Art historian Ann Collins Johns of the University of Texas at Austin (image used with permission)
Professor Ann Collins Johns at the University of Texas at Austin was just as peeved as many people were about President Barack Obama’s knock on art history majors. So she did what any self-assured art historian would do and wrote a letter to Obama on January 31, shortly after the President’s remarks, and sent it using the White House website. Then came the surprising part: Obama responded with a handwritten note on February 12.
Johns told Hyperallergic that she did not save her original email because she posted it via the White House website:
However, I’m pretty sure that my email was not so much one of outrage at his statement, but rather a “look at what we do well” statement. I emphasized that we challenge students to think, read, and write critically. I also stressed how inclusive our discipline is these days (even though my own specialty is medieval and Renaissance Italy).
Asked for permission to reproduce the letter, Johns wanted to make it clear that she loves Obama. “What I did NOT expect is that THE MAN HIMSELF would write me an apology. So now I’m totally guilty about wasting his time,” she wrote on her Facebook profile page.
Here is Obama’s response, written on official White House letterhead then scanned and sent to Johns by email. We’ve transcribed the text below; the White House let the professor know that the original will be mailed to her shortly.
Ann —
Let me apologize for my off-the-cuff remarks. I was making a point about the jobs market, not the value of art history. As it so happens, art history was one of my favorite subjects in high school, and it has helped me take in a great deal of joy in my life that I might otherwise have missed.
So please pass on my apology for the glib remark to the entire department, and understand that I was trying to encourage young people who may not be predisposed to a four year college experience to be open to technical training that can lead them to an honorable career.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
(letter reproduced with permission)
(letter reproduced with permission)
With reporting and contributions by Hrag Vartanian
h/t Andy Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Art History at Texas State University
Im surprised he had the decency to apologies for his remarks!
He apologized yet managed to miss the point entirely.
What was the point of her email, and where did you read it?
Sorry–not her point but “the point” being that art and art history education–and liberal arts for that matter–does have real value and can give students marketable skills, though perhaps indirectly at times. Why did he feel the need to speak positively about vocational education by denigrating the arts? Obama calls it an “off the cuff” remark in his reply but it reflects the same brand of right-wing contempt for intellectuals and the arts we’ve been dealing with since the Bush era.
Reading far far too much into this. Is every comment Obama makes worthy of this over analysis? I think his apology sincere and gracious.
I agree about “sincere and gracious.” I’m not sure we can’t therefore analyze what he said, though. And he IS the president, and he WAS talking about the direction he wants our educational system to take; so we’d better pay attention.
There is nothing sincere or gracious about the guy. He only responded to one of his sycophants out of fear of losing a couple of supporter of his populist agenda.
The point is that not everyone can be an intellectual. Someone has to learn how to weld, but few people are willing to do so: a lot of people in this country look down on manual labor and aspire for higher education. If you want to learn more, Mike Rowe has a foundation that gives scholarships to people who want to learn a trade. Check it out. http://www.mikeroweworks.com/mikes-office/giving-back/
We as a nation should value ALL labor. THAT is the point.
Yes. We agree. From the way you’ve added emphasis—”ALL labor” and “THAT is the point”—I take it you think we disagree. What makes you think I wouldn’t agree with that? Yes. We should value all kinds of labor. After reading PotUS’ statement, I see he was trying to get us to do just that. But that means we need fewer art history students and more vocational school students.
Right. Art History and other humanities are only for the elite. People who work in factories cannot possibly appreciate the arts. (Forgive me for disagreeing with that sentiment! My folks were poor but dragged us down to free family events at Chicago’s Museum of Art so we wouldn’t be robot-brained idiots.)
I get what you’re saying. I also get what keyofnight is saying. I think you’re both right. Ideally, there would be high-quality, well-respected vocational tracks for those who are so inclined. Ideally, those who find school painful and would much rather start practical work at age 16 should be able to make that choice honorably, and would not be forced to stay in school into their twenties to even have a shot at a decent income. AND, ideally, that practical choice would not shut them out from other educational pursuits. AND access to all education, including the most intellectually ambitious, would be open to all who are qualified and willing. If we could work that out, we’d have the best educational opportunity for all. But we’re far from that ideal, on all counts.
