itscontents

Anyone have advice: Do you think you have better chances of getting a teaching gig post masters if you have an MA before a MFA or should I get my MFA and then get an MA if I want to teach theory, after my masters not just studio art?

I visited both RCA and Goldsmiths last spring. It depends what you are going for. If you are wanting to focus on performance, RCA has a very small performance department compared to a larger sculpture/print department. That being said, I think there are many opportunities for the students in that program because it is so small, as they often have people coming in and workshops but the school is quite segragated so the performance MFA students have a smaller space. Goldsmiths seems a bit disorganized but has a good reputation and I'm sure many of them are also in performance and faculty there are too, so either would be good. RCA is costly if you're not UK.

I am considering schools to apply to for my MFA application for 2015 or 2016. Which schools are renowned for a theory heavy program, possibly leading to a phD, but not necessarily. I want to be in a school that emphasizes critical studies, reading and writing, and would even consider doing an MA in theory that allows for an artistic practice within and throughout the program. I am interested in programs that offer a writing/making approach as I am strongly interested in both writing/reading as well as performance. I have found Goldsmiths to have a program similar to this (MA Phil/Phd) and am wondering what other options are out there as some of you may have suggestions. I would like a program where reading is analyzed precisely, and there is in-depth analysis of texts, where the writing of myself and my peers is really challenged and pushed, rather than skimming over texts and getting broad understandings to haphazardly connect to work. Of course I'm sure many MFA programs will have a lot of reading assigned and it will be up to me to make that a priority, but I also want to be in an environment where others are able to deconstruct and pinpoint theoretical concepts. Many thanks in advance for suggestions.