This cup of joe is for you jobless art-history majors

USA Today (via Yahoo) ^ | 06/11/03 | Craig Wilson

[Drew68]

This cup of joe is for you jobless art-history majors

Wed Jun 11, 7:50 AM ET

Craig Wilson, USA TODAY

Years ago -- I don't need to say how many -- when I was a freshman in college, the first week on campus was filled with seminars and lectures and orientation meetings.

Upperclassmen set up tables on Syracuse's quad and dispensed the kind of knowledge only upperclassmen can dispense.

I remember chatting with one senior who proudly announced, ''I'm an anthro major myself.''

Maybe I didn't react fast enough, or act impressed enough, because she was quick with the follow-up.

''Anthropology?'' she asked as if introducing me to a brand-new world. ''Like Margaret Mead?''

''But doesn't Margaret Mead have the only job there is in anthropology?'' I naively asked.

She didn't like my question very much and didn't respond, turning instead to another freshman who had just strolled up to her table.

I often wonder whatever happened to her. What does happen to anthro majors? Or philosophy majors? Or art history majors, for that matter?

I came from a practical family. My parents were happy to send me to college, but they expected me to be employed in the end. A crazy notion, I know, but they were farmers, used to planting things in the spring and then getting a harvest in the fall. Even I thought it a fair exchange.

Kierkegaard and Caravaggio were all very well and good, but my dad had never heard of either, and he was damn well sure they weren't going to be very good references when the time came to hand over my résumé at a job interview.

I read the other day that this is the worst job market for recent college graduates in 40 years. The market for summer jobs is even worse, because the jobs usually taken by high school kids are now being taken by college grads who can't find jobs in, or out, of their fields.

So what's an art history major to do these days? Other than Prince William, an art history major with a somewhat secure job in sight, most everyone else will have to scramble.

The good news about a bad economy is that you have better-educated people working in the service industry. The bad news about a bad economy is that you have better-educated people working in the service industry.

I mean, do we need the woman at Home Depot telling us we're making a big mistake choosing the Ionic column over the Doric for the front porch?

There's a new radio commercial for Bud Light that salutes those out there working in the trenches, pursuing what seems to be the increasingly elusive American dream. The ad campaign is called Real Men of Genius, and it celebrates the common man, each with his own mini-bio, ending up with the not-too-surprising conclusion that we all need a cold beer at the end of a hard day.

The commercials celebrate everyone from the Mr. Wedding Band Guitar Player to Mr. Nudist Colony Activity Coordinator to Mr. Supermarket Free Sample Guy. All fictional, presumably.

Among the Real Men of Genius is Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer. And yes, you guessed it: He holds a degree in art history. A master's, in fact.

My dad would not have thought this fiction at all.

[technochick99]

Piano rolls-- you know, player pianos! Pianos that play by themselves (made popular in western saloons). Believe it or not, they're still manufactured today!

I grew up with one. I've been told the ones from the 1920s and 30s sound better than the ones made today. If you have any good sites to point me to, please freepmail me!

[Drew68]

Piano rolls-- you know, player pianos! Pianos that play by themselves (made popular in western saloons). Believe it or not, they're still manufactured today!

No kidding? Seriously? Wow! Learn something new on FR every day. I'd have thought those went the way of washboards, moxie soda and gaslight.

[Richard Kimball]

When I was an Art major, many moons ago, my Art History teacher explained something to me about liberal arts colleges. They were originally started in Europe, not to teach people how to make a living (that was for the masses), but to teach the children of upper crust how to act like the upper crust. In other words, it was to create class distinctions.

You don't major in Art History to get a job in Art History, except for the few museum jobs and teaching jobs. There is approximately 100 times the supply as there is demand for an Art history major.

[Chemist_Geek]

I have plenty of time and money to drink beer play sand volleyball with a new round of 'hotties'.

Money, sure, but where does one get the time?

[conservativeinbflo.]

ha ha!! QRS Piano Rolls. The only major piano roll factory left in the world! And yours truly (begrudgingly!) gives tours of our factory to all those interested, on a daily basis!

[colorado tanker]

What do you do with a History major? Well, according to my Professor of Military Science, it's perfect preparation for a career in Armor Branch.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Sat/Sunday afternoons. Hey, I work for the Air Force. Those guys don't work on weekends or when it is all cloudy.

[sine_nomine]

Is college supposed to be a vocational school? A liberal arts education should emphasize that knowledge is valuable itself. Given the attitude of this essay, we should not ask future physicians or dentists to learn Western Civilization, philosophy, religion, or English. They should just learn the practical skills of human plumbing, heating, and ventilation. Every degree should lead to a related job?

[Jonah Hex]

OUCH!!!

;-)

[Chemist_Geek]

We caused so much trouble that he ran out of the room and got the prof. The prof ended up appologizing and getting us a new TA. It was pretty ugly.

Back when I was in grad school, there were a few times I had to ride to the rescue of a foreign-born TA... That irritated my advisor to no end, because, of course, I was supposed to be working!

[SoDak]

After intensivve research during my first semester, I chose Business, because it seemed one of the least likely majors to get in the way of my drinking. I was right.

[Drew68]

Well, according to my Professor of Military Science, it's perfect preparation for a career in Armor Branch.

At 34, I don't think the Army will take me. 34 year-old privates don't take orders very well.

Honestly, one of my biggest regrets in life was not serving in the military. I really wish I had done that right out of highschool.

[IYAS9YAS]

I knew a guy with a PhD in philosophy who worked for $7.50/hour as a warehouse/receiver worker.

[Cogadh na Sith]

A liberal arts education should emphasize that knowledge is valuable itself.

Which is a lot easier to get once you have a real job. The Euro-peon patron and class system is dead.

I work full time as an engineer and I play the bagpipe and study Scottish history. Wanna bet I now know not only more engineering, but more Scottish history than someone with a masters in history?

[conservativeinbflo.]

Well, as they say: PhD = Piled higher and deeper!

[Drew68]

After intensivve research during my first semester, I chose Business, because it seemed one of the least likely majors to get in the way of my drinking. I was right.

I started college a few months shy of my 21st b-day and spent the first two years majoring in freshman-level courses. College was the best 6 1/2 years of my life!

And I let nothing interfere with my drinking! (hence the 6 1/2 years!)

[IYAS9YAS]

That include plane ticket and lunch?

[Cogadh na Sith]

I think I drink more now than I ever did in college...

[Billthedrill]

We got so P*ssed off at our chemistry TA, Hong Ma, that we rioted in the classroom...

LOL! Yeah, I had a calculus TA like that - for years afterward I pronounced it "parabora" and "hyperbora" and giggled. Thing is, though, once you cut through the accent she was one heckuva math teacher. She had to be to beat it into my cranium...

[dmz]

is that Brixton thing a Clash reference? too lazy to go to amazon.com and look at the track listing of London Calling...

anyway, philosophy major (1980 grad) here and effen proud of it. You are right, we do it because we love it. No different from you in that regard. Now I never had any pretensions that I was going to get a job in which I would directly use my major (i looked, no jobs for inexperienced philosophers providing the pay and benefits I was looking for).

I currently manage a technology training department in a 7 billion dollar organization. I daresay my problem solving abilities are far better than most of the people with whom I work.

some of the folks I knew who majored in trade oriented stuff (like computer engineering) ended up with multiple DUIs, drug habits that killed them...some of those history majors are entrepeneurs, spinning the wheels of capitalism...

perhaps it's not the major but what you do with it?