What in my comment suggested that people who work in factories “cannot possibly appreciate the arts?” I only said that not everyone should be an intellectual: that is, we shouldn’t expect everyone to go on to be an art historian, critic, curator, philosopher, etc. PotUS is trying to get more people to consider vocational school—and not just a Bachelors of Arts. Someone should learn how to weld, there’s no shame in it at all, and you’ll probably find a job faster if you do. In fact, people make a good wage welding and find it rewarding.
Also, I’m not saying that people who decide to do manual labor can’t appreciate the arts—they most certainly can and often do! All anyone is saying is that people have lots of choices for what to do for a living, but people are under the impression that going to college and earning that B.A. will be enough to get some job or another. It isn’t.
I must have been responding to your whole, “The point is that not everyone can be an intellectual” thing, which you have reiterated in your response today. It’s an elitist attitude to suggest that intellectual pursuits are only reserved for people of certain status, while people who have vocations such as welding or plumbing should be satisfied with limiting their education to a trade and that’s it. One of the smartest farmers I know has a degree in art history. He studied at the Louvre for a year and is fluent in French. His degree and his year overseas makes him a better farmer, though I would guess you can’t imagine how.
Ah…that’s where you have me mistaken: I don’t think when a person goes into a trade, they’re limiting themselves somehow. Nor do I think “intellectual pursuits are reserved for people of certain status”—where did I ever say that? I’m saying something very modest. When I say not everyone can be an intellectual, I mean that it’s not possible for every single one of us to try for the over-glorified intellectual work we are often told we can get after finishing a 4-year degree. Someone has to go weld at some point—college education or no. Yes. That farmer you know is a great example. You’re demonstrating my point—and PotUS’ point. :/ No, I’m not saying people should “limit their education.” I’m saying the opposite: we should expand our education to include vocations, stop looking down on people who do manual labor, and promote vocational school as a viable alternative to expensive liberal arts degrees.
Also, why say “I would guess you can’t imagine how…” —how snarky. How do little jabs like those help further the conversation at all? I mean, do you think that somehow you can insult me into conceding your point?
You’re the one who keeps drawing a dividing line between the word “intellectual” and people who work in trades. Do you think welding or plumbing or farming doesn’t take brain power? Or maybe not as MUCH brain power as what you would call “over-glorified intellectual work”? I’ve heard the president make the same mistake, probably because the company he keeps are all whom he would classify as “intellectual”. He probably isn’t friends with anybody who is a plumber or a welder and thus hasn’t a clue just how intellectual a person has to be to work in the trades.
Don’t get hung up on the words used. I could easily use the word “academic.” What it comes down to is this: if I study philosophy, I can learn stuff that’s applicable to farming, and I can learn from farming things that are applicable to philosophy. But: the work of a professor of philosophy will never be to plow a field, and the work of a farmer will never be to make arguments against other philosophers. The philosopher and the farmer can learn lots of stuff from one another, hell…they could end up being the same person (I know philosophers who are farmers and vice versa), but they are *different lines of work.* They’re not the same job. My point is that one is not any better than the other.
Here’s the problem. If I do become a professional philosopher, I’ll probably get more respect than a farmer does…and that’s just wrong. And if I decide I don’t want to be a philosopher, and I become a farmer instead, some people will decide that my farming isn’t as admirable as philosophy work…and that’s also wrong too.
Lots of kids deciding what they want to do with their lives decide they want to be a lawyer, doctor, professor, artist, athlete, scientist, etc. Very few decide they want to become a mechanic, carpenter, farmer, plumber. We need to change that: it would be better if we said all of us should learn to be and do as many things as possible. But…if we have limited resources (because school is expensive), we should at least know it’s a good idea to be mechanics, carpenters, and farmers. Again, not everyone ought to be a lawyer, doctor, professor, etc. There are too many people trying to be those things, and we need more mechanics, carpenters, and farmers. It doesn’t matter if the kind of farmers you have in mind think of their farming as connected to the history of art—that’s amazing if they do because it’s definitely possible or even preferable. My point has nothing to do with that, though. My point is simple: we need more people who want to be farmers and fewer people who want to be art historians. Hell, we need more art history students who are realistic: they want to study art history, but they are happy to get back to the farm after college. (I know a philosophy/math student just like that—just like you know a farmer like that.)
