Enjoy the Arts Artifact

Union TerminalThis coming summer, I have been offered the position of the Marketing and Outreach Intern for Enjoy the Arts, based out of the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal (as pictured here). Enjoy the Arts is a non-profit organization that connects people aged 35 and younger with free passes to art- and culture-fueled entertainment. In this role, I will work to strategically market and grow the brand through social media and marketing development, cultivation of arts partnerships, and coordination of outreach events. In this position, I will not only be immersed in multi-cultural events and put into contact with a variety of arts organization leaders, but additionally will be able to apply my strategic communications major in a real-world context. This experience is highly significant to me, as it represents not only a chance to advance in my chosen field, but additionally the opportunity to interact with an arts community I have cared deeply about for my entire life. In applying for the position, I additionally gained a great deal of experience in the job application process, and built a resume which will be highly useful to me in apply for careers and graduate school after my time at Ohio State has concluded.

Wexner Center Artifact

3484952969_e3fdb55421_bThis artifact represents my experience training as a docent at the Wexner Center for the Arts over the past year. In entering this training program, I have been able to not only reconcile my extracurricular pursuits with my career goals (of working in arts administration), but pushed in both my cultural and communicative skills. This program has allowed me to explore my passion for contemporary art while additionally exposing me to global visual culture – from the multitude of foreign artists displayed in After Picasso, to the distinct artistic language of Noah Purifoy, whose art is indebted to his perception of African-American history. Throughout my training, I have gained skills in group communication, soothing cultural tensions (which are often raised via controversial artworks), and working within a past-paced, constantly changing environment. Especially surprising to me was the constantly evolving nature of the Wex – a museum with no permanent collection, and instead a revolving door of artistic offerings. I believe that these abilities will serve me well in pursuing museum administration, helping me to communicate well within group, tailor my messages to a demographic context, and furthering my passion for the art world.

Manet Artifact

Édouard_Manet_-_Women_at_the_Races_-_Google_Art_ProjectOne achievement of the past semester I am particularly proud of is my completion of an extensive research paper on Edouard Manet’s Women at the Races. In drafting this essay, I was pushed to delve into the mind of a 19th century flâneur, assuming the cultural perspective of intellectuals of both another language and another time. This paper was significant to me for both its depth and scope, as it challenged me to not only complete extensive research, but additionally take on a cultural perspective quite disparate from my own. One particularly surprising aspect of this paper for me was my discovery of the progressive nature of many of Manet’s works from a gendered perspective. Despite the vast inequity and sexism of France in the 1800s, in this work elevates its subjects from objects of masculine visual consumption – as typified in the male gaze perpetrated in most works of the era – to active participants in society. This upset both my cultural and historical assumptions, challenging me as both a writer and a researcher.

Read My Paper Here: Women at the Races

Alpha Chi Omega Artifact

Screen Shot 2016-04-15 at 4.07.21 PMOne of the most meaningful experiences of my time at Ohio State has been my membership in the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. As a sister of Alpha Chi, I have been surrounded by the past year with a group of challenging, supportive, and diverse college women who have pushed me to be my best, both personally and academically. My sisters provide me with constant encouragement, and inspire me on a daily basis. I have been provided with many different extracurricular outlets, from leadership (I serve as the Chi Connections chair, working to foster relations between new and active members) to philanthropy (where I have helped with our efforts to raise awareness for victims of Domestic Violence). Alpha Chi has pushed me to rethink my own stereotypes of what a sorority woman is, and can be. Members of my chapter are published researchers, campus leaders, community activists, and global citizens. In my sisterhood, I have found a community of women who are there with me whenever I call – whether it is to cram out a late night cram session at our chapter’s study hours, talk politics, network with post-grad, or just devour some Chipotle. Above all, they propel me everyday to be a “Real, Strong, Woman.”

Bharat Mata Artifact

Bharat MataOne of the most meaningful academic experiences I have undergone in the past year was my completion of my History of Art compositional seminar thesis. This paper – the culmination of a semester’s worth of research, editing, advising, and sleepless nights – is an exploration of the Indian artist M.F. Husain’s controversial 2006 painting Bharat Mata, or Mother India. This paper not only allowed me to explore in-depth contemporary Indian art (a genre underrepresented in both American classrooms and museums) but provided me with the opportunity to connect my 2015 travels in Northern India with my History of Art major. In writing my paper, I was able to connect Husain’s work with the Bharat Mata Mandir we explored while abroad, establishing the painting as a call for nationalistic unification, not a divisive and derogatory representation of a Hindu goddess by a Muslim artist.

This essay forced me out of my research comfort zone, encouraging me to explore resources far beyond the scope I would exploit for a normal Ohio State assignment, and additionally necessitated the utilization of translators. It additionally awoke in me a deep passion for Husain’s art, which connected my affection for Indian visual culture I accumulated while traveling abroad with my adoration of contemporary art. Due to this paper, I believe I have landed upon the topic I wish to further explore in drafting my senior thesis. I additionally believe that I will pursue contemporary Indian art as my graduate focus – a path which would tie my interest in global culture into my love of art history.

Read My Paper Here: Bharat Mata

About Me

Courtney-181-3655732928-OMy name is Courtney Johnson, and I am a Second Year student majoring in Strategic Communications and History of Art, with a minor in South Asian Studies. I am a member of both the Honors and International Affairs Scholars programs at Ohio State. Additionally, I am Vice President of the Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary, a volunteer at the James Cancer Research Hospital, a reporter for the Ohio State student newspaper, The Lantern, and a member of Alpha Chi Omega. I participated in the IA Scholars 2015 trip to India, and as a member of STEP plan to work at the non-profit Enjoy the Arts as a Marketing and Communications Intern this summer. After graduation, I wish to enter a graduate program and obtain a Master’s Degree in Art History. Professionally I plan to work either in curation or publishing.

While I will always be a Cincinnati girl at heart, I have always had a passion for travel and strong interest in global issues. When I reflect on my life, some of the most pivotal and perspective-shifting experiences I have undergone have been when I have been pushed out of my Ohioan bubble, and into realms beyond my comfort zone. These early travels – to British Columbia, England, Scotland, France, Mexico, etc. – helped me to gain perspective into my place in the world, and my role in larger global forces.

These past experiences and passions were among the factors which initially drew me to the International Affairs Scholars program at OSU. The opportunity to connect my academic focus with my extracurricular interests, in addition to the connectedness offered vis-à-vis the group of student-scholars, was an exciting proposition, and helped cement my decision to attend the university. When I think of IA Scholars, I think of a group of diverse and intelligent students – whose majors range from chemical engineering to art history – all tied together in a community which fosters international exploration, multicultural exposure, and life-changing academic inquiry.

Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio

Hello, and welcome to my Honors and Scholars e-Portfolio! My name is Courtney Johnson, and I am a second-year member of the International Affairs Scholars Program at The Ohio State University. Over the past two years, IA has helped me to expand my world view, connect my academic focus with real-life culture, and kept me attuned to happenings in contemporary global policy. This portfolio will elaborate and expand upon some to the influential experiences I’ve undergone while at OSU, and how IA has affected me personally and academically. Enjoy!

Year in Review

My membership in the International Affairs Scholars Program at The Ohio State University has had an indelible and transformative impact upon my college experience, and forever changed the path my life has been set upon. By facilitating my travels in Northern India last May, not only was I exposed to a culture which has captured my heart and my imagination, I was also given the art historical basis upon which I plan to build my scholastic career – both in composing my senior honors thesis, and in providing me with an area of concentration for my ambition of future graduate-level work. Between my time abroad (which will