Day 9: Journalists Seeing — The Art of Perception at the Met
Writing the Big City traveled across Central Park on Thursday to learn from Amy Herman’s class “The Art of Perception.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to one of the largest collections of fine art in the world, and we were more than willing to explore its vast halls.
Herman began by outlawing the words “obviously” and “clearly”, because nothing in our world is obvious or clear. Her presentations are taught to anyone, including FBI agents, doctors and Navy Seals and do not discuss the substance of the art, but rather how to learn from what is observed.
“Ninety-nine percent of the people I work with are not art historians,” Herman explained. “I teach them to use art as a set of data.”
The importance of details and descriptive language was stressed by Herman as she encouraged observation, which prompted immediate associations. We learned to observe with all five senses and imagine the context in which the paintings were created.
Herman also spoke of common mistakes.
“In museums, people run to the label,” she said. “If you do that you will look for what you read, as opposed to seeing for yourself.”
As we walked the sprawling corridors of the Met, we were forced to truly interpret the art in ways we hadn’t before.
The “pertinent negative” was another major component of Herman’s presentation.
“What you don’t see is just as important as what you do,” she told us.
Acclaimed painters whose work is displayed in the museum are intentional about everything they do. She stressed the significance of communicating our thoughts and observations, facilitating the discussion and allowing us to all share.
“When you discuss something you will remember it longer,” she said.
The skills Herman teaches in her presentation can apply to many careers; for journalists, the ability to accurately see and interpret allows them to achieve a greater understanding of their stories.
“Her approach inspires original thinking,” explained our teacher, Ari Goldman.
After the tour, our class continued to enjoy the wonders of the immense museum, taking another brief tour and adjourning to the roof to observe the sprawling New York skyline. Our intense hour of analyzing art was punctuated by a relaxing view, followed by a trip to the delicious 2nd Street Deli. Riding the now all too familiar subway we reflected on the two weeks we have been in Manhattan as the excitement-filled summer program draws to a close.
