Major shaming: Impacting Fine Arts students

Students who decide to major in fine arts have expressed their exasperation regarding the stigma their chosen majors.

Gracie Willis, USC Aiken freshman, posted in the student life Facebook page, “Can we learn to stop shaming Fine Arts majors in 2020?”

The fine arts are split into seven groups: architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, performing, and film.

Kayla Hutto, a sophomore, mentioned “I always love a good joke, and I’ll honestly make comments about me never getting a job in the future because I picked a useless major. It really just hits me differently when other people judge us for doing what we love.”

Hutto expressed her understanding for those who would shame fine arts majors, saying, “I think people judge us for making careers of it because it doesn’t seem completely practical.”

Samantha Magoya, senior with a graphic design focus, stated that she wasn’t familiar with the Facebook post, but stated that she has experienced backlash for her choice to pursue fine arts.

She said that she was familiar with people calling it the “easy major.”

She argued against this sentiment, stating, “Fine arts can be hard. It’s a lot of work that you have to put into it” and that she doesn’t appreciate the shaming.

Magoya continued, stating she thinks that the people who are actively shaming Fine Arts majors “know nothing about the degree or anyone who’s part of it.”

Marie Tormala, junior, wasn’t familiar with the shaming of her major, “I don't think I've heard anyone make fun of any kind of fine arts major.”

She understands that it may be harder to find a job for fine arts majors, but “For theater, they have one of the largest conventions [called] the SETC convention where there are over 300 theaters hiring. I do it because I love it, I’m not there to make money.”

Despite the hit-or-miss backlash that some fine arts majors face, they all have similar advice for people who may be interested in pursuing fine arts: go for it.