Chatting for a Change: BFAs and General Education Courses

Rachel Levi

For The Clock

rlevi@plymouth.edu

To complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Plymouth State, it generally takes four years. As a third-year student, ceramics major Marina Rodriguez is approaching her Junior Review. This involves presenting a thesis to an array of PSU professors who ultimately decide if she makes it into the BFA program or not. While she advances toward this pivotal time in her college career, she is faced with a slight dilemma: a lack of time due to General Education courses.

“When you do a BFA, you have to present a thesis. You have to narrow down a theme or idea that you’re going to focus your work around,” said Rodriguez. Her own thesis is focused on botany and decaying, natural organic forms.

When involved in a studio class geared toward her major, Rodriguez said she is generally required to spend five to 20 hours outside of class. “When you take at least one studio class a semester, it’s easier to come back into the studio, because you constantly have to spend outside time working in the studio,” she said.

This semester Rodriguez isn’t taking any studio classes, which has proved to be more difficult then she originally planned. In past semesters, Rodriguez hassometimestaken three studio classes at once.

“When you have constant tasks you can build ideas, but on your own it’s harder to find inspiration,” she said.

She said that being surrounded by other students who are faced with similar tasks, and are also taking them on differently, helps her grow as an artist.

“If you work by yourself, only you can critique your work. So being in courses and having to keep building with other students in the art department helps me keep inspired. It’s hard to push yourself without somebody there pushing you to keep creating.” Although she manages to juggle studio time with her GenEd courses, Rodriguez said she feels the strain of losing required studio hours.

“GenEds are more time consuming, and they mentally drain you.You do so much critical thinking that by the time I get here, I am drained.”

She said that developing work for her thesis involves “way less papers, but more physical production of work.”

Ultimately, Rodriguez said she feels confident in her work, but she’s not immune to the extra stress.

“I need so badly to focus upon creating in the studio. GenEds simply suck the life out of me.”

COURTESY PHOTO/ANDRE SANTOS