Gentle Gatekeeping: Art Professors Role Strain in Gatekeeping Activities

• In Event: 21020 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 11: Educator Identities and Experiences

Abstract

The art world and the education system are two arenas where gatekeeping activities are common. Because of this one would expect that art professors would be active participants in gatekeeping. However, through interviews with 23 art professors, we find that these professors prefer to focus on their communal and mentoring roles in their jobs, and experience roles strain surrounding their role as gatekeepers. Because of this role strain, art professors practice what we call “gentle gatekeeping”; this is wehre art professors actively participate in gatekeeping activities, however, downplay the importance of these acts of gatekeeping, and instead focus on their work as mentors towards BFA and MFA students.

Authors

• Margaret Lawler, Indiana University-Bloomington

• Fabio Rojas, Indiana University-Bloomington