BuddingScholar

You bring up some interesting points here regarding layout, space, crowd (logistics), etc at d'Orsay. If you don't mind, I would like to take the topic a bit further towards the idea of "museum experience" in a more broader sense. At the expense of sounding elitist, and perhaps even conceited, I wonder if you [all] feel the same way I do about "mainstream" museums and tourists in general. Both as an artist and art historian, I find extremely annoying that a large amount of people go to museums for the "sightseeing," picture-taking, been-there-done-that-bragging-rights sort of reasons. Unfortunately, most don't even know why they are there, or even care to be there, much less have any interest in the art on the wall [or ground, ceilings, etc]. On top of that, and perhaps even because of it, these people have little to no respect to the works on display. Last year, for example, I saw a lady sticking her hand on a Cezanne at d'Orsay, and another one stepping onto the Nike of Samothrace in the Louvre to take a photograph. After a while, I noticed that I stopping enjoying the artworks, and began watching people to make sure no one would do anything stupid like that again. This kind of experience has kept me [to the extent possible] away from these places. By now, I have lost count of the numerous times I went to Paris and did not get anywhere near the Louvre, or was in NYC and did not visit the MET. Another side of me, however, is happy to see people going to Museums, even if not for the right reasons. I guess I am hoping that some of these people will have a transformative experience, become genuinelly intrigued by what they see, and ultimately fall in love with the visual arts; at least enough to learn about it. Although I "generally" agree with the idea of democratizatizing art, and certainly understand the need for these institutions (museums) to stay afloat financially, I wonder if access to these places should be somehow mediated, let's say, by a docent. Deep inside I know this is not the solution, but I must confess that I struggle to reconcile my desire to see more people accessing the arts with my "more selfish" tendency to limit access to those who are there for the right reasons. But again, what are the right reasons? Does anyone feel the same way about it?

Let the drums roll!!!

I get the feeling that we will start to hear from Princeton in a week or two the most. Just a feeling!

This is absolutely PRICELESS!

Sure thing, @runaway! I will keep you posted.

Thank you so much, apotheosis!

Background: my partner is a successful [veeery highly educated] medical doctor and I am only now finishing my undergrad. "There is no question that you will be accepted by at least four schools, but I have the feeling that you will get in your top choice program," my partner says constantly. I want to shoot myself everytime I hear that. I keep wondering how I am going to break the news, when I am rejected across the board, that I am an utter failure and not smart like him.

Sorry, abilap, I just now saw your message. I have a website and everytime someone checks it, I know where the visitor was (citywise) when s/he accessed it, among other things. I have had my website for over 3 years now, and I don't think I have ever had anyone from Princeton, New Haven, Durham, Cambridge, etc visiting it before, let alone spending more than two minutes there. If nothing else, at least I know that some of them are taking the time to review my app, in some cases actually, I can tell which ones are not spending even 4 seconds on my website (Michigan, for example).

I saw the Manet exhibition at d'Orsay in 2011 and it was amazing. I am looking forward to seeing Felix Thiollier's photographs next week. But above all, I am super excited that I will be able to catch "The Angel of the Odd. Dark Romanticism from Goya to Max Ernst," which opens two days before I come home. Though I prefer to spend a few days on something like that, one day is better than nothing, right? Well... I guess I will be able to get a copy of the exhibition catalogue at least. By the way, I am leaving to Paris in seven days and will be there for a little over a month... I hope that by the time I come back we will all have gotten some great news!!

Great idea! On my way to Krispy Kreme now. Anybody?

Anyone interested in discussing the recondite of art historical thought? I know it sounds random, but I am trying to find something to do other than obsessing over results.

I must confess that as soon as I noticed your profile name a mix of apprehension and reservation took over me. Do you realize that you are using the "name" of an important scholar in our field, Dr. Hal Foster at Princeton? Interestingly enough, it seems as though your area of interest also coincides with his, which might explain why you chose this alias in the first place. However, if that's the case, I wonder why you are not applying to Princeton then. Anyway, I have read all his books and love his work too.

I am so sorry to hear, Sogni. Hang in there... It ain't over until is over! Best of luck with the remaining schools.

Sooorry! I know I am such a party pooper... I hate that too. Suuuuuper congratulations on your acceptance!!!!

