Why I Want to Pursue Masters of Arts and Politics - Personal Statement Example

PERSONAL MENT By Affiliation Personal Information In the Jewish faith, there is a principle that is popularly referred to as the Tikkum Olam. Tikkum Olam can be translated to mean repair the world. Among the followers of the Jewish faith, this tenet makes it their duty to be involved in repairing the world where they live. It does not matter how you do it. What is important is that you take part in repairing the universe. What is needed is to make the world, one lives with a little bit more loving and more just to our children through continuing effort. The tenet is not only a personal duty of the Jewish, but it is also my own duty. Over the last few years, I have been involved in the arts, both through academic life and work life. I try my best to make a difference in the world we live in through the arts. It is therefore my intention to attain a Master of Arts and Politics Degree at Goldsmith, University so that I can be able to examine the relationship between arts and politics and use it to make a difference in the world I live in. Knowledge in the four themes that are central to art and politics which include autonomy, conflict and pain, power and agency will put me in a better position to respond to the call of Tikkum Olam. Initially, my interest was just limited to arts as a single discipline. This, however, changed when I realized that I could combine art with other subjects. I therefore jumped into the opportunity because I strongly believed it will widen my scope and enable me make an even greater difference in the world using the combined knowledge of arts and other disciplines. My journey in the field of arts has been a long but a rather rewarding one. It started when registered for my A Levels in Physics and Advanced Mathematics in 2009 at Hurstpierpoint. Throughout my stay at Hurstpierpoint college, I had already made a decision that my career will be in the field of arts, not only because of the interest I had in the subject, but also because of the career opportunities it offered that would enable me transform my world into a better place. In line with my professional aspirations, I then enrolled for BA History of Art Leicester University. This provided me with knowledge and the ability to explore and examine the history and theory of arts. I was able to study history of art from the Classical Antiquity to the current art. Moreover, the course enabled me to critically reflect over some fundamental questions of culture, architecture and history. Leicester University also provided me with a chance to study a wide variety of modules related to art such as film studies and History. This further broadened my view of the discipline of arts and prepared me for my future endeavours by providing the much needed foundation. The next destination on my arts journey was the Anhui University, where in 2012, I registered for a postgraduate diploma in Art and Design. This provided me with a postgraduate pathway in the field of arts. By the time I was doing my post graduate diploma at Anhui University, my fate in the art field was now a sealed one because I no longer had any doubt about my interest in arts and the opportunities it offered. This, coupled with hard work and determination ensured that I attained a grade of 90+. After completion of my post graduate diploma, I registered for and pursued. A diploma course in Social Science and Humanities at INTO Newcastle University. My decision to study Science and Humanities was influenced by the realization that success in transforming the world through arts requires a sensibility about the world in order to understand the economic and societal aspects of it. This course provided the best preparation for direct entry into an undergraduate degree course in humanities. The preparation was done through five key modules which included English for academic module, introduction to British Institution and culture, study skills and projects, introduction to sociology and introduction to the study of humanities and social science. Upon completion of the diploma, I enrolled for an undergraduate degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies at Newcastle University in 2014 where I am still a student. Work Experience My work life has always revolved around arts and humanities as this is where I believe my strength lie. In 2009, I got a job at the Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum as a curator. At Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum, I basically dealt with tangible objects of art such as collectibles, historic items and scientific collections. This provided me with the first major real life encounter with artwork in the society. In the course of my work, I was able to team up with various other curators in the Museum in helping open the exhibition. Apart from working as a curator, I have been able to get involved in the arts field through learning activities at the Shanghai National Museum during the presentation of history of expo. This gave me a chance to have one more encounter with Chinese art.Another work encounter that further provides me with an opportunity to transform the world through art work was in the year 2013 where I got the opportunity to work with Chinese Contemporary artist Liu Xiaodong on one of his projects in London. I worked with Liu Xiaodong as an Artist assistant at the Lisson Gallery, London. Working with this Chinese Contemporary artist Liu Xiaodong on his project made me appreciate the field of arts and understand how art affects the day to day life of people no matter the part of the world where we live in. Working with Liu Xiaodong made me appreciate how an artist can influence the world by carefully locating human dimensions and global issues such as population displacement, environmental and economic crises and merging the reality with artifice. Education is something that is continuous, whether one is at work or at school as it broadens ones understanding of artwork and its impact in our day to day life. On July 2010, I got another opportunity to expand my knowledge and understanding of art thorough