From: ken Watson (watsok@frii.com)
Date: 08/29/00-06:22:37 AM Z
Jeffery,
Good reply. I believe in Jefferson's day a person was to make his fortune
early in life and retire to research or the arts. With land and trade for
the taking this was possible. Today colleges appear to be degree monopolies
with employers buying into the concept. It seems to me that they are also
"The academic full employment" programs. After the freshman year of survey
programs it should be the students choice of what classes to take and not
have their interests fractured across multi disciplinary programs because of
graduation requirements. They way things are today it seems every school in
the University forces one to participate in keeping their people employed.
Does anyone disagree that today, with a few exceptions, it is more important
to have a degree vs having specific knowledge, from an employers point of
view? Any degree with experience seems to be the desired resume
..-----Original Message-----
..From: Jeffrey D. Mathias [mailto:jeffrey.d.mathias@worldnet.att.net]
..Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2000 6:31 AM
..To: alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
..Subject: Re: Thoughts on MFA program
..
..
..YAPAR@aol.com wrote:
..>
..> To all who are now in, or thinking of ever being in an MFA program.
..> >From Ivan Olsen, MFA, Pratt Institute ,(Brooklyn) NYC , 1996.
..> Been there done that, so now what?
..>...
..> An MFA does NOT help you by itself make you any money.
..> ...
..
..What ever happened to the concept of Thomas Jefferson where one would
..attend a university to learn or to teach for the pleasure of it and not
..the economics of it.
..
..And although Ivan's reccomendation is good (if only in part), what about
..the practice and effort that must be expended to master any art
..process. This only comes after some level of personal dedication.
..
..And what is this becoming an Artist. Does one who takes a multitude of
..courses in mathematics suddenly become a mathematician. Does one who
..takes a multitude of courses in gym suddenly become an olympian. So why
..should it be that one who has an MFA is an artist; indeed it is not.
..Perhaps the most meaningful degrees are those granted as honorary.
..
..The university can be a wonderful setting to meet, interact with, learn
..from, and teach others; it can be.
..
..--
..Jeffrey D. Mathias
..http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/
..
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