No need to get hung up on the word “intellectual,” here…because I don’t mean what you think I mean by it.
All I have to go on is the words you use, so that’s why it’s easy to get “hung up” on your word choices. Thank you for explaining your position more thoroughly. I do disagree that “very few” kids choose to be mechanics or carpenters or farmers or plumbers. Must be the difference in where we live and who we hang out with. I see it about equally divided between trades and the so-called “professional” fields of law, medicine, etc.
I know artists who are welders. I also know welders who are artists. Some are high school graduates, others are MFAs. Everyone has a perspective. The arts are for everyone to make, to enjoy and to discuss, regardless of your education or how you earn a living.
A college degree makes you an ‘intellectual’, really? George Washington did not have a college degree. Abraham Lincoln had only about a year of formal schooling of any kind. I could go on…
You’ve missed the point.
So says the man who majored in poli-sci and whose mother was an anthropologist…it was a cheap shot. I’m sure his wife (Sociology with African American Studies minor) gave him heck for it. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some art history majors working in the WH. We need to redouble our efforts to share how liberal arts are marketable — and this wee gaffe gives us the perfect opportunity.
But, is the value of art and art history limited to marketable skills? It sounds like you think learning more about art so you’re better able to enjoy it isn’t a valid use for the study of art.
No, not at all. I’m trying to respond directly to President Obama’s comments. The other point that the president missed is that the cost of education is so prohibitively high now that it’s taken for granted that a liberal arts education is for the leisure class, and that if you have any hope of earning a living, you’d better learn a trade. Why not talk about real ways to make post-secondary education and training more affordable for everyone instead of bashing people who find meaning in liberal studies?
Bush couldn’t spell half of those words.
not entirely, I think. I feared his response might be worse. But yes, the argument from emotion (“has brought me much solace”, that sort of thing– we used to have a college president who kept saying how helpful poetry was during his cancer treatments) is both inadequate and counterproductive.
And patronizing.
I think he hit the point on the head, and you missed it by feeling personally slighted.
How many majors of the arts do you know, who had to settle for jobs not anywhere near their intention? Cause if you know of none, I’m grateful you live in such an area.
I know of plenty of educated people who went into a dead end career. They are stuck as management in retail. Wonderfully educated people working in an unstable retail market. They are capped at advancement. They are miserable. Hindsight makes them realize they could have settled differently, walking away with a better income and freetime.
Had they gone a more diverse route, they could have had their hobby, while making more of a career. If you are not going to be happy from your work, you might as well be stable and with freedom to enjoy your leisure moments. The huge funnel of students taking “meaningless” degrees is profound. And they become jaded if they don’t have more money to throw into more education.
Why would I feel personally slighted? He didn’t direct his comment at me personally. I don’t know why so people on this thread insist upon ignoring the substance of what I said: Higher education has become prohibitively expensive. Something needs to be done. The attitude that only manual labor is noble and scholarly labor is self-indulgent hobby is a significant aspect of a long-standing fascist attack on intellectuals and artists: nothing new there at all. The idea that people who work in trades lack intellect and ambition is elitist and simply untrue. The point is: labor creates all wealth. If we want a strong society, we need a diverse and well-educated work force of engaged people. And for the record, I went to two universities and a trade school.
It’s not decency, it’s CYA. Obama doesn’t know what decency really is. His actions are purely political ALL THE TIME.
Really nice to see this, especially as an alumna of that particular school and department. The skills from my MA art history, class of 1995, have served me well. No regrets.
I think the industry term is “YOLO”
This is a great story, I’m glad you wrote about it. Props to Professor Johns for defending the arts.
