Eric,
"Visual Studies" is actually a new named initiative in Duke's next
5-year strategic plan, which goes into affect next week. I don't
think this is necessarily an 80s/90s thing. My department just
changed its name from Art and Art History to Art, Art History &
Visual Studies to better reflect what we teach, our part in Duke's
interdisciplinary approach to all studies, and the growing importance
of visual culture studies at this university. Visual studies
offerings can be based in our department, Film and Video, Women's
Studies, Classics, Literature, Languages, the Law School (art and the
law), Information Studies, History, Genome Science, etc.
I think the differentiation is between the traditional history and
study of works of art and architecture and the history and study of
images (those beyond art and architecture), whether they be cultural
images from the past or images from popular culture today. We teach
courses on art markets, "destinations" (Disneyworld, Las Vegas),
artists and trauma, Roman spectacle, images of the nuclear age,
caricature and comics, the monastic life, etc. Not easily
classifiable as traditional art or architecture.
I always felt "visual resources library" to be a vague term (whereas
slide or photograph library never was). Even "image" or "media"
library seems more descriptive of our collections now. Whenever I am
describing my title, facility, or profession, I always have to add
"slide, photograph, and digital image" as a subtext. What does
"Visual Resources Association" really say to anyone who isn't in the
field? I also don't see "art library" as exclusive of image
collections, just as the Art Libraries Society already includes a VR
division. Of course, back to my original point, it's not all about
"art" anymore.
John
>I am all for closer relations between the two organizations. Before
>any serious talk of mergers, however, I think at least another
>couple joint conferences would be in order, to ensure that the two
>cultures both can preserve everything they want and complete their
>respective agendas within such a framework. If it works well, then
>why not merge? It would be great for people like me who are members
>of both organizations, but can only go to one conference a year.
>
>Regarding the term "Visual Culture", I would have to take a
>dissenting view here. That term was all the rage among art history
>departments in the late '80s-early '90s. While they all considered
>changing their names (and some did), it was never clear how this was
>reflected in the discipline or curriculum. I think it is always
>good to have titles whose meanings can be readily understood by the
>laity, and I don't think this one can. As the bulk of us are still
>in museum or academic art or architecture libraries and departments,
>I rather like having the terms "art", "libraries" and "visual
>resources" in our title. A professional organization should work to
>improve society-at-large's image of librarians and VR
>professionals-we shouldn't change are name to convince people we are
>on the cutting edge-rather we should be on the cutting edge to show
>people what our titles mean!
>
>I do think this discussion is very healthy!
>
>Eric Wolf
>Director of the Library
>New York School of Interior Design
>170 E. 70th Street
>New York, NY 10021
>212-472-1500 x216
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>
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--
John J. Taormina
Director, Visual Resources Center
Dept. of Art, Art History & Visual Studies
Duke University
Box 90764
112 East Duke Building
Durham NC 27708-0764
Ph: 919-684-2501
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.duke.edu/web/art/
"The spice must flow."
-Frank Herbert, Dune
__________________________________________________________________
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For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
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