History of Art is cool // I need a better title

As a frequently mentioned person on this blog Kate finally annoyed me into writing another post. This is all her ideas and so you can blame her if it is boring or rubbish!

I'm the younger sister and I'm just coming to the end of my third year of University (of four) studying a joint honours in History and History of Art. Something I get asked regularly is what exactly does a History of Art degree entail, to be honest most people think it's a skive. So I thought (or Kate thought) I should write a post about my degree for anybody who wants more information as it is not a subject taught in most schools.

First of all, I think it's important to note that a course at my university is going to be a different experience from doing it at another university, this is just my experience.
Initially in my first year I only took a History of Art course to make up the credits I needed but then I kinda fell in love with it! In my first two years (sub-honours) it was a very visual based subject and all of my exams were visual - as in an image was put up on a screen and we had to write about it. Scary! It was unlike any exam I had ever done! Now it's more essay based, but I like writing essays (weird I know) so it works for me.

One of the main misconceptions people have is that you have to be artistic. You really don't! History of Art is about looking at art as part of a movement, style, period and in a historical context. To give examples of the sort of thing I study my courses this year have been 'Renaissance Painting in Venice' and 'Caravaggio and his Followers'. There's a focus on patronage, and the social and religious climate in which these works are being created...it's not just looking at pretty pictures! Interestingly during my Caravaggio course, a new painting was discovered in an attic in France which may be an original Caravaggio! The subject was one which Caravaggio is known to have done, Judith and Holofernes.

I am currently doing a fieldwork course which has consisted of visits to Edinburgh, a stay in a Country House near Aberdeen, and a 4 day visit to London. I also had to do an independent visit to Glasgow which I dragged Kate along to the other day! On these 'fieldtrips' (they are a lot more civilised that what fieldtrip make people think...Art Historians have a posh reputation and I do find that often holds true) we go to galleries and museums until your feet are aching! We look at how they are laid out and the agenda of the curator as well as looking at different art works and displays. It's not as hoity toity as people think (although we are all now experts at that art speak where you say long works that don't mean anything a.k.a. the best fun), in fact it's often about critically reviewing museums.

We also have to write Flogs (this is specific to my university), this is short for a fieldwork log. Yes, I know. History of Art are hip and cool and down with the kids. My family find this hilarious. Basically they say before each fieldtrip we have to write a critical review of an exhibition, contrast and compare two works or buildings etc. They are put up on our course website and then we can comment and discuss ideas on each others posts. Sounds scary but actually prompts interesting conversation.

So, that's a little insight into a History of Art degree. I love it and I honestly can't imagine studying anything else alongside my history courses (which I also enjoy but everyone knows what history is about, right?).

If you want to know anything else or have any questions, leave them below and I'll answer them the best I can!

Any of you guys study something similar? Do you enjoy going to art museums or do you find them boring or high brow?

Becky (the sister)  // SK x