Course General Description

If literacy means the ability to read and write, then Visual and Critical Studies teaches cultural literacy. And that involves the ability to “read”—to understand and interpret art, philosophy and visual thinking of the past and present; and to “write”—to make art. The Visual and Critical Studies department at the School of Visual Arts is a cutting-edge program where students can immerse themselves in both of these projects. This is because we believe that intellectual curiosity and the drive to make art are not mutually exclusive; rather, they enhance and invigorate one another, and in the process give our students an edge in the competitive postgraduate arenas where an academic and practical facility with visual media is crucial. It’s a simple concept, really: our curriculum is designed for students who want a broad exposure to the studio arts while they simultaneously investigate the historical, cultural and theoretical movements that give those arts shape, dimension and power. We offer a wide range of our own foundation courses, giving students the flexibility to experiment and explore the different mediums in which they can channel their voices. These studio courses include drawing, photography, sculpture, graphic design and digital video. We integrate those studio courses with a rigorous academic curriculum that tackles everything from Aristotle and Shakespeare to Bloom, Lacan and Derrida. Who’s teaching this innovative curriculum? A faculty of Fulbright and Getty scholars, NEA grant winners, painters, writers, filmmakers, historians, philosophers, photographers and graphic designers—all of whom embody that confluence of creativity and intellect that electrifies and defines New York City.

School General Description

Welcome to New York City, SVA’s hometown, and the leader of today’s creative economy, with more than 14,000 creative businesses and nonprofits. According to the EY Global Talent in Global Cities 2015 study, New York attracts more creative talent than any other city in the world because it “enjoys a unique cultural scene, embedded in a cosmopolitan and forward-thinking urban environment.” There is no better place to study, practice and work as a creative professional. Critique is a vital and challenging part of the educational experience in a college of art and design. Participating in this practice requires students to be open and vulnerable while they present their work for discussion and questioning, and to trust the transformative powers of the process in service of the work. Through the frequent repetition of this act of openness, students and faculty share and strengthen their humanity, empathy and kinship and their work evolves.