“honorable career”… if you read between the lines it is as if he is really saying that he feels the study of art / art history — in addition to career related choices involving art / art history — is not honorable. By the way, I thought Obama was supposed to be a pro-art President… what happened with all the talks he had with artists during the early days of his first term? The art centers and all that jazz? I guess art is only a worthy pursuit if it supports his political ambitions. A lot of you were duped… you just can’t accept it. That is not to say that Romney would have been any better. I’m just saying… hopefully the art community — as a whole — will demand more next time before supporting a candidate in waves.
We didn’t have any option; that’s just the ugly truth of it. Unless Citizens United is overturned, we are going to continue to have to choose the less offensive of the two choices. He’s a hawk and a corporatist and I voted for him both times. Nut jobs like Ron Paul are no answer either.
Remember when I reminded you: “If voting mattered, they’d make it illegal.
“if you read between the lines it is as if he is really saying that he feels the study of art / art history — in addition to career related choices involving art / art history — is not honorable”
I think you’re mistaking “read between the lines” for “willfully misinterpret this quote to confirm my personal biases.” In no way, implicitly or explicitly, does Obama say that. Come on.
He has willfully disregarded promise after promise, true? It is kind of hard to believe anything he says at this point.
False. It depends on how brainwashed you are by propaganda whether you believe that or not.
As Cha said.
If you narrowly focus on just want to see, you’ll always see it. I’m not sure what people expect with 2 parties deadlocked and the unethical way unlimited money enters politics.
But hey, I’m sure it was one guy’s fault that an art center didn’t magically pop up in all our cities and towns. I wouldn’t say it had to do with economics or feasibility at all…. just one guy.
Brian — I think he was referring to people who don’t study art history or get a four-year degree can still have an “honorable career.”
Why not use this opportunity to explain to the wider public how studying liberal arts, including art history, is indeed worthy and “marketable?”
I graduated from a private liberal arts college. It was a great experience — and has helped me in several fields.
Brian, please read his letter again. Obama in no way juxtaposes “honorable careers” with “the arts.” He is clearly trying to elevate public opinion of the trade professions, which unfortunately are still stigmatized in this country despite being well-paid in general. Encouraging people to pursue one track does not automatically denigrate those who pursue another track.
Alyssa, encouraging people to pursue one track while taking an under-handed jab at another track is a boneheaded thing to do. Note that he is apologizing. He would not have bothered had it not been a ‘gotcha’ moment.
The the President would take 2 minutes to write this letter, amidst the constant conflagration of wars, genocides, famines, and a useless Congress, is amazing. Period.
Must. Maintain. Voter. Base.
Any politician would happily take 2 minutes of their day to pen a letter that counters a wealth of negative press
Not really. Many politicians maintain an aloof and belligerent tone.
I’m not begrudging you if you are a fan of President Obama, but do you really think that he is the first President to write a classy personal note to someone who is an obvious supporter? It never ceases to amaze me how Obama fans want to act as if the most mundane tasks were never accomplished until His Wonderfulness floated upon the wings of the angels into the White House.
Nothing about my comment implies that I think he’s the only president to do such things. I’m pointing out that those who are splitting hairs about the wording of his note need to pause and consider how amazing it is that any president would make time for such things.
You referred to his note writing as “amazing.” There is nothing amazing about it; it is quite ordinary. All Presidents write copious notes. The elder George Bush was famous for it. Again, why does everyone want to assume that Obama is so different from all of his predecessors?
You’re coming off as whiny and jealous.
And half of those are his continuations of Emperor Boy George’s programs. Y’know the Dems: Disown it, Rename it, Expand it.
If anything your president would generally come off a little intellectually superior. I think in this case he said the wrong thing trying to back up his point. It doesn’t always have to be points scoring.
I think they both miss the point.
You really need both since tech alone will not cut it since you do have to know how learn, think, act and teach therefore, you need liberal arts skills to do that well. So let’s agree that both are essential today.
They both have a point… (says the comparative religions graduate who now works at a homeless shelter.) Marketable lifeskills are invaluable.
