I can’t adequately thank you all for complicating my decision. And I mean that in the best way possible - I have so much to think about now, instead of just writing him off. Oh, and the snake thing’s pretty funny.
Here’s where the MFA in Art at my school seems to differ from most other programs:
• The requirements: make artwork, take required classes, write short summaries of 5 art articles each term, write a 2,500-word thesis, write a couple papers for school-sponsored scholarships, do assistantship work, and attend the occasional meeting. That’s it - no publishing, in-depth research, internships, or anything else. Hence, why I was able to get in, LOL.
• The theory read by most artists in the academic context are the same things everyone reads at every art school. And these theories are far-reaching enough to speak to any topic. So, there really are no actual specialties, just subjects that can be attached to Baudrillard, Foucault, Kristeva, etc. This means that any professor can understand my work within an hour. I’m even working to where non-artists will be able to understand what I’m doing.
Also,
- The head goes over the thesis in-depth (this is probably where the trouble lay), as well as generally being in charge of everything.
- I don’t think the professor is evil, he just really pushes to the limit.
- I might have a very different relationship with him than most.
- Though I think having him would push me further, I honestly feel that even doing a thesis is inconsequential for me. I’m not putting myself down - MFA in Art aren’t necessary for anything except finding a teaching job. I don’t know if it’s worth the effort to even be grilled about my work.
Since I have 6 people in mind for my 3 slots, I think I might even interview him about his approach to being in a committee. I have talked to him about school politics and other things in a straightforward manner with him before, and I don’t think it would be detrimental to try this.
So much research to do! LOL