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Why are creative degrees less respected?

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I think the amount of "respect" that gets attributed to a degree isn't really based on what the actual content of the degree is. It's very difficult to say that one subject is objectively "better" than another, in most cases. Rather, respect and prestige are awarded based on how competitive it is to get onto that degree, and the standards of talent that an admissions tutor for that subject is going to require. If a certain subject only has tends to have entry standards of BCC, and a different subject has standards of A*A*A, naturally people will be more impressed when you tell them that you successfully got a place on the latter degree course, regardless of what the actual subjects are. Some degrees are only accessible to amazing students - and that's ultimately what you're being respected for.

Science subjects tend to carry more weight in the jobs market, especially when looking at the higher paid jobs, and so it makes them quite attractive to students who are capable of getting onto them. (Though there are exceptions - a Law degree is probably going to be more "respected" than a Food Sciences degree). Places on the corresponding degrees become more competitive, and the entry standards go up, and they're more respected as a result.

Of course there are attractive, competitive and lucrative professions in the Arts as well. You'd have to be outstanding to bring out a best-selling Music album for example, and would probably be awarded a lot of prestige for successfully achieving this. But this doesn't confer the same respect onto a Music degree, because a degree is not necessary to excel in this career. Neither Michael Jackson nor Mozart had university degrees in Music. This means that degree places aren't quite so competitive, neither are they as prestigious, because a person wouldn't need to be as outstanding in their field to successfully get a place on it and complete it.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Plantagenet Crown
Of course you're allowed to have your opinion, but the way you have posted about science and it not requiring talent has been as if it's a universal fact, which it isn't.

In any case, what is wrong with accepting that both mathematical and artistic disciplines require talent?


I didn't mean to post like it was fact - I actually agree that to be a good scientist talent is important. I was just saying that in my opinion talent isn't AS important in those fields as it is in others. Talent is important - if you want to be great at anything, you do need to have talent. But it's more important in some fields than others.

Original post by Juichiro
It does not matter whether or not they have a talent in an artsy area. If they don't like painting/writing, the presence or absence of talent is irrelevant.


Yeah, that's an excellent point. If someone doesn't like something then they can have all the talent in the world and it won't matter. But it's still important that these subjects are on offer in our schools, for those people who do like them.

Original post by Juichiro
Do physicists only earn 30k a year? :eek:

About the bolded bit: when was the last time you opened a science textbook?


It's the average I think. http://www.payscale.com/salaries/0d13c436/Physicist-UK-Salary

I know, a lot of textbooks aren't the clearest. But my point was simply that IF textbooks were written better, maths or physics COULD be taught from them, whereas art and writing and such cannot be taught through a book. But the textbook would have to contain sufficient information, obviously, which the majority of textbooks nowadays do not.


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Original post by Book_Lover_23
I didn't mean to post like it was fact - I actually agree that to be a good scientist talent is important. I was just saying that in my opinion talent isn't AS important in those fields as it is in others. Talent is important - if you want to be great at anything, you do need to have talent. But it's more important in some fields than others.



Yeah, that's an excellent point. If someone doesn't like something then they can have all the talent in the world and it won't matter. But it's still important that these subjects are on offer in our schools, for those people who do like them.



It's the average I think. http://www.payscale.com/salaries/0d13c436/Physicist-UK-Salary

I know, a lot of textbooks aren't the clearest. But my point was simply that IF textbooks were written better, maths or physics COULD be taught from them, whereas art and writing and such cannot be taught through a book. But the textbook would have to contain sufficient information, obviously, which the majority of textbooks nowadays do not.


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Good point. :]
Reply 143
Original post by Book_Lover_23
I know, a lot of textbooks aren't the clearest. But my point was simply that IF textbooks were written better, maths or physics COULD be taught from them, whereas art and writing and such cannot be taught through a book. But the textbook would have to contain sufficient information, obviously, which the majority of textbooks nowadays do not.


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I taught myself to draw from a book, though.
Original post by Occams Chainsaw
I taught myself to draw from a book, though.


Really? Well I guess I was wrong then :smile: how did you manage that?


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Reply 145
Original post by Book_Lover_23
Really? Well I guess I was wrong then :smile: how did you manage that?


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I guess you could argue that I maybe had a natural aptitude but, of course, there's that for every subject :dontknow:

My grandmother is an art lecturer and she gave me a book when I was young. It was basic art theory. Angles to hold the pencil/brush at etc.
I tended to think about it quite mathematically back then by trying to get the geometry right etc so there was no real emotion in it. When my technique got better I found it easier to find the expression for myself.
Original post by Occams Chainsaw
I guess you could argue that I maybe had a natural aptitude but, of course, there's that for every subject :dontknow:

My grandmother is an art lecturer and she gave me a book when I was young. It was basic art theory. Angles to hold the pencil/brush at etc.
I tended to think about it quite mathematically back then by trying to get the geometry right etc so there was no real emotion in it. When my technique got better I found it easier to find the expression for myself.


