Anthropology of Aesthetics

College Majors
1

<p>I want to go to graduate school to study the anthropology of aesthetics. How aesthetics impacts our lives and why are some aesthetic textile more appealing than others. Any suggestions for grad school.</p>

2

<p>OP, I think I replied to your other post in which you asked where to do grad studies in the anthropology of aesthetics. In your present post, you provided additional information which might provide a basis to give you some more helpful suggestions.
Your area of interest is very much interdisciplinary, and you may have to craft an individualized program. I think the first consideration is to figure out just what type of graduate programs might have some focus on this interest, i.e., what is the most appropriate field of study. For your stated interest in textile aesthetics, my best guess is that you might find what you’re seeking in these areas:

  1. Cultural Anthropology.
    If you’re interested in the “anthropology of aesthetics”, you’d have to pursue that in the context of a degree program in cultural anthropology. Some departments might offer coursework in primitive art. Such coursework also might be offered in an art history dept that offered programs in African, Asian or Latin American art. If you are interested in a particular culture area, e.g., Africa, you also might consider an area studies program.
  2. Art/Design:
    You might want to consider whether coursework in textiles and textile design would be useful to you.
    Here is a list of some programs: [Textile</a> Society of America](<a href=“http://www.textilesociety.org/opportunities_education.htm]Textile”>http://www.textilesociety.org/opportunities_education.htm)
    Such programs are usually found in a School of Art or Design or in a College of Human Ecology.
  3. Your stated interest also seems to include aspects of the psychology of art. I don’t believe too many schools offer coursework in this area. Your best bet might be to check Colleges of Human Ecology.
  4. Material Culture
    Some schools offer interdisciplinary programs in material culture, which might include textiles. Often these programs are related to programs in museum studies.</p>

<p>I would suggest that you contact faculty at potential programs and explain what it is that you want to do. Here are some places I’d check:
UCLA—World Arts & Culture Department (though it’s primarily focused on performance art, they do seem to offer some relevant coursework.
North Carolina State—College of Design, and College of Textiles
U Wisconsin—Anthropology Dept; Material Culture Program; and, School of Human Ecology
Cornell U—College of Human Ecology
U Delaware—Museum Studies program
U Washington—Museology; Anthropology; School of Art</p>

<p>You also might check schools affiliated with museums that have textile collections of the type that interest you. <a href=“The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum | The George Washington University”>www.textilemuseum.org/PDFs/worldwidetextilecollections.pdf</a></p>