Reply to Why emphasize arts, theatre, etc when looking at colleges?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP: it’s not that I’m advocating vocational training. I get the value of learning how to read, write, think critically, problem solve. And I see the fringe benefit of art stuff as a fun and healthy activity. But where the arts oriented people lose me is when they choose one school over another based on the arts programming as opposed to variables that may have a more significant long term impact. Like choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes. It just seems that these things are nice to have but for $320k maybe they don’t matter that much and you should be focused on other factors? [/quote]

You know, I wanted to believe that you asked the original question out of real curiosity and desire to learn about other people. People replied and explained, and your response is to double down and explain why you’re right and they’re wrong.

Seriously, no one is trying to convince you to value the arts as part of a college experience. No one cares whether you value it. Why do you care that others value it? Are you just desperate for something to judge other people about? Good lord.[/quote]
The tell is the idea that people are "choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes."  [/quote]

OP: I’m obviously demonstrating a bit of proletarian disdain for the arts here, but I guess from a practical point of view, when I read things like my DS really wants a strong theatre program or something like that, I’m just thinking to myself - come on- high school is over, a man has to focus on making a living now. I totally appreciate that people have hobbies and interests but, I don’t know, you gotta focus on getting from A to B. That’s just my mindset. Thinking about the quality of art offerings feels frivolous but look, it’s not my wheelhouse. And btw I collect art and appreciate art. I guess I am just focused more on my kids being well positioned to get ultimately good jobs out of this whole college thing and be on a strong career trajectory. [b]I’ve seen people get distracted by their passions and then have nothing to show for it [/b][b][/quote]

I've seen a lot more people feeling empty in "good jobs" but with no outside passions.  Or retirees who don't know what to do with themselves because they only work and have no passion or even mild interests.  Developing meaningful hobbies and communities around those hobbies are important to life and college is a key place to do it because life gets busier and more fragmented afterwards.  I don't think you do it at the expense of building a career (in arts or otherwise), but if you have something that gives you joy  that's really one of life's most precious gifts and it deserves cultivating and investing in.  A meaningful interest does get sustained unless you invest in it.  If there isn't a community for your interest at your school it will be hard to sustain.  I have a   kid who did his art form intensively in high school, but  went to a top academic school in a marketable area and he's not had a chance to make art in college at all---the art classes are reserved for majors and there are no open studios.  On vacations he feels rusty at it and lacking inspiration and it's sort of withering.  He seems less happy and less creative without it--I hope he finds a way to bring it back in his life.  In retrospect, I wish we looked into the opportunities for artistic practice for non-majors when looking at schools. [/quote]

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