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Art history skills are life skills. They make us better people, more discerning, acute, open, caring—valuing differences in cultural outlook, opinion and taste.

In describing “academics of the right sort” Mrs. Eddy mentions, “Observation, invention, study, and original thought” (S&H 195:19-20). These terms mean different things within each academic discipline. For art history, unique aesthetic, intellectual, and emotional skills develop through visual analysis and historical investigation. Here are some of the ways.

Observation: visual awareness; acuity; sensitivity of eye, heart and mind; discernment, vision.

Mrs. Eddy and Mrs. Morgan speak of “dissecting” thought (S&H 462:21, EAP, p. 231, Policy #12). This careful probing is what visual analysis is about. It takes apart the image systematically, sees how each element in the language of form “speaks” visually—how the image means, as well as what it means.

Invention: spontaneity; creative response to the work of art; confronting each image directly, vigorously.

Students of art history are not like the engineer who produces first-time “objects” of invention. They do need to view art with fresh eyes, and not become a prisoner of “history”—of accumulated critical opinion within the profession.

Study: concentrated attention over extended periods; careful, precise, intuitive judging of images and words; understanding vs. mere memorization of facts

Art history requires the student to “listen” intently to each work of art, to hear what the work is saying. This ability to focus visually and mentally, and an intuitive aesthetic sense, is highly “transferable.” They are valuable in any walk of life, but especially for Christian Science study, where intent listening and spiritual intuitiveness are essential.

Original thought: critical skills; probing deeply for causes, patterns, motivation; distinguishing fact from opinion.

We encourage you to see and think for yourself—to draw your own conclusions—, rather than accept “expert” opinion passively. We face the issue of “how do we know”—evidence, proof, starting from scratch with nothing but raw data. Scholarship is detective work. It’s demands creativity and real effort. We try to convey the spirit and method of this happy pursuit.

Policy #6 speaks of “The ability to gather and weigh evidence and to form conclusions that are free from personal influence or selfish consideration.”

We help you tell the difference between objective/factual/descriptive language and what is personal or interpretive opinion.