The Borgias were great patrons of The Arts.The Nazis “collected” great art and,tragically,destroyed great art and artists.’The Man’ degrades art in general and Art Historians in particular because they don’t do enough to serve his own,and ours,Military-Industrial interests.A brief disingenuous handwritten and self-serving note does little to serve the cause of art.About as much as wheeling in poor old Robert Frost to give blessing to JFK at his inauguration.As if the Arts need the approval of any politician.Their public disparagement by demagogic politics played a large role in the success of the Reagan Revolution.Rather be ignored than play the fool in Obama’s own form of patronization.
What high school has art history???
I think that is code for he went to an elite private school.
Art history is akin to world history and is very “honorable”; he still seems to insinuate a lack of value in it even in his apology by stating he was “only trying to encourage technical training that can lead them to an honorable career.”, as if art history has no place among the definition of “honorable”, and I too, like and support President Obama, but it still seems he missed the point, but at least he attempts to apologize ? The arts, creativity, and study of history are interconnected as one thread, indispensable for progress, science, development of new solutions to world problems, the list is long in benefits. It is interrelated to the social sciences, archaeology, architecture, psychology, philosophy, politics, medicine, spirituality, and religion, need I go on? They say children involved in arts do better at math and science. It is the story of us all. Without learning history, we are most certainly doomed to repeat it. Anyway….finished with my “rant”. Dear Lord bless him with insight and understanding to truly “get it”….if he really doesn’t. ; )
Obama apologized because someone told him to. His ratings are down. They knew a hand written note would go viral. All he had to do was call her. This hand written letter is what it is. Politics and Obama. It reads like it more all about him than her and art. In every sentence he refers to himself (I, me, etc.).
When a white is attacked for being mean to a black, and the white replies that some of their best friends are black, they are crucified. Look at the 3rd sentence. That is exactly what Obama did. Mean to art, then said in defense, “art history was one of my favorite subjects”.
He called a college education an experience, tech school training a career. Seems both would be both. But the best career in the US is still a career in crime. How popular is it? Over 2 million in prisons. Ten times that many that got out and still doing crime. Millions of new ones entering that carreer daily. Even before they become teens. And don’t forget the 12 million illegal entries, and the many crimes that group commits. And they can’t do their crimes without the help of legal crooks in the US.
The best part about the note. It can be sold on Ebay and the money given to a poor felon to help get them an education so they can get off welfare and start paying child support. Obama loves felons. Now planning to sign a bill to let felons vote. Another way to get his ratings back up. To deceitfully add to the government plantation.
Sadly you’re so ignorant of President Obama’s true nature. That’s what you get when you allow yourself to be brainwashed by hate outlets.
Nobody is ignorant of his true nature. A funny likeable guy over his head. Biggest lying deceiving puppet president in my life time. Is lost without the puppeteers. If his nose grew like another puppet’s did when lying, it would bridge the Atlantic Ocean.
In 2016 Fallon should be concerned because all know that Obama will make the best Tonight host ever. It’s where he feels most comfortable. On TV, with Stars, gripping, grinning, and joking and entertaining us. And like his current gig, all will be written out for him. He just needs to read the Tonight teleprompter and do his thing. Yes, Fallon should be concerned.
I voted for Obama because like millions, was fed up with government and believed his lies about cleaning out the White House, a purple nation, being transparent, etc. Was had. Now more than ever fed up with government. But not alone. Americans have given government 10% – 15% approval for the past 3 years.
And now, as likeable and funny as he is, Obama’s ratings have dropped. So he is told to write a letter instead of making a private call to talk it over with this woman. Pure politics.
Yeah you are.. and you’re so pathetically brainwashed it must hurt your head.
We’re done.
Please refrain from name calling. We’d like to maintain a civil atmosphere in the comments.
i think you should be telling the original commenter the same thigns. his comments were IN NO WAY civil nor were they on topic. so when someone responds to the actual impact of his statements, you tone police the respondent, but no mention whatsoever to the original – highly offensive – racist- remarks of the original commenter. for shame.
Just point them out and I will ask them to stop. Moderating isn’t a full-proof thing, but I don’t troubling insinuations and blatant name calling are not the same thing.
