Academy of Art University
Categories: Colleges & Universities, Art Schools
Neighborhood: SOMA
A lot of reviewers seem to be unable to get past the business aspect of AAU. And yes, the politics are annoying and distracting.
For the purpose of this review, I'm focusing on the Animation Department (Undergrad) and the education I've gotten. (I'm graduating in May 2008 and began here in 2002) I won't be comparing this to other schools, because I've never attended another in a college situation. If you want to know what you're in for as an incoming student, read on:
The 'Foundations' department is good. I'd change a few things, but over all it caters to helping all levels of student succeed and excel in the basics. Figure drawing, Perspective, Analysis of Form, basic Figure Sculpting, Still life Painting, and the dreaded Color and Design will take you from "I like drawing sailor moon!" to a level of competency in basic drawing that will help you convey your thoughts and ideas to others in a clear manner. Yes, these classes can be tough. It's part of the weeding out process. Open admissions means they get a lot of students who aren't quite sure or ready to really dive in. If you can pass color & design, you'll probably survive the school. Most of the folks you meet in these classes will drop out by the 4th semester (in my experience)
Splattered into the rest of your time at AAU (again, as an undergrad) are the classic classes of any university. Art history, writing classes, random mythology and religion, as well as a few language classes, psychology, acting, and business law. If you're smart, you'll spread them out and use them as filler classes so you don't get stuck with three semesters in a row of tough, time intensive core classes.
As for the actual department, I am a fan. The instructors tend to be good, although we all differ in learning styles, so an instructor I like may be someone you can't learn from. I wish there was more diversity of instructors available within the character animation major, since it seems that the mid-level classes are all taught by the same person, and to get someone else you really have to go out of your way. This is assuming you aren't getting into the Pixar classes (I never took them, and now it seems silly to have wasted such a resource). I'm currently in Jeff Cooperman's class, and enjoying it immensely.
The major crunch in the labs happens around finals, when all the students come out of the woodwork with a dozen excuses why they're no longer working at home or are suddenly trying to do a full semesters worth of work in the final few days. Along with the advanced texture/lighting/rendermans students using a goodly portion of the labs to render out projects for days at a time, computers can be sparse. Best to keep up and work and get into the labs early early early in the day and stay late. Since the labs close around 1:30, 2 am, and opens at 7:30.. students are forced to go home and get some sleep. My mom laughed at this, but when she saw my best friend over at Ex'pressions staying at school and sleeping under the table for days at a home without showering or changing clothes.. the laughter turned into a nervous chuckle. Good or bad, it's policy.
To address the issue of AAU being a 'factory' trying to get your money.. well, sure, aren't most private schools the same way? Art is big money, and a very popular major. You pay because it costs to get instructors who CAN make more money doing something else. They're training their future competition. But, again, I'm ignoring the politics of the business. It really is just a distraction, as far as I'm concerned. So what if the owner is rich? I'm here to get an education, and as long as I insist on learning everything my teachers can toss at me, I'm doing just that.
Over all, my 6 year experience and education gets summed up with "4 stars".
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