I used to tell people that I didn’t have a personality until I found theater
a personality until I found theater
a personality until I found theater I think that’s truer than I had known up
I think that’s truer than I had known up
I think that’s truer than I had known up through middle school I was disengaged
through middle school I was disengaged
through middle school I was disengaged from everything I got good grades yeah
from everything I got good grades yeah
from everything I got good grades yeah but that didn’t fulfill me I was pretty
but that didn’t fulfill me I was pretty
but that didn’t fulfill me I was pretty apathetic about everything and if 9th
apathetic about everything and if 9th
apathetic about everything and if 9th grade though I discovered theater and
grade though I discovered theater and
grade though I discovered theater and that was a game changer Theater gave me
that was a game changer Theater gave me
that was a game changer Theater gave me confidence lifting my head for my books
confidence lifting my head for my books
confidence lifting my head for my books to connect with the world around me
to connect with the world around me
to connect with the world around me through it I learned responsibility
through it I learned responsibility
through it I learned responsibility my role is pushing me to succeed because
my role is pushing me to succeed because
my role is pushing me to succeed because I was supporting not only myself but an
I was supporting not only myself but an
I was supporting not only myself but an entire ensemble pipet I grew
entire ensemble pipet I grew
entire ensemble pipet I grew compassionate the theater communities
compassionate the theater communities
compassionate the theater communities embrace thawing within me a sensitivity
embrace thawing within me a sensitivity
embrace thawing within me a sensitivity that I’ve been frozen by years of
that I’ve been frozen by years of
that I’ve been frozen by years of feeling as though I did not belong most
feeling as though I did not belong most
feeling as though I did not belong most important of all though theater burned
important of all though theater burned
important of all though theater burned away my apathy and I became completely
away my apathy and I became completely
away my apathy and I became completely different I was stronger and more
different I was stronger and more
different I was stronger and more capable I was looking to the future and
capable I was looking to the future and
capable I was looking to the future and taking initiative I was making my own
taking initiative I was making my own
taking initiative I was making my own choices and seeing them through all this
choices and seeing them through all this
choices and seeing them through all this after just two years immersed in theater
after just two years immersed in theater
after just two years immersed in theater in high school and as I began to think
in high school and as I began to think
in high school and as I began to think about College I couldn’t shake the
about College I couldn’t shake the
about College I couldn’t shake the thought of what form or I might do for
thought of what form or I might do for
thought of what form or I might do for me so I made the bunch I decided I was
me so I made the bunch I decided I was
me so I made the bunch I decided I was going to major in theater I went online
going to major in theater I went online
going to major in theater I went online to research schools I checked out books
to research schools I checked out books
to research schools I checked out books about acting I rehearsed monologues
about acting I rehearsed monologues
about acting I rehearsed monologues again and again I reached out to the
again and again I reached out to the
again and again I reached out to the people in my life to tell them about my
people in my life to tell them about my
people in my life to tell them about my wonderful decision and they said Wow kid
wonderful decision and they said Wow kid
wonderful decision and they said Wow kid your life is over
declaring a theater major was an uphill
declaring a theater major was an uphill battle for me because of what I’ve
battle for me because of what I’ve
battle for me because of what I’ve dubbed the notion of the starving artist
dubbed the notion of the starving artist
dubbed the notion of the starving artist this is the line of thought in our
this is the line of thought in our
this is the line of thought in our culture that says the arts degrees are
culture that says the arts degrees are
culture that says the arts degrees are impractical they’re fluff
impractical they’re fluff
impractical they’re fluff they don’t pay well there are no jobs
they don’t pay well there are no jobs
they don’t pay well there are no jobs they’re easy anyone can get one so they
they’re easy anyone can get one so they
they’re easy anyone can get one so they don’t mean much you’ll live in a shack
don’t mean much you’ll live in a shack
don’t mean much you’ll live in a shack or your parents is basement or be
or your parents is basement or be
or your parents is basement or be homeless anything you can do with one
homeless anything you can do with one
homeless anything you can do with one you can do without one minus all the
you can do without one minus all the
you can do without one minus all the cost
cost
cost time in debt the notion of the starving
time in debt the notion of the starving
time in debt the notion of the starving artist says all these things and because
artist says all these things and because
artist says all these things and because of it many people discouraged me from
of it many people discouraged me from
of it many people discouraged me from pursuing theatre regardless of the
pursuing theatre regardless of the
pursuing theatre regardless of the changes theatre had brought about me in
changes theatre had brought about me in
