'I was missing a certain humanistic approach, that’s why I chose Global Arts, Culture and Politics'
What were your expectations from this study-programme and did they turn out?
Coming from a social sciences Bachelor’s programme, I was not only expecting different content, but also a different approach in terms of teaching and in terms of the relationship between the lecturers and the student community. Despite both programmes are offered by the UvA, it seems like two different universities. One example of a course I would not have found in the social sciences is Visual Literacy, which took place in the Rijksmuseum. This course has exceeded my expectations, as it is the first time I have had the opportunity to take an exam in the ‘field’. This course teaches you something that cannot be learned by reading books or experienced in a lecture hall: analysing a work of art and listening to your classmates doing the same.
You study both GACP and Political Science. Why those two studies and what is the main difference between them?
The main reason why I chose Political Science is because I have always been interested in how power relations have evolved over time and how such dynamics have shaped institutions, identities and people’s everyday lives. However, after a year of studying Political Science, I understand why the word ‘Science’ is in my Bachelor’s. Ultimately, I was missing a certain humanistic approach and that’s why I chose GACP. The thing that got my attention in GACP was the unconventional approach to the categorisation of knowledge. Firstly, there are many courses in GACP, such as Big History, which have a very interdisciplinary and unconventional approach. Secondly, I have always been interested in studying art, but I also wanted to know something more about AI, because it’s the future… and GACP offers the opportunity to do both.
What do you like most about your study?
I think that while the first Bachelor’s gives me a strong theoretical basis, the second one gives me so many perspectives and insights to look at the world using alternative categories. At the end of the day, both Bachelor’s programmes focus on human beings and human behaviour. While Political Science looks at people by examining what they do, what institutions they build and what bonds they create between different societies, GACP looks at humans by analysing what they are (for example, how human intelligence is different from AI) or how they represent themselves (for example, symbolism in art). Combining these two perspectives is what make them so enjoyable.
What would you like to do with the study?
I have many ideas and I guess that a Master’s will help me to clarify them. If I have the opportunity, I would love to remain in academia or to continue conducting research. I am particularly interested in the communication between different cultures and in the preservation of identities in the era of globalisation. More pragmatically, I would like to work at UNESCO or for some European think tanks. My secret wish is to open an art gallery where artists from different backgrounds are able to exhibit their artworks in a free and safe way.
How does your study connect with the current/modern times/society?
For me, what I study is not something that connects with our society, but a lens through which I look at it. For instance, by studying sustainability, you inevitably pay more attention to your ecological footprint. The same can be said of AI, which is used more and more every day for a wide range of activities. Being educated about that means you have one more tool in your arsenal and pay more attention when the others are using it. A clear example of this is how recognising an AI-generated image helps me to identify fake news and to be a more informed citizen.