Fine arts ambiguous on campus
In 1983, psychologist Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory broke the barriers of modern thinking and practice in education. While many people today form the common misconception that only those people who flourish in mathematics and sciences are intelligent, Gardner’s theory argued otherwise. His seven categories proved that there is more than one type of intelligence that applies to right-brained people of the world as well. After all, who could deny that such artists as Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn or Louis Armstrong were geniuses?
Why is it then that our society, including our Marquette community, still seems to put art culture on the back burner?
According to College of Communication junior Matthew Wickey, a theatre major concentrating on performing arts and co-president of the Marquette University Players, the major doesn’t matter — you get out of it what you put into it.
“As long as someone has an interest in an art form, they should be able to express themselves by any means possible,” Wickey said.
The theatre arts major at Marquette includes specific disciplines in performance, directing, design/technical and recommended courses in dance, art and history depending on interests. With such close proximity to Milwaukee’s theatre district, Marquette’s theatre students find opportunities to involve themselves professionally. Marquette also offers the Marquette University Players, an organization completely run, directed, written and produced by students. MUPS, as well as the Studio 13 Refugees improv comedy group, serve as ways for the otherwise uninvolved to get involved in the theatre scene.
“MUPS allows you to do virtually anything you want to do, even if you’ve never been involved in theatre before,” Wickey said. “I only wish it could be seen on a grander scale.”
He said that theatre doesn’t have to be considered a dying art form. “This is a struggle for the entire department,” he said.
On the other hand, the perseverance of students can only go so far without enough support. For students interested in pursuing the fine arts, including studio art or art history, Marquette offers minors. Additionally, the university’s art program is limited — only a select number of classes are available on campus. All other classes are taken at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, the only college within the state that is dedicated exclusively to the education of artists and designers.
While the MIAD program enables art students to expand their studies beyond Marquette, transportation can be a hassle.
Gina Crovetti, a junior in College of Arts & Sciences majoring in psychology with a minor in fine arts said, “It does take out much of your day because my MIAD class itself is about three hours long, and then there’s travel time, so you have to prepare in advance and really plan other MU classes well.”
Though most art classes are only offered through the MIAD program, Marquette does provide art outlets on campus. Art Club is responsible for various projects and displays in the Alumni Memorial Union and the Haggerty Museum of Art on campus, as well as member-specific interest projects and “Fine Arts Night.” But the Haggerty seems to be the only outside source for direct involvement in and exposure to fine arts.
“I think (the museum) is underrated, and it’s sad that so many people either don’t know what Haggerty is, where it is or ever want to go there,” Crovetti said. “The art culture here is just not apparent. MU is on the verge of having an exploding art scene, I feel. So many people are wanting it, it just needs to be pushed over the edge to come alive.”
Marquette’s music program also offers limited opportunities, with the music minor just stepping into the lime light a couple of years ago.
Marquette allows non-music minor students to practice and perform in vocal or instrumental groups as an extra-curricular activity for zero credits while music minors are required to participate in at least four semesters of these approved ensembles to be taken for one credit, according to the Marquette University Web site. These groups include symphonic band, wind ensemble, pep band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, men’s and women’s chorus, mixed chorus, vocal jazz, gospel choir and several a cappella groups.
Of these, College of Arts & Sciences sophomore music minor Elizabeth Heinrich is involved in eight.
“I’m still disappointed that there’s no music major available,” she said. Heinrich expressed remorse for the lack of student enthusiasm not only for music but also for the arts in general.
“Of the 11,000 students here, will our band concerts ever get the kind of attendance as a basketball game?” she said. “It’s something I’ll always hope for.”
Marquette’s limited programs may be partially at fault for the lack of enthusiasm for art culture throughout the student body. However, in the end it is just as much the individual artists’ responsibility to reach their own goals with self-motivation and determination. Either way you look at it, the arts need support. Look at a painting, watch a skit or enjoy an orchestra performance. According to Garner’s theory of multiple intelligence, it might be good for you.
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