changes theatre had brought about me in high school the overall message I
high school the overall message I
high school the overall message I received was that for me a young middle
received was that for me a young middle
received was that for me a young middle class student with a promising GPA what
class student with a promising GPA what
class student with a promising GPA what a major in the arts I’d have to be nuts
a major in the arts I’d have to be nuts
a major in the arts I’d have to be nuts I almost gave in to that pressure but
I almost gave in to that pressure but
I almost gave in to that pressure but now I’m so glad I didn’t because I’ve
now I’m so glad I didn’t because I’ve
now I’m so glad I didn’t because I’ve learned since then that much of
learned since then that much of
learned since then that much of everyone’s fears about the arts my own
everyone’s fears about the arts my own
everyone’s fears about the arts my own included or misguided our conventional
included or misguided our conventional
included or misguided our conventional wisdom about the Arts is wrong rooted in
wisdom about the Arts is wrong rooted in
wisdom about the Arts is wrong rooted in meth not fact myth number one arts
meth not fact myth number one arts
meth not fact myth number one arts graduates are impoverished their degrees
graduates are impoverished their degrees
graduates are impoverished their degrees carry little weight in the real world so
carry little weight in the real world so
carry little weight in the real world so they end up struggling almost everywhere
they end up struggling almost everywhere
they end up struggling almost everywhere you look you’ll find that the numbers
you look you’ll find that the numbers
you look you’ll find that the numbers don’t line up with this for instance one
don’t line up with this for instance one
don’t line up with this for instance one study out of Georgetown University shows
study out of Georgetown University shows
study out of Georgetown University shows that the average income of an arts
that the average income of an arts
that the average income of an arts graduate the median income is about
graduate the median income is about
graduate the median income is about thirty thousand dollars out of college
thirty thousand dollars out of college
thirty thousand dollars out of college rising to forty eight thousand with
rising to forty eight thousand with
rising to forty eight thousand with experience this is comparable to the
experience this is comparable to the
experience this is comparable to the incomes of many other majors such as the
incomes of many other majors such as the
incomes of many other majors such as the liberal arts education in agriculture
liberal arts education in agriculture
liberal arts education in agriculture and natural resources granted the study
and natural resources granted the study
and natural resources granted the study also shows the after graduate education
also shows the after graduate education
also shows the after graduate education most other fields do outpace the arts
most other fields do outpace the arts
most other fields do outpace the arts but this doesn’t change the fact that
but this doesn’t change the fact that
but this doesn’t change the fact that arts graduates have respectable earnings
arts graduates have respectable earnings
arts graduates have respectable earnings they’re not scraping by their degrees
they’re not scraping by their degrees
they’re not scraping by their degrees proved to be valuable investments myth
proved to be valuable investments myth
proved to be valuable investments myth number two there are no opportunities
number two there are no opportunities
number two there are no opportunities for artistic work your average arts
for artistic work your average arts
for artistic work your average arts graduate ends up bartending or waiting
graduate ends up bartending or waiting
graduate ends up bartending or waiting tables for the rest of their life
tables for the rest of their life
tables for the rest of their life because the skills you learn with an
because the skills you learn with an
because the skills you learn with an arts degree don’t help you much in the
arts degree don’t help you much in the
arts degree don’t help you much in the job market data from the strategic
job market data from the strategic
job market data from the strategic National Arts alumni project does away
National Arts alumni project does away
National Arts alumni project does away with that myth affiliated with Indiana
with that myth affiliated with Indiana
with that myth affiliated with Indiana University the project administers
University the project administers
University the project administers surveys to arts graduates across the
surveys to arts graduates across the
surveys to arts graduates across the country in one of its findings is that
country in one of its findings is that
country in one of its findings is that almost two-thirds of employed recent
almost two-thirds of employed recent
almost two-thirds of employed recent arts graduates say that their jobs are
arts graduates say that their jobs are
arts graduates say that their jobs are relevant to the education
relevant to the education
relevant to the education well 69 percent of experienced arts
well 69 percent of experienced arts
well 69 percent of experienced arts graduates say the same
graduates say the same
graduates say the same this is better than similar statistics
this is better than similar statistics
this is better than similar statistics drawn from other supposedly more
drawn from other supposedly more
drawn from other supposedly more practical fields like biology and
practical fields like biology and
practical fields like biology and accounting it shows that the skills and
accounting it shows that the skills and
accounting it shows that the skills and arts education teaches which include
arts education teaches which include
