Is a university education about the head or the heart?
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It's the perennial question for those about to embark on university studies, as much as for those already mired in exams and textbooks.
But soon, at the Australian National University at least, you won't have to choose between the two, instead you will be able to pick and choose subjects across faculties and disciplines.
And, if the new head of the school of art, Denise Ferris, has her way, you'll even be able to study subjects at the art school, and meld them with your science, music or law subjects.
As the university prepares to introduce more flexible cross-disciplinary degrees next year, Dr Ferris, a photographer and long-time faculty member who was appointed director in May, is intent on opening up the school to as many students as possible.
''The school is very solid, and it's always gone about its business in a very solid way, but I think that you need to be a very big presence out there in the world, and I think that we can achieve that,'' she told The Canberra Times.
Part of this involves a proposed restructure of the research school of the humanities and the arts, which would involve dispersing the school of cultural inquiry, creating a new school of languages and literature, and moving art history over to the school of art.
This would create another pathway for students at the art school, and vice versa - a boon for a city that is home to so many national cultural institutions.
The restructure is still under discussion, but Dr Ferris said her vision reached even further than just the study of art history within her school.
''I always saw we're special, but we can never be isolated; we're very much part of the ANU community,'' she said.
''It means that we have to be able to articulate with all of the offerings, be part of everything. It means we have to do some orientation internally … We look at how we run our majors, and we look to see if someone can study the viola and also do gold and silversmithing.''
For the director of the research school of humanities and Arts, Howard Morphy, understanding art practice is fundamental in many disciplines.
''It's something that's very close to my heart, because I'm actually an anthropologist of art. I write books on Australian Aboriginal art - I'm not actually an artist but in order to understand Australian Aboriginal art I actually have to be very good at observing people painting and working, and be able to understand art practice,'' he said.
''So as far as I'm concerned, practice is integral as a form of knowledge for me to understand the theoretical context of art in society, and what artists are trying to do.''
This outlook could extend beyond the humanities and into science, economics and law, as well as music.
He said it would also shine a light on some of the university's offerings that are buried within separate faculties, as well as bring more students into the art school at a time when critical mass is necessary for the school to move forward.
Both Professor Morphy and Dr Ferris shared the vision that art should be brought back into everyday thinking.
Professor Morphy said that the ''bracketing off'' of the arts from the 19th century as something rarefied was starting to be reversed, with good design and creativity becoming part and parcel of more aspects of modern life.
Dr Ferris said art was all part of life's ''aesthetic journey''.
''I'm an educator … For me, it is about us having the potential to educate people about art as a very significant, important body of knowledge, and about how important it is to our community and our society, and all our human endeavours,'' she said.
''It's not an add-on, it's a fundamental element of who we all are. If you take it away, I can tell you it would be a very, very thin world.
''My vision for the school is that it continue to be what it always has been, which is a most extraordinary place as a whole school of makers very intent on the making, but that it [also] be recognised for that combination of its intellectual journey and its contribution. I think that can only grow.''