The Benefits of Art and Art History Within the Field of Information

Systems

Exploring the Disciplines Team Project: Matt Russell, Alisa Odacre, and Matt Waling

Areas of Study at The Art Institutes include Design (such as Graphic Design, Interior Design, Industrial Design, or Advertising); Fashion (such as Fashion Design or Fashion Management); and Media Arts (such as Web Design & Interactive Media, Audio, Video or Film Production, Animation & Special Effects, Photography, or Game Design & Programming). In contrast, Areas of Study at the University of Massachusetts Lowell include a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Design or Fine Arts, and includes an emphasis in animation, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, graphic design, web design, and interactive-media. UML offers a multitude of courses, including ‘Aesthetics and Critical Studies’ of various topics, drawing, 2D and 3D animation, Typography, Ceramics and Art Concepts.

What areas might one study?

For those who want to create in the traditional styles, they can strive to be a fine artist. A mixture of talent, luck, and commitment are needed to be successful as an artist. Artists may also find positions as art teachers (Lafler). For those who specialize in the study of art, positions are available as an art appraiser, in art acquisitions, or applying special techniques in art restoration. In line with the ever increasing focus on technology, knowledge of graphic design and digital media is increasingly desirable. Combining art knowledge and creativity with information technology knowledge can yield a career in animation (which is generally computer generated rather than hand-drawn these days), in advertising, in film or even web-site development (Lafler).

In what fields might one find jobs?

Art and art history are so interesting because it connects the present with the past. It gives a window into the lives of generations before us – what their world looked like; how they saw that world; how they imagined the past and the future – and allows the present generation to leave a message to future generations while expressing themselves in their own individual way to their own generation.

What relationship might the field have to information systems? (the responses to this might include ways the field has contributed to information systems, ways the field uses information systems, ways the field helps develop value skills)

The art field has yielded the creation of its own special software. ArtSystems.com provides a look at their own software suite designed specifically for use in art and antiques galleries. Their particular software automates the tracking of inventory, updates applicable records with changes, and creates invoices and accounting paperwork. For museums, the ability to track their collections, particularly items on loan, using any type of database system is a major use of information technology. They may also use new technologies to provide more information on a piece with a multimedia presentation near the artwork.

What is interesting about art and art history?

As an entrepreneur in the use of information technology to research art and architecture, Maurizio Seracini is the epitome of ability to utilize information technology to uncover the secrets hidden in art’s history. “He is a pioneer in the use of multispectral imaging and other diagnostic tools as well as analytical technologies as applied to works of art and structures. He has studied more than 2,500 works of art and historic buildings.”(NationalGeographic.com) He has been featured on the Smithsonian Channel for his work in the search for Leonardo Da Vinci’s lost mural, ‘The Battle of Anghiari’ and his use of infrared cameras and technology to find the original drawing and vision for Da Vinci’s commissioned work, ‘Adoration of the Magi’.(SmithsonianChannel.com)

How might studying the field benefit an information systems student? (the responses to this question might range from direct application of learning to no application of learning but be a broadening experience)

In addition to enlightening the student on various forms of visual expression over the years, studying art may help an information systems student by giving them additional knowledge that would make them desirable applicants to create new systems or utilize existing systems for galleries or museums.

.

“Areas of Study.” Artinstitutes.edu. The Art Institutes, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://www.artinstitutes.edu/areas-of-study.aspx>.

Art Gallery Software. ArtSystems. ArtSystems.com, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://artsystems.com/index.htm>.

“The Da Vinci Detective.” SmithsonianChannel.com. Smithsonian Channel, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?series=651#video>.

Lafler, Steve. “List of Different Art Careers.” An Artist’s Community: Art Projects, Inspiration & Creative Ideas. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://www.theaccidentalartist.com/content/art-careers/list-of-different-art-careers>.

“Maurizio Seracini, Cultural Heritage Engineer.” NationalGraphic.com. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/explorers/seracini-08/>.

“UML Art Department: Areas of Study.” UML.edu. University of Massachusetts Lowell, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2011. <http://www.uml.edu/Dept/Art/areas-of-study.htm>.

Works Cited: