I remember sitting at the computer- it was freshmen year and it was time to fill out our course cards. I was conflicted with what electives I should pick, especially for my fine arts credit since the school doesn’t have fine art electives except choir, orchestra, and band.
If you aren’t musically inclined, like me, then you probably feel hesitant in picking one of those. Since I prefer writing, like in Journalism, it brought a question to mind. Why is journalism an elective and not a fine art?
I considered Journalism as a class students take to prepare to join the Newspaper or Yearbook staff. In those classes you get to write about a topic in a way that allows you to express your thoughts and style in words, which to me is a form of art.
Writing is a form of art, considering artists and writers both create masterpieces whether it’s 2-D or 3-D. Fine arts are divided into three categories: visual, media, and performing arts.
Styles of writing that journalism includes is news, feature, and column. These three forms allows the writer to express facts, thoughts, and feelings in his own words.
Besides these, the visual aspect plays a huge role in journalism and is a huge element in how journalism is a fine art.
Visual art is art created for visual perception, and includes drawing, graphics, and the decorative arts. Journalism fits the description of visual arts because it includes graphics. For example a newspaper page will contain pictures or graphs to put an image in the reader’s head.
Journalism fits under the criteria of being a fine arts credit because in Journalism students learn about design and different spread layouts. The newspaper is primarily made for visual perception.
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, journalism’s writing design is supposed to, “…appeal to current popular taste or public interest.” Since the school does not have fine arts credits that allow expression in written form, it forces students to enroll in an elective they aren’t comfortable with. If the state considered journalism to be a fine art, it would be a better choice for students who prefer writing.