“Oh my god! Why are you taking arts?”
“But beta, you scored so well in boards. Shouldn’t you be taking up commerce or science?”
“I know you’re taking up arts because you simply want to enjoy and not study.”
Ask any Arts student and he/she will be quick to tell you that they’ve heard one or all of the above statements when they were choosing their stream in junior college. Even today, people in India believe that Arts is taken up by people who don’t wish to do anything great in life and/or are studying just for the sake of it. Who’s put this notion in everyone’s heads that Arts is a field for back-benchers and underachievers? Some even subscribe to the ideology that this stream is for women because it provides you with an easy degree as you’re not going to be working anyway. But at the end of the day this is just a nonsensical theory people have been conditioned to believe over the years.
Here’s a list of a few misconceptions about Arts as a stream and people who choose to pursue it.
Misconception #1 – It is Fine Arts
“Oh. So do you paint and draw?” NO. I don’t paint, neither do I draw. At least not because it’s in my curriculum. It is a common misconception that this stream is similar to Fine Arts. They are two completely different things. Fine Arts is applied arts which basically includes everything that’s got to do with the creative side along with the skill of one’s hands. While Arts as a stream covers a variety of subjects and career opportunities like Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Literature etc. The best way to make people understand the difference is by showing them the various subjects provided and making them understand the difference between the terms ‘Visual Arts’ and ‘Fine Arts’.
Misconception #2 – Arts is a field for women
Simply because people tend to think that Arts has no scope or it has courses that give more “work-from-home’ options, it is assumed to be a feminine course. On the contrary, Arts has a wide array of options that a lot of people aren’t aware of. It’s like discovering the 97% undiscovered part of the ocean. It is a highly misunderstood stream that’s wrongly burdened by silly misconceptions. Living in the 21st century, we very well know that no occupation is gender-restricted and that people have an open thinking when it comes to taking up any occupation. So next time someone tries to shun your spirit by saying Arts is a very feminine stream, recite the names of a few influential male personalities who have graduated from Arts because there are many. Wilhelm Wundt, the man who is considered to be the father of psychology, is just one such name. Also, several influential economists all over the world are male. In conclusion, Arts is not a women’s stream and it’s time more people realized and accepted that.
Misconception #3 – It is a stream for the laid-back
People who believe that Arts is for those who are lax and lazy have no idea how much studying is required for this field. It’s a wrong notion that Arts is a chilled-out stream because the majority of the subjects in Arts are theoretical in nature and require in-depth knowledge about the subject matter at hand. For instance, sociology students need to dissect social organizations and learn the culture, traditions, behavior and understand the root cause of common social problem that are prevalent in society before they can devise a well though out course of action.
Misconception #4 – If you’ve scored less, opt for Arts
Every profession needs skilled and talented people. So It is completely wrong to think that people who score less should opt for Arts. Firstly, your previous scores do not decide your aptitude for anything that you wish to study. Secondly, there is no official rule that people with good scores should abstain from choosing Arts. The notion that one doesn’t need to be smart to take up is Arts is not true at all. If you’re ever told to take up Science because you scored well or take Arts because you didn’t, ask them how will the monetary factors of our country get discussed (economists) or how will people suffering from mental health issues become better (psychologists) if there is nobody to help them?
Arts used to be a highly misunderstood stream but it is now emerging as the new popular field. People are understanding its importance and are gradually breaking out of the clutches of mainstream fields like Science and Commerce to pursue their passion.
Stuck with how to convince your parents to let you pursue Arts? How To Convince Your Parents To Let You Pursue Your Passion
