If you are a U.S. based art lover and want to continue your studies in that direction, read on. This article will highlight art colleges in America you can apply to in 2022.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Harvard University is considered the number one school for learning art in all of America. This school has more than 20 departments under Arts and Humanities. As a result, students that enroll get to learn:

• Artwork;
• Religion;
• Philosophy;
• Literature, etc.

Many people choose to study art at Harvard because the students of this school acquire excellent critical thinking abilities. Hence, if they eventually select to study other majors, they possess invaluable knowledge, which is useful in life.

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Established in the 1800s, the Rhode Island School of Design is one of the best colleges in America. Located in Providence, this school operates as a nonprofit. It has a global student population of over 2,000. Just like Harvard University, the college offers students over 20 art majors. In addition, students may participate in continuous courses of different types while studying at this school.

YALE UNIVERSITY

You cannot speak about art studies and not talk about Yale University. This college is among the top three colleges offering an art degree. In their School of Art, students can learn graphic design, painting, filmmaking, and much more. If admitted, a learner will gain a comprehension of art through theory and history. Likewise, a learner can partake in visual courses, which include printmaking, sculpture, and photography. However, you can only gain admission into the art program by passing an evaluation by the university’s artwork school. A student must excel in basic drawing and visual thinking to be considered qualified.

RICE UNIVERSITY

To enroll in an art major, you will have to study at Rice University’s Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts. The popularity of the courses offered by this faculty attracts students from departments of engineering, history, science, and much more. These learners take such courses to broaden their thinking and gain perspective.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Stanford University offers interdisciplinary degree programs from the Department of Art and Art History. As such, students can enroll in numerous programs, which include:

• Artwork practice
• Art history
• Film and media studies
• Video and documentary film

Most of these courses are created to teach students about media, images, and the historical development relating to these fields. Additionally, students’ visual analysis capacity, perception, and admiration for art are developed through the effective use of screening rooms and studios.

BROWN UNIVERSITY

Brown University has a functional Department of Visual Art. It has an excellent reputation for having quality instructors and professors. Similarly, this department works closely with its alumni to further improve their skills. Likewise, students are exposed to historical and contemporary aspects of the course.

Learners who pass through Brown learn about self-discovery, skill-building, and more. These attributes are acquired through courses like video making, sculpture, printmaking, painting, and drawing. In addition, students enrolled at Brown University have the chance to attend classes at the Rhode Island School of Design.

CONCLUSION

Students who wish to learn art can apply and enroll in any of the top American universities and colleges. Each school has a different approach and unique flavor, so you will definitely find something that speaks to you. Likewise, learners have access to a variety of majors and minors to choose from, so they can choose something they are passionate about. The universities discussed in this article fall under the top 10 art schools throughout the country, so any art lover can make the right choice.

About the Author: As a writer, Barbara Fielder’s primary focus is student relations and higher education. She often contributes to Grab My Essay and other student aid platforms. Likewise, Barbara helps educators who are looking to improve their relationships with their learners.

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Of course, while working on creative projects, students experiment with a variety of ideas, reflecting the world around us. However, when it comes to reflecting a culture different from ours, it is very important to be especially sensitive. Techniques, symbols, colors, and cultural contexts must be used very carefully.

What is Cultural Appropriation?

What is the definition of cultural appropriation? What’s wrong with cultural appropriation? If you have never worked with this context before, you should delve deeper and educate yourself because it is one of today’s hottest topics. Besides, it is necessary to ensure that students understand the concepts of cultural appropriation.

So, what is it? It is when members of one culture adopt or use the elements of the other culture. Unfortunately, this often presents controversy when representatives of the dominant culture use the cultural values of a minority group, violating intellectual property rights and illegally appropriating art forms.

This leads to the fact that cultural elements lose their original meaning, or their meaning is distorted. This means that in the art classroom, it is important that the original culture is not disrespected. Taking inspiration from elements of another culture, you cannot reduce contexts that have a deep meaning to exotic entertainment. It can be very challenging because you need to consider thoughts, words, and context all the time. Nevertheless, as awareness is raised, cultural appropriation can be avoided.

Forms of Cultural Appropriation to Avoid

As educators, it is not always easy to find the balance between appropriation and appreciation. Here are some forms of cultural appropriation art that you should avoid in an art — or any educational — setting:

Don’t use a whole culture or some cultural elements and décor

For example, you might find an art classroom decorated with arrows, zigzag patterns, and other elements that belong to the culture of the Native American tribes. However, there are many tribes with different forms of art and customs, and you can’t reduce them all to a common denominator for the sake of decorating a classroom.

Don’t use cultural dress as costumes

Whether it is Thanksgiving Day, Halloween, or another holiday or party, teach students to avoid dressing up as a specific nationality or culture. The bottom line is that it usually turns into a stereotype that doesn’t help promote true understanding. Japanese kimonos or Mexican sombreros are not costumes, and you are not respectful if you treat them as such.

Don’t ignore the significance of cultural elements when creating art inspired by them

When you are attempting an art or craft project, be sure that any elements used are used in an authentic manner, not a reduction of culture into just a couple of aspects. Be careful not to promote hurtful or inaccurate stereotypes—both the intent and the impact matter. Helping students truly learn about a culture and celebrate it is an amazing addition to any project,

Consider your phrases

We are happy to know that modern society doesn’t accept many racist or culturally appropriative sayings. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect, and there are many phrases that still might be used in a classroom setting. For example, have you ever called your class a tribe? It is not a tribe, and it is a group. And you can’t say that something is your spirit animal unless you are part of the Native American community. Incorporating all these aspects in the classroom engages students so they can share the knowledge with their friends and avoid different forms of cultural appropriation.

Tips That Will Help You to Avoid Cultural Appropriation in the Art Classroom

Start by leading your lessons with questions to ask why people are drawn to specific cultural elements. If you think they are creating appropriation artwork, teach them to connect with the richer contexts the elements carry, dive deeper, understand the culture, and respect it.

Use these questions as a starting point:

• Why are these colors important to you?
• What function does your artwork have?
• What is your connection with these symbols?
• Can you say that your choices reflect the meaning you wanted to share?
• Does cultural significance influence your choices?

Before you start this conversation, it is also necessary to ask yourself:

• What cultural features do I want my students to learn about?
• Why do I choose these topics? Is it for my personal purposes? Do I think that it is necessary to educate students about some art elements that belong to other cultures?
• Do I know the traditions, events, people, and history presented in this topic?
• Have I discussed my study plan with other teachers?
• In what ways can I avoid cultural appropriation and treat other traditions with due respect?

Practical Case: Create an African Mask without Cultural Appropriation

Creating African masks is not a project just for fun. Make it a learning experience, ask students to research different African tribes, materials they used to create masks, and techniques. Find out how the masks were used. When making the masks, use the same materials and create unique designs. Maybe students write essays about their thoughts and reflections while using those materials.

Practical Case: Outfits for a Thanksgiving Day

When students recreate Native American clothing from colored paper to celebrate Thanksgiving, there are several negative consequences. In the first place, it erases the religious and cultural significance of these elements and misrepresents the history of the indigenous people. This does not mean that you need to avoid this holiday, but simply shift the focus. For example, teach students about what happened to Native Americans and create art that celebrates how indigenous people were involved in the  very first Thanksgiving.

About the author: Beryl Carington was born in California, the USA. She is keen on art visits a lot of exhibitions and lectures every year. Now she is working as a writer in writemyessay. Beryl is interested in films and enjoys traveling.

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