Personal Reflection: The Humanistic Aspects Of Art History

Nightly, as I buried myself in textbooks and the enclaves of Khan Academy, my mother grew concerned that I was overloaded with schoolwork. The coursework I was buried in was Art History, and I wasn’t overloaded; I was overjoyed because I had found my passion. Taking the course, I discovered a whole new way of viewing the world and myself.

Through discovering this plethora of unearthed knowledge, I felt like a kid discovering a mountain of candy that had been right under their nose all along, now available to them. I made it my personal mission to scale the candy mountain as much and as often as possible. Each class, as we learned more, it motivated me to go further. I was awestruck by the newness of the subject, art history’s constant presence in all aspects of life, and the focus on the humanistic aspect of history.

There was so much more I wanted to learn, but my own research could only get me so far. Therefore, I searched for opportunities to keep exploring and found the Cincinnati Art Museum docent program.

In this program, I went through ten months of training to become a tour guide with twenty-five others. Doing extensive readings, exclusive webinars, practice tours, and lots of in-gallery dialogue, I got to dig deeper into the world of art museums. Not only did the training give me a reason to frequent the museum, but it also gave me the opportunity to explore the field of museum work. This experience helped me come to the realization that I want to work in museums.

Through leading the public population’s interaction with art, and witnessing the wide range of conversations that art can create, I discovered that this is what I am meant to do. Through volunteering as a docent, I have discovered that the art museum is an environment where my passion for self-education, empowerment, and activism are at the