NEED YOUR ADVICE... Back in November I got in touch with one of my POIs. After several email correspondences, the person told me that he/she was advising his/her student to consider working on something that "very much" overlaps with what I am doing for my honors thesis project. Anyway, I will soon be leaving to France to finalize my research and was wondering if it would be okay if I contacted my POI to ask if I could get in touch with his/her student. I know he/she hasn't started her work on the subject yet, and I think I may be able to offer some help since I will be working with the primary sources for over a month. What do you guys think? I know for a fact that the professors have started looking at applications already, and I didn't want to be inconvenient or pushy.

I know that one person is having her air ticket and lodging paid for both the Symposium and the CAA meeting in NY. I have to believe that this person is a shoo-in. I don't know if that's the rule though.

I hope you're right... That would be a sogni! Though I wonder why they would spend money on people they are unsure about, and not invite the ones that they feel more strongly about. Anyway, this is me being a pessimist. Sorry, cannot help it. I loved to read what you wrote though. Hope dies last, right? Thanks...

Thank you much everyone!

If we have not been invited to the DUKE Graduate Student Symposium like some did, should we count ourselves out? I keep telling myself that from tomorrow on I will stop worrying about the results, will no longer check this website, nor worry about emails, etc, etc, etc. This has been going on for several days now. I hope I don't have to go through this again... in fact, I hope that all of us will never have to deal with this again.

Do you guys know any American scholars whose focus is Brazilian art? I know of Dr. Small at Princeton... any other names? Thank you!

Wow... you have a wonderful resume. I bet you will be accepted by most schools, if not all of them. Best of luck!

Did you communicate with your POI before applying to DUKE? BTW, congratulations!!!!

I am constantly wondering what are the credentials of other art history Ph.D. hopefuls. So I thought it would be interesting for us to share/learn about each other background, qualifications, goals, etc. SCHOOL: MAJOR/MINORS: GPA (Overall/Major): GRE: TOEFL/IELTS (If applicable): DIVERSITY (minority, if applicable): AREAS OF INTEREST: HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: PRESENTATIONS: PUBLICATIONS: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: LANGUAGE(S) READ: SCHOOLS (APPLIED TO): _____________________________________________________________________ I guess I will start the thread... SCHOOL: Small state school (not particularly known) - part of school honors MAJOR/MINORS: BA Art History w/minors in French & Photography (summa cum laude) GPA (Overall/Major): 3.97/4.0 GRE: 159V/153Q/2.5AW TOEFL/IELTS (If applicable): n/a DIVERSITY (minority, if applicable): Latino, gay, non-traditional, and first generation college graduate AREAS OF INTEREST: Modern and contemporary art, particularly the history of European photography between the two Wars. To a lesser extent, art theory and criticism. HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS/AWARDS: as art historian: . 1 state sponsored fellowship . 1 school research grant . Full tuition + stipend + study abroad (honors program) . 3 Research Awards (including a regional award for honors students only) . Nominated "Student of the Year," National Collegiate Honors Council (did not win) as a photographer: . 3 national fellowships . Several national and international awards (I mean over 15 awards) . Selected among the Top 100 New Superstars of Southern Art by Oxford American . Talent award from my school PRESENTATIONS: as art historian: . 1 regional conference . 2 state wide conferences . 1 national (coming up in November) . 1 poster presentation as a photographer: . Artist talks in Europe (France and Englan), US (several venues) and China PUBLICATIONS: as art historian: . Published a couple of times on a regional art journal (not anything particularly known) as a photographer: . Several exhibition catalogues . Several national magazines . Book coming up in 2014 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: . Professional photographer (self-employed) --> work exhibited and included in important public collections worldwide . Art director of a student run literary and art magazine . Museum docent . Curated one art exhibition locally (currently working on a larger project) . Stockbroker LANGUAGE(S) READ: Advanced: Portuguese, English, Spanish and French Basic: Italian and latin SCHOOLS (APPLIED TO): Princeton/Yale/Harvard/NYU/Columbia/CUNY/Duke/UMich/UC Berkeley

Same here... I feel I don't have any time to waste; I am not getting any younger either. The very thought of not getting in anywhere frightens me profoundly.

I am probably one of the few nutjobs who has a website. That's right... a website! So now I follow [obsessively] my website analytics to figure out where the hits come from and how long they are spending there. I can report that Princeton and Yale have started looking at applications.