Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 43) SPONSORED BY www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK ARTS AND HUMANITIES 43 SCHOOL OF ARTS design, but I realised that I wanted to study historical and theoretical aspects rather than practical ones. I applied and was accepted by two other courses on art theory at other colleges, but I decided to study this course on design history. I really liked the fact that the course was taught by two great institutions. This is actually one of the best things about the course because students can get the advantages and experience offered by both institutions.’ Talking about this relationship, Glenn is FROM ROCKS TO POP very enthusiastic. ‘It’s essentially a marriage Students on the MA between a wild and quickly moving art school course can study one and a huge and culturally rich museum. It’s of two periods: the ideal in many ways. You have a combination of Renaissance (1450contemporary practice at the college and 1650) or the Modern historic collections at the museum (which are (1650 to the present). themselves kaleidoscopic in their scale and This throws up a practically unlimited frame of variety). We’re not a museum studies course, reference, as Glenn notes. ‘Students can and do but we probably use the museum as a teaching study any object in the V&A - which covers a tool to an extent almost unknown elsewhere.’ lot of ground - or even objects out in the public realm and other collections.’ Recent THE ART BEAT students have looked at items as diverse as Youngshin has certainly ceramic floors from the Renaissance, 17th found the exposure to century fireworks, 18th century dressing tables, the collection useful. 19th century piers, early comic books, and She is now working as contemporary war museums. a reporter in London One of the key strengths of the course is the for the Korean Vogue wealth of material on offer. Youngshin Park website. ‘I write articles and take pictures about studied Graphic Design at the Seoul National what’s going on in London. I’ve always wanted University in South Korea. ‘At first, I had been to do something like this and luckily, when I thinking about continuing to study graphic decided that I was coming to London to study, V&A. He explains the links between the history of design, art history and other disciplines. ‘One of the most distinctive things about the history of design is its interdisciplinarity. In the sense that design involves aesthetics and form, the history of design draws from art history. But equally, design has a grounding in economics, politics, and even geography. And so we have students with a background in all these.’ they were looking for someone. The course helps a lot to write the articles since I write about fashion, design and art in London - all things covered by the course.’ Still, writing is just one of the things that Youngshin is considering going on to do. ‘There are many things that I would like to do after finishing the course among them, curating at a gallery or museum and writing for the magazine or journal.’ And the course should teach her a number of important skills that will help her professionally. As Glenn explains, ‘The most important skills learned are an ability to read objects for information and insights, research skills; in archives, libraries, and collections, and writing skills; organising arguments and writing creative and persuasive prose.’ According to the RCA, over 90% of graduates from the course eventually find work in a related field whether that is further study, museums, or design practice itself. ‘Less obviously, they may go into other creative industries (interior decoration, for example) or publishing,’ Glenn notes. But for Youngshin one of the most important things about the course has not been the professional skills, but the sheer enjoyment of the subject. ‘The most important thing for me and also the most interesting - has been learning how to read objects. After learning this, nothing around you can ever be meaningless.’ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK
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