn't do it in sixth form but I have since taught it a fair bit in sixth form. It's far from a perfect syllabus but it can spark interest in the subject and I think in general is good for maintaining it as an possibility.
It clung on due to a campaign. I think they debated it in parliament. It remains largely the preserve of private schools though. I taught it at a Harris Academy and it's likely to be axed if they can't get some extra funding from somewhere. You don't happen to know any arts philanthropists do you?
Bleh, I wish. I just finished reading All That Glitters, the Inigo Philbrick book – with so much cash in the art world, you'd think someone might want to turn their thoughts (and chequebook) to it...
Was that Gervase? (No idea if you remember this but I was a year ahead of you on the course)
I really like this piece and as to your point about art history as a vehicle for posh people to talk about knowingly, I always thought it should just be considered a really deep specialisation within anthropology, rather than some sort of appreciative and subjective dilletantism. Like – that term “material culture” always made a lot more sense to me than “art” or “architecture”.
For me, anyway, art was always just a tool, a window into the minds of the people who made it, and a way to understand how they differed to us. Like that merchant who commissioned Duccio, for example.
Hi Tom, Gervase of course! I think the last time I saw you was at his retirement party. Thanks for saying, I appreciate it, and yes agree that art history is somehow too niche and obscure for BA. (Although there's another argument as to whether it should be an A Level, which I think it should.) Material culture is tempting sometimes but then it tends to flatten out the particularity of art and the specific kinds of attention we bring to it. Art history can seem elitist but it's also a way of speaking from within the tradition which I think is valuable too
Oh good! Yeah, I never know how much to assume online, but then I suppose I am literally posting under my own full name here!
Definitely agree it should be an A-level. Did you do it in sixth form, out of interest?
I didn't do it in sixth form but I have since taught it a fair bit in sixth form. It's far from a perfect syllabus but it can spark interest in the subject and I think in general is good for maintaining it as an possibility.
They were gonna cut it at one point, right? What happened with that in the end?
It clung on due to a campaign. I think they debated it in parliament. It remains largely the preserve of private schools though. I taught it at a Harris Academy and it's likely to be axed if they can't get some extra funding from somewhere. You don't happen to know any arts philanthropists do you?
Bleh, I wish. I just finished reading All That Glitters, the Inigo Philbrick book – with so much cash in the art world, you'd think someone might want to turn their thoughts (and chequebook) to it...