Aubrey Rocks
If you have ever been a student and wondered if you mattered to your teacher, hopefully the answer is yes. Every student I have ever had matters to me, influences me, and teaches me a little more about what the hell I’m doing or need to do. Matters? Good or bad, the answer is yes.
This past semester I had my full share of student dumbassery.
I’ve also had my full share plus an extra helping of amazing students. The ones who challenge me and show me new things. Yes, it’s possible to show an art history teacher new things because have you seen the amount of shit humans can produce? It’s mind boggling and one wee person just hasn’t seen it all.
Natalie, who may or may not ever find this blog, is one such student. She was never afraid to ask questions, point out things, and when I showed an image from Aubrey Beardsley, she offered up his erotica, knowing that I encourage such things and that I don’t hold back sexuality in my classes. It’s an art class, guess what much of humanity is fixated on?
I am totally fixated on it too. It’s my primary study.
I knew of Beardsley a wee bit, but nothing of his erotica. Basically, the stuff I focus on is much earlier and I tend to dabble in other periods but not much and if I do, it’s often architecture.
So, naturally upon hearing her comment, I squee, “Ooooh. Do go on, dear student!”
We stopped class and got on the Google.
I have done this more than a few times. I’ve stopped what we were doing if the students had an interest in something and hopped over to ArtStor or Google Images to see what we could see. I’ve stopped class for Madame X, Dali or Duchamp, and many others. Do I do it all the time? Hardly. But if the discussion picks up and gets lively, hell yes.
If my students do nothing but just learn titles and dates, I’ve failed. I want them to realize that they are art historians, that they are art critics, that their own opinions fucking COUNT for something. I don’t care if the windbag next to them discusses the texture of Oskar Kokoschka’s “Slave Girl,” I want to them have their own opinion on it. Even if theyhate it. Even better, I want them remember that Kokoschka was awesomely nutty and that picture is probably of his life-size dolly he made to date when his lover left him. And then decide what they think of it.
But Natalie brought up Beardsley and his erotica. We went a-hunting. Then we turned off Google’s “safe” preference mode and really went a-hunting. I turned a few minutes of the class over to her, listening to her study of him and her interest. The class listened. I listened. Her enthusiasm was wonderful and then the discussion picked up even more.
I learned from her, and not just in that fluffy way teachers like to talk about. I really learned about an artist from her. I love that. And of course, I learned in that fluffy way too. Flexibility is good, it’s interesting, we all wake up a bit and liven up what is typically 70% lecture, 30% discussion.
I eventually redirected back to the rest of our slides for the day, but I’m so glad she spoke up. I’m happy I had a classroom culture where she could.
So, in her honor, this new theme update is for her. The masthead is by Aubrey Beardsely, called “Cinesias Entreating Myrrhina to Coition.” In other terms, “Myrrhina, Fuck Me.” Be this rape in progress, coy sexplay between consenting adults, or otherwise, Beardsley is known for making fun of sex and the powerfulness or ridiculousness that sex can be.
Here is the Beardsley I present to you, thanks to Natalie.
The full image is this:
Appreciating my cropping now, aren’t ya.
Posted by Melissa on June 7th, 2007 under Experimenting, Histoire d'Art
June 7th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
:::::ssssss:::::
That is the sound of my finger touching your header.
I once affected a professor’s lectures. I bet she is still saying that I pointed out something she had never observed, years after I got my useless MA. Verra satisfyin’. Almost made the student loan worth it.
June 7th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Holy shit. I’d run like a motherfucker, too.
I mean, I enjoy the penis as much as the next girl, but jeebus.
Love the header image as-is, though; it’s lovely.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Oh this is so cool and I love the masthead. Um, banner. I mean I do love a good masthead but I just, ok I am going to shut up now
June 8th, 2007 at 7:29 am
I luuuuuuuuuuuurve it. See, you post-ancient folks have all the luck. Half the tits and dicks I show in my archaeology classes are broken off. On a side note…ArtStor ROCKS. On another side note, I think Myrrhina’s nipples could cut glass.
June 8th, 2007 at 9:12 am
See, this is why I love your blog.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Theresa, I never thought of the benefits of going post-ancient in quite that way. Yes, all our tits and dicks are quite present!
June 8th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
De-lurking to say that I am loving this new look, M. You did a great job of matching the erotica to the kinda sorta boob-like background.
June 10th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
LOVE the new design. Very cool. This was a very cool post too. :-) Maybe you should be known as The Sexy Harpy? heehee.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Fabulous- both the new theme and the story! I love learning from my students.
Theresa- contemporary art is the best- completely rife with tits and dicks, and porn out the wazooo!! (oops, that sounded wrong!)
June 11th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Wow. Looks like me and my husband. He usually chases me around our kitchen table or island naked with a Scottish accent and some chocolate. Can’t forget the candy. It’s strange, but I like to see a naked man run. It makes me giggle. And yes, the nips could cut glass. I have them. Just ask the Harpy. She has tortured me about the nips for many years. When I tan, they blend in, like a troll doll. It’s kind of awesome.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Boy, chocolate, naked running!
I do NOT torture you about your nips. They do blend in though, so very different than mine. How is that? Was it breastfeeding that made mine ridiculous?