work training at HSBC PLC. This training lasted for two months. The other work experience I have been able to attain has been at the Hauser &Wirth Gallery in Mayfair, where I was an intern for a period of two months. Being someone who is eager to learn a lot about arts because of the passion and interest I have developed over the years, I worked at several departments at Hauser &Wirth Gallery in order to learn all I could during the two months. The internship program introduced me various artistic works of several artists from all over the world, further widening my understanding of the subject. Why I Want to Pursue Masters of Arts and Politics Through the various courses that I have undertaken at the various institutions of learning, I have been able to learn more about art and obtain knowledge that I can apply to make a difference. The chance to work in various organizations has also added to this and has given me vital experience as I move towards achieving my dream. Politics is arguably one of the few single factors that greatly influence the world today. It can change the world to be a better place or draw it backwards. Therefore, I believe that through combining knowledge of Art and politics, I will be better placed to contribute positively in transforming the world. Masters in Arts and politics will therefore provide me with the much needed bridge to be able to attain my long term goal of using knowledge of arts combined with politics to make the world better. I would like to use the master degree study period to research on the best ways of using art to influence political policies and decisions in order to provide solutions to the various issues that currently affects our world such as racial segregation, corruption, tribalism, nepotism and other social, political and economic ills in our society. Why Goldsmith University is My Choice Goldsmith University, is for me the ideal vehicle to use to attain these goals and aspirations. My choice of this institution was influenced by the international reputation of the Goldsmith’s Arts Department for innovation as well as creativity (Goldsmith University of London, 2013). The Goldsmith Arts Department will provide me with an opportunity to be able to reflect on the demands of my practice in relation to wider visual cultures. Being one of the best Art Research departments in the country, this will be a golden opportunity to be able to bridge the gap between my current academic knowledge and my future aspirations in the field of arts. Apart from the reputation that the institution has for promoting creativity and innovation, my decision was also influenced by the facilities that are available for students who undertake Master in Arts and politics. The facilities and resources provide the student with all that is required to undertake the course work as well research projects and dissertations. I have also had the opportunity to get views of alumni of he Goldsmith University and how they have faired in their careers and the findings have been very encouraging,. The Arts Department has been able to equip its students with the necessary skills that allow them to develop independent thinking and confidence in their practice. Moreover, the skills that the institution has imparted on its students have been very helpful to them. I strongly believe that my case will not be any different and that I will be able to obtain skills that will allow me develop independent thinking and confidence as I change the world I live in through the use of art to influence political decisions and policies (Goldsmith University of London, 2013). Several students who have gone through the Arts and Politics Masters Degree programme at Goldsmith University have gone ahead to bag accolades due to their exemplary work in using the knowledge they obtained in the institution to influence their world and make it more conducive to live in. This factor has also influenced my decision to apply for Masters in Arts and Politics in this University. The course content for Masters in Arts and Politics at Goldsmith University revolve around my goal long career goals. The central goal of the programme is to examine through the use of aesthetical, historical and theoretical perspectives, the nature of the relationship that exists between art and politics (Goldsmith University of London, 2013). This is done by cutting across various historical trajectories with the focus being on four vital themes in arts and politics that include autonomy, conflict, power and agency. This is in line with my long term as well as short term goals of using artful politics to bring about political and social change in our society. Through the facilities and resources available at the institution as well as the dissertation plan for the students, I will be able to carry out research and study on how best I can achieve my goal. This will be made possible with help and guidance from the qualified instructors and professors who have been able to shape the lives of various Art and Politics students at the institution. The dissertation plan at the institution allows the students to choose research topics that they want to work on subject to approval. This will for sure give me an opportunity to determine an aspect of art and politics to explore. I not only look forward to studying and learning at Goldsmith University in order to fulfil my calling, but I also strongly believe that I would be able to make an important contribution to the mission of the institution. Through my academic knowledge on Arts and Humanities, I hope to make contributions, especially in the Arts Department through sharing of knowledge so as to ensure that the Department remains one of the top Arts Departments in the country. I am very much aspired by the thought of taking part in research within the institution on the relationship between arts and politics. Therefore, I would be very grateful and delighted to be part of the Goldsmith University as a student of Masters in Arts and Politics. Reference Goldsmith University of London, 2013.MA in arts and politics. [Online] (Updated 12th July 2013) Available at: [Accessed 26th July 2013] Read More