Murakami

Murakami's work seems to implicate the viewer in the art/commerce system. Whether it is a critique on the commercial aspects of the artworld or not is irrelevant- we become part of the circle, complete interactive art. The point of this article that stuck out to me was the name of his Louis Vuitton bag- "Neverfull". It speaks to the desire associated with art and retail. We are "never full"- always wanting more, better, faster...

© Murakami or © LV

I start to notice one Japanese artist Yashitomo Nara by notebooks and T-shirts which are sold in one famous book store in Taiwan. Then I looked for the artist’s books and knew more about him and his works, a little girl with sharp expression in her eyes. It is a clever commercial tactic that the girl figure is not combined with any expensive brands. People can pay 30-50US dollars to have one T-shirts. The artist attracted more viewers by this kind of commercial trade and made his art more popular. Comparing to Takashi Murakami’s works, Yashitomo Nara’s little girl is pretty much “kawai,” at least to me. Facing to Murakami's“neverfull bag” which is decorated by the classic sign of LV, it only pushes me far away from his art, although I really appreciate the title of the bag. Maybe this collaboration actually wants to attract people who have more interest in LV instead of ART.

Artist with Ph.D

Artists with M.F.A. can be interested in any fileds of theory and technique then go to pursue their Ph.D in school. The function of any program of school is offering an environment,like as intensive courses, a group of folks and a little financial support to keep your living. Schools are always the best instant way to acquir so-called "knowledge" and lable your identity.

Murakami

Part of me wants to be upset with Murakami's treatment of art as something so commercial, something of a large business enterprise. On the other hand, I feel as though we all want success on a large scale, at least LARGER scale. Murakami has found a way to critique society's standards (whether it involves an investigation of high and low, elite and popular, etc.) all while appealing to the very society which he is critiquing. I'm not sure I would enjoy being so completely immersed in the capitalist system like Murakami has been. But in all honesty, I wouldn't mind the income involved with his success. I guess it is a matter of what is more important to you as an artist, making a name for yourself or making work that you know you can live with. "Mid-career soul-searching" caught my eye when reading this article. It seems to imply that Murakami may not be satisfied/happy with all the work he has completed, as if he finds some form of conflict with it on a personal level.

PhD

PhD program based on theory-great idea, as long is it studio and research based. Thru the M.F.A program- you exploring your ideas, you are focused on yourself, what is good, but in the same time- two or three years, are not enough for some of us. Sometimes feels like you just scratched the surface. Then PhD is for you. For some of us it is all about: changes and exchanges informations- which you can get from even from traveling and collecting the experiences. I think I could believe that this can have the same equivalent as PhD program. I also realize that I still have to write a CV, and still somebody going to based on that.
Well, I hope that PhD “dedication” to aca-deme, not necessary means using the students to do research for somebody who is on PhD “path” (often in Poland), I want to believe that this ”dedication” rather means: actively working and finding an answer, or making statements in the field that is interested on. Actively in theory/and studio.

I am wondering if PhD program which is focused only on criticism/aesthetics- theory, would not be the same for students who graduated in art history? Some people might say that this is “their field”. Well, they are instructed “to make arguments not pronouncements”. Sometimes artists works the other way around, isn’t it? Maybe is like Barnet Newman says:” Aesthetics( so criticism) is for artist what ornithology for birds”?????????

Art PhD's

I actually have no problem with the studio PhD. While I do not think it should replace the MFA as a required degree for teaching on a college level, I see no reason why an artist should have to just end with an MFA. I know many people who have gone on after their MFA's to get PhD's in theory, philosophy, criticism and English. The thinking that everyone should get an MFA and be done with it, it limits the cross-discipline relationships that have become so important in contemporary art. As a student, I would not want a professor who stayed in the studio for six years straight and then came out to teach me. I want them to be well versed in technique, theory, writing, public speaking and have well-defined careers. I think on a broader scale- this is not just a question of whether or not artists should have to get PhD's, but also whether or not the MFA is seen as the beginning of a career or an artists "leveling out" point. The great thing about a PhD program is that it keeps the person active in a field for longer than just two years- I often question if this is enough time to really learn anything.
Being an artist is not like being an accountant. No one piece of paper is going to get you to the next level, that next pay raise. We really are on our own to personally make the decision to expand our knowledge base, gain further skills, get the shows and write the grants. So the question of the MFA versus PhD comes down to how much you want to grow. If that is what it takes to get the same respect as the sciences then i say fine, but it should be an option open to those who want it.

Art PHD

I think that the idea of a PHD in studio art is a administrative idea and used to help standardize and level out the degrees of the professor to better administrate to them. The MFA is a degree that allows the professor to work and continue with there artwork giving them valuable insight into the working of the art scene. In a PHD the artiest is doing more theory and criticism, and is driven away from the studio and the progression the there work receives in a focused study into there area.