Birgitte
- From: Aarhus, Denmark
- Studying: Visiting student (two terms)
What background do you come to HoA from and why HoA?
"I have a BA in History of Art and Museology from Aarhus University, Denmark. I am here at York as a visiting student, and the modules I have taken are part of my MA-programme in History of Art in Denmark. The reason I am drawn to History of Art is that it is a field that enables me to get a better understanding of people, now and then, through what people created. Being creative is about taking chances, being bold and innovative and also about communicating to other people what is important in life. This is why especially art from previous times is fascinating to me – it tells us about what was important to the people who made it, and ultimately it tells us about the people and events that created the world we live in today."
Why York rather than somewhere else?
"Even before I started my studies I knew that at some point I had to go to England for more than just a holiday. A friend from my home university, who had studied in the UK herself suggested I looked at York, as she knew about my medieval tendencies. So I did some research on the internet and found out that the department here could offer me some really interesting modules in that area, as well as the fact that York with the Minster and its medieval city centre would be a fantastic place for me to live in."
What are your research interests / what are you working on?
"I am really interested in ways in which people in the Middle Ages used art and architecture to gain a better understanding of divinity and how art brought these abstract notions closer to people. Currently, I’m working on narratives in stained glass and medieval light theory."
What modules have been most fascinating and why?
"All modules have been great, but most of all I enjoyed 'Churches and High Crosses' and 'Painting on Light', as these modules contributed most to developing and pushing my core interests further forward."
What’s been your favourite study trip and why?
"At the end of the 'Churches and High Crosses' module we went on a study trip to four churches around Yorkshire. The trip was a really nice opportunity to get outside of the seminar room and sum up what we had talked about during the module by actually looking at some of the monuments we had been discussing."
What’s the level of support like from staff and the department as a whole?
"As a visiting student, communication with the department was a crucial component in planning my stay here in York. Thankfully, everybody I spoke with then were really helpful. Also, the department proved very flexible as I only needed a certain amount of credits to meet the requirements from my home university. So even before I arrived, I felt very welcome. During my time here, it has been great to have regular meetings with my supervisor as well, to whom I could talk to not only academic issues, but also personal stuff. Going to a different land to study can be quite overwhelming, and it has been nice to know that I could always go to my supervisor, if I had any problems."
How has your experience at York broadened your horizons as an art historian?
"The truly great thing about being a visiting student is that it enables you to compare the department, scholarly practises and traditions with your home university. Being a scholar is not just about knowing a lot about your preferred field of study. It is also about paying attention to how you work, as ultimately, how you work determines what you find out through your research. I have become very aware of the scholarly tradition I come from and that there are different ways of being an art historian. This awareness allows me to grow as a scholar and to be more informed and aware of my own methods and standpoints when doing research."
What do you feel is the most important thing you will take away from your experience at York?
"The absolute most important thing that I will take home with me is the sense of personal growth that my stay here in York has been a catalyst for. For various reasons, it wasn’t exactly easy to plan my stay here, so now I know I can do anything that I set out to do. On top of that, being here has made me think about stuff like what sort of life I wish for myself after I graduate, what kind of job I would like to get, who I am as a scholar and so on. I was never one of those lucky ones who always knew she wanted to be a dentist, say, so I really needed to ask myself these questions, and being here in York greatly inspired me to do so. In relation to that I benefited from talking to other students, my supervisor and a career advisor. Also, even though I have met some truly lovely people here, whom I wish to stay in touch with, I have really enjoyed my independence from other people. It feels great to know that I have the ability to do great on my own."
What would your dream job be?
"I would love to work in a museum or a heritage site here in the UK, after I graduate. I feel very strongly about how art and architecture are presented and communicated to the public, so I would like to be part of a learning team whose main focus is to create learning material, opportunities and activities for different visitor groups."
