A Testimony to the Arts: Destigmatising creative degrees

In the dog-eat-dog environment of a Russel Group university, I have received sly and curt remarks about the inferiority of creative degrees, living amongst those who bow down to the deities of science and mathematics. I am by no means claiming that creative degrees are indeed superior, but rather suggesting that they, too, deserve credit and recognition for their contribution towards our society and economy. I feel that as a student dedicating three years of my life to studying a Bachelor of Arts, not to mention the financial investment, I owe it to myself to testify that it is a worthwhile, valuable qualification with substantial career prospects, setting me up for a fulfilled life postgrad.

The objective binary that law, science, economics, engineering, etcetera require an intellect that surpasses that required to study a creative degree is extremely redundant and ignorant. I believe that pursuing the arts or sciences at degree level should be equalised within our society, requiring the same amount of hard work and determination to achieve. Both degrees enable the development of critical thinking, digital literacy, and essay and research skills, curating proficient students who are readily able to enter the real world after university.

Studying the arts is not superficial or something that can merely be learnt from a textbook, it transcends the boundaries of traditional education, nourishing originality of thought.

Alike the sciences, the arts should also be celebrated. Whilst the sciences provide valuable contributions in the way of medical research and economic growth, we cannot undermine the value of creativity and innovation. Studying the arts is not superficial or something that can merely be learnt from a textbook, it transcends the boundaries of traditional education, nourishing originality of thought. Without the arts, culture in theory would be non-existent: theatre, literature and music entirely eradicated. So, I implore you to ponder, are the arts truly inferior?

No one is born a writer, a musician, a historian. Rather, natural talent must be nurtured in order to produce fully fledged artists, schools such as RADA and Goldsmiths University of London dedicating themselves to the study of creative disciplines. Why would we have such prestigious institutions devoted to the arts if they are in fact counterproductive? Some of the UK’s most notable figures studied creative degrees such as Emma Watson, Stephen Fry, and Louis Theroux. By studying the arts, one opens many doors to a variety of careers including acting, writing, journalism, teaching, publishing and many more.

the creative industries are becoming one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the UK, worth £76.9bn to the UK economy and responsible for 5.6% of jobs.

So, let’s debunk a few misconceptions, one being that creative industries are regressing. Rather, the creative industries are becoming one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the UK, worth £76.9bn to the UK economy and responsible for 5.6% of jobs. Furthermore, arts students are highly sought-after by employers, those with passion and genuine interest being prioritised over those who purely meet the position’s requirements. Talent management agency The Curve Group even claims that “Employees with an arts degree have developed more quickly in their roles from the start. They have discipline, confidence and can accept criticism.”

Additionally, organic and authentic creativity cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. The World Economic Forum (WEF) reports that AI could displace 85 million jobs by the end 2025. However, the main industries threatened by AI are administrative and office support, manufacturing, and transportation. Creative professionals such as writers, actors, and designers remain relatively unscathed by AI, their imagination and emotional resonance irreplaceable.

Literature is a tool with which to express the inexpressible, a transportive power unparalleled by any other art form.

Moreover, I want to make my case for the study of English literature specifically. Literature is a tool with which to express the inexpressible, a transportive power unparalleled by any other art form. It is unique in its ability to immerse its audience, evoking a spectrum of emotions. Literature shapes readers, changes perspectives and promotes scholarly thought. By dissecting texts through academic study, it is possible to discover just how interwoven literature is in society whilst simultaneously exploring its historical relevance.

Thus, this mentality that creative degrees are futile and a waste of time is extremely damaging and simply put, wrong. We should be in awe of creativity and feel entitled to pursue it if we so desire. Therefore, I ask you to help defend and preserve the arts.