His handwriting is gorgeous more like the writing of an artist- very very pretty. And that signature very flamboyant. Love it- looks very trained.. really love it. I bet he took a few art courses, certainly not engineering or math courses lol
An art history professor absolutely “loves Obama”? What are the odds? Next thing you know we’ll hear that some rich Hollywood flake loves Obama too.
A win, win. Score one for the Art History programs around the country (I’m a huge believer in studying the arts. Keeps us human.) and score for the President for his graceful apology.
Why is this a debate and being analyzed to death? By trying to make a point; he missed a broader point. Ms. Collins pointed it out to him and he apologized. Why go on and on about it?
Because it’s the internet.
Ha, ha. The Bush paintings were analyzed to death on this blog as well… are you really surprised by the debate Obama’s apology has spurred? Granted, it would have been nice to read what exactly she submitted.
Personally I think it was timely of Obama to make the comment in support of vocational training. For the record numbers of humanities MAs and PhDs on food stamps, clinging to the fringes of academia doing adjunct work for decades (often making less than $20,000 a year), remarks about the applicability of one’s humanities training seem laughably out of touch.
Additionally, the numerous comments made in response to POTUS that basically equate a four-year liberal arts education with like “the transferring of the cultural heritage” are classist and outdated at best. Who is the arbitrator of cultural literacy here? Did Banksy need to be schooled in art history in order to emerge as the influential street artist that he is?
My point is not to negate the value of a liberal arts education. I have a BM in music and an MA in music history myself. But having been on the non-academic job market for a few years now, I can say that my earning potential is definitely not what my colleagues who have a 4-year in business, economics, etc. is. People can tout the value of the humanities soft skills all they want (being able to critically analyze texts, understand cultural relativism, write fairly well, etc.) but the cold hard truth is that most employers would rather hire someone trained in “hard skills” (if you don’t believe me, just Google STEM fields, demand).
As a society, we should start wringing our hands less over the “culturally-illiterate” electrician and more over the PhD on food stamps.
Even welded iron can be turned into art. That’s how some of the fancy mansions get those beautiful fancy custom iron gates. As someone who studied Graphic Design at a 4.year arts institution I would say that pursuing a career in art is not for the weak. We know the challenges. My mother did not want me to study art and said I was going to be poor and hungry. I am not poor and I am not hungry and my mother did not stop me once I made my final decision and she became my biggest supporter. Those who study Art must have a plan.
Art is not just about sitting in a room painting a canvass and the artist painting those canvasses are some of the most talented and do things that amaze us. Support an Artist today….go buy one of those canvasses.
As for more trade programs in schools… I think we had these types of programs when my mother was growing up and I believe they worked (Manpower program???).
The problem I have with this whole discussion is the “either or” way of thinking that is being espoused. I went to a vocational school (radio &television repair) and later on I went to college (masters degree in Information Systems and Technology, currently working on my doctoral degree), I see nothing wrong with doing both.
Cut the president a break, he made a stupid remark, EVERYBODY at least one time in their lives makes and/or does stupid things; I mean it’s not like he totally ignored the obvious “gay cancer” AIDS crisis (Reagan) or claim “weapons of mass destruction” (Bush), I was a art histoy major/graduate and in 2010 when I graduated, the only available job for me was working part time in the front desk of a major well know museum in NYC (10 hours a week) for 9.00 an hour, it was an insult, but even in NYC if you didn’t have a connection, or attended a prestigious school or decades of artworld experience it was next to impossible to make a legit career. I appreciate ALL of the arts, but not everybody does. I felt his comment was responding to the high unemployment rate and just reminding people that the “arts” is a hard business/industry to “truly” make a decit living. Sure “artists” can claim “I make/do art, for the sake of art and NOT for money”. Who the hell wants to hold down 3 jobs working in arts, because holding 3 jobs is the only way you can sustain yourself, without “selling out to the establishment and/or man”. GROW UP, it was a stupid comment, nothing more nothing less…
leave it it art history majors to get THIS bent out of shape over ONE REMARK. learn to take a joke people, stop taking everything so personally. check your privilege. he was making a speech to factory workers who most likely could never afford to go to college in the first place. he was trying to express the value of jobs programs. this professer should be ashamed for being self-indulgent enough to waste the president’s time.