arts education teaches which include problem-solving the space of speaking
problem-solving the space of speaking
problem-solving the space of speaking and creative thinking are valuable and
and creative thinking are valuable and
and creative thinking are valuable and broadly applicable finally my favorite
broadly applicable finally my favorite
broadly applicable finally my favorite myth is myth number three arts graduates
myth is myth number three arts graduates
myth is myth number three arts graduates are miserable they’re not anything but
are miserable they’re not anything but
are miserable they’re not anything but in fact they are among the happiest
in fact they are among the happiest
in fact they are among the happiest workers in this country
workers in this country
workers in this country even as the most recent data from the
even as the most recent data from the
even as the most recent data from the nonpartisan Conference Board indicates
nonpartisan Conference Board indicates
nonpartisan Conference Board indicates that only fifty point eight percent of
that only fifty point eight percent of
that only fifty point eight percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs
Americans are satisfied with their jobs
Americans are satisfied with their jobs the strategic National Arts alumni
the strategic National Arts alumni
the strategic National Arts alumni project has found that arts graduates
project has found that arts graduates
project has found that arts graduates had a 75 percent job satisfaction rate
had a 75 percent job satisfaction rate
had a 75 percent job satisfaction rate among recent graduates rising to 80
among recent graduates rising to 80
among recent graduates rising to 80 percent with experience furthermore
percent with experience furthermore
percent with experience furthermore another study affiliated with vanderbilt
another study affiliated with vanderbilt
another study affiliated with vanderbilt university has found the artists in
university has found the artists in
university has found the artists in general are more likely to be satisfied
general are more likely to be satisfied
general are more likely to be satisfied with their lives to be confident in the
with their lives to be confident in the
with their lives to be confident in the face of change and to view themselves
face of change and to view themselves
face of change and to view themselves positively now there are challenges
positively now there are challenges
positively now there are challenges associated with an arts degree despite
associated with an arts degree despite
associated with an arts degree despite similar earnings to many other fields
similar earnings to many other fields
similar earnings to many other fields 30% of arts graduates express
30% of arts graduates express
30% of arts graduates express dissatisfaction with their earnings and
dissatisfaction with their earnings and
dissatisfaction with their earnings and 40% of arts graduates work more than one
40% of arts graduates work more than one
40% of arts graduates work more than one job these challenges are real but to
job these challenges are real but to
job these challenges are real but to grab hold of them and use them to insist
grab hold of them and use them to insist
grab hold of them and use them to insist that the arts are a shortcut to an
that the arts are a shortcut to an
that the arts are a shortcut to an unhappy life most data doesn’t support
unhappy life most data doesn’t support
unhappy life most data doesn’t support that claim
that claim
that claim majoring in the arts makes you more
majoring in the arts makes you more
majoring in the arts makes you more likely not less to live a fulfilled life
likely not less to live a fulfilled life
likely not less to live a fulfilled life I could go on now I could tell you about
I could go on now I could tell you about
I could go on now I could tell you about creativity how one IBM survey found that
creativity how one IBM survey found that
creativity how one IBM survey found that CEOs look to this more than any other
CEOs look to this more than any other
CEOs look to this more than any other skill equality to solve the problems of
skill equality to solve the problems of
skill equality to solve the problems of our increasingly more unpredictable
our increasingly more unpredictable
our increasingly more unpredictable world market I could tell you about
world market I could tell you about
world market I could tell you about unemployment how the manner in which the
unemployment how the manner in which the
unemployment how the manner in which the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates it
Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates it
Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates it may be biased against artists because
may be biased against artists because
may be biased against artists because many of them work project to project not
many of them work project to project not
many of them work project to project not week by week I could tell you about
week by week I could tell you about
week by week I could tell you about community involvement
community involvement
community involvement how arts majors are 14 times more likely
how arts majors are 14 times more likely
how arts majors are 14 times more likely to volunteer within the arts and thus in
to volunteer within the arts and thus in
to volunteer within the arts and thus in which the communities they settle down
which the communities they settle down
which the communities they settle down then all this and more but the end
then all this and more but the end
then all this and more but the end message would be the same in our country
message would be the same in our country
message would be the same in our country we’ve never talked honestly about the
we’ve never talked honestly about the