Fair enough, yeah. That's pretty cool. I've always wished I could draw, I had plenty of books as a child but all I learned was how to draw a manga face, and I can't even draw that particularly well. I guess that's why I believe you need to have natural talent when it comes to art in order to be even slightly decent at it.


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Reply 147
Original post by Book_Lover_23
Fair enough, yeah. That's pretty cool. I've always wished I could draw, I had plenty of books as a child but all I learned was how to draw a manga face, and I can't even draw that particularly well. I guess that's why I believe you need to have natural talent when it comes to art in order to be even slightly decent at it.


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I spent weeks drawing certain shapes :tongue: I'd draw circles for hours until I got them perfect and lines until I was satisfied with how straight they are. I am quite obsessive so I'm not sure if it was all natural talent :tongue:
Original post by Occams Chainsaw
I spent weeks drawing certain shapes :tongue: I'd draw circles for hours until I got them perfect and lines until I was satisfied with how straight they are. I am quite obsessive so I'm not sure if it was all natural talent :tongue:


Oft. I've done that myself to an extent, but only so that I can draw decent diagrams without needing a ruler or circular object. Definitely wouldn't do it for pleasure. You're clearly very dedicated :tongue:


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Reply 149
Original post by Book_Lover_23
Oft. I've done that myself to an extent, but only so that I can draw decent diagrams without needing a ruler or circular object. Definitely wouldn't do it for pleasure. You're clearly very dedicated :tongue:


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Dedicated? It's compulsive. I don't want to do it! :lol:
Original post by Occams Chainsaw
Dedicated? It's compulsive. I don't want to do it! :lol:


Ah, you're a bit of a perfectionist then? That must be fun for you... :tongue:


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Reply 151
Original post by Book_Lover_23
Ah, you're a bit of a perfectionist then? That must be fun for you... :tongue:


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Nope.Not usually. Usually I'm lazy. I find something to obsess over and do it!
Original post by Occams Chainsaw
Nope.Not usually. Usually I'm lazy. I find something to obsess over and do it!


Cos that's normal! :tongue: I don't do obsession myself. Maybe I've just never found anything that's interested me enough to obsess over though :smile:


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On contribution to human progression:

One (imperfect) way to think about it to ask the question 'what would happen if subject X was to go back to our knowledge of it in the Yth century? How much worse off would our society be?'

So for example let's take X to be physics and music, and Y to be 17. Would you rather give up all the music developed since the 17th century, or all the physics?

Personally I think music going back to its 17th century state might even benefit society :wink:
Reply 154
LOL at people saying studying science will help progress mankind. As if everyone that goes into science at university is making a huge impact to our world.
Original post by Juichiro
:facepalm:

Are you serious?


Unfortunately yes.

It is very difficult for people to make the imaginative leap to put themselves in another's shoes without some emotional help for the arts.

This is one of the most important things the arts do - they widen the experience of their audience, readers etc. in a way purely factual information cannot. This allows us to understand other people's lives.

(This is why everyone should have access to the arts in all its forms. Why the restriction of schooling to measurable subjects or only to those leading to employment, is dangerous. The arts make us better citizens.The ancient Greeks understood this.)
Original post by Xscape
LOL at people saying studying science will help progress mankind. As if everyone that goes into science at university is making a huge impact to our world.

LOL at people saying the arts provide entertainment for us. As if everyone that studies arts at university is going to make a huge impact to the entertainment industry.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 157
Original post by Felix Felicis
LOL at people saying the arts provide entertainment for us. As if everyone that studies arts at university is going to make a huge impact to the entertainment industry.


My point wasn't belief in the opposite that "everyone who studies art at university is going to make it in the entertainment industry" however people on here say people should do science since it progresses mankind. Which is simply not true they're are plenty of people who have studied science at university and have done no such thing. Also, if someone has the money why shouldn't they pursue a career in what they wish?
Original post by Xscape
LOL at people saying studying science will help progress mankind. As if everyone that goes into science at university is making a huge impact to our world.


Not everyone is going to impact the world, period. You might study a science degree, then go into accounting perhaps, or instantly die of botulism. Many things can happen.

But fewer people studying science means less progress of technology. More people studying science means more progress of technology; this could be in the form of space travel, new ways to communicate, new ways to produce food on a wider scale, 3-D printing and i-phones and i-pads, whatever.
Reply 159
Original post by Raiden10

But fewer people studying science means less progress of technology. More people studying science means more progress of technology; this could be in the form of space travel, new ways to communicate, new ways to produce food on a wider scale, 3-D printing and i-phones and i-pads, whatever.

I disagree. The guys involved in these great progressions in technology etc are genuinely interested in their subject. I doubt they would chose an art degree over a science and thus it doesn't really matter if everybody else doesn't apply :smile:

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