we’ve never talked honestly about the arts and the potential of artistic
arts and the potential of artistic
arts and the potential of artistic careers instead we’ve developed the myth
careers instead we’ve developed the myth
careers instead we’ve developed the myth of the starving artist and this has
of the starving artist and this has
of the starving artist and this has dominated our conversations creating
dominated our conversations creating
dominated our conversations creating misperceptions about the arts that are
misperceptions about the arts that are
misperceptions about the arts that are influencing people’s lives and not for
influencing people’s lives and not for
influencing people’s lives and not for the better my story is a good example
the better my story is a good example
the better my story is a good example almost everyone around me believed in
almost everyone around me believed in
almost everyone around me believed in the myth of the starving artist and that
the myth of the starving artist and that
the myth of the starving artist and that had a strong impact on me it almost made
had a strong impact on me it almost made
had a strong impact on me it almost made me a biology major and I hate biology I
me a biology major and I hate biology I
me a biology major and I hate biology I mean I took one year of in high school
mean I took one year of in high school
mean I took one year of in high school and it was all right but math no I’m
and it was all right but math no I’m
and it was all right but math no I’m good at it but I’m not happy about it if
good at it but I’m not happy about it if
good at it but I’m not happy about it if that was almost my life because I had
that was almost my life because I had
that was almost my life because I had been given a single narrative about the
been given a single narrative about the
been given a single narrative about the arts that told me theater couldn’t
arts that told me theater couldn’t
arts that told me theater couldn’t suffice for my friends in the theater
suffice for my friends in the theater
suffice for my friends in the theater department I could tell you more stories
department I could tell you more stories
department I could tell you more stories I’m not the only one who had to fight to
I’m not the only one who had to fight to
I’m not the only one who had to fight to declare my major many of the people in
declare my major many of the people in
declare my major many of the people in my department and I’m sure and other
my department and I’m sure and other
my department and I’m sure and other artistic majors too needed to overcome
artistic majors too needed to overcome
artistic majors too needed to overcome uncertainty and discouragement to be
uncertainty and discouragement to be
uncertainty and discouragement to be where they are today for every story
where they are today for every story
where they are today for every story I’ve heard in the theatre department too
I’ve heard in the theatre department too
I’ve heard in the theatre department too and know there are also many other
and know there are also many other
and know there are also many other stories I’m never going to get to hear
stories I’m never going to get to hear
stories I’m never going to get to hear because there are the stories of artists
because there are the stories of artists
because there are the stories of artists who have been lost there are the stories
who have been lost there are the stories
who have been lost there are the stories in which our cultural myths about the
in which our cultural myths about the
in which our cultural myths about the arts prevail in which young artists turn
arts prevail in which young artists turn
arts prevail in which young artists turn their backs on their passions because
their backs on their passions because
their backs on their passions because well intentioned people around them
well intentioned people around them
well intentioned people around them encourage them to do so out of baseless
encourage them to do so out of baseless
encourage them to do so out of baseless concerns moving forward I want that to
concerns moving forward I want that to
concerns moving forward I want that to end people’s choices about the arts
end people’s choices about the arts
end people’s choices about the arts should not be dominated by
should not be dominated by
should not be dominated by misinformation so let’s change the
misinformation so let’s change the
misinformation so let’s change the narrative let’s dare to challenge what
narrative let’s dare to challenge what
narrative let’s dare to challenge what we think we know about the Arts let’s
we think we know about the Arts let’s
we think we know about the Arts let’s dad or revise our good intention to
dad or revise our good intention to
dad or revise our good intention to discouraging people from them let’s dare
discouraging people from them let’s dare
discouraging people from them let’s dare to allow our children to make their own
to allow our children to make their own
to allow our children to make their own decisions about them in other words the
decisions about them in other words the
decisions about them in other words the Dera to dispel the myth
Dera to dispel the myth
Dera to dispel the myth of the starving artist this will
of the starving artist this will
of the starving artist this will preserve innovation and creative thought
preserve innovation and creative thought
preserve innovation and creative thought in our country and it will open the door
in our country and it will open the door
in our country and it will open the door for our children to study and one of the
for our children to study and one of the
for our children to study and one of the most compelling and fulfilling fields
most compelling and fulfilling fields
most compelling and fulfilling fields there is thank you
there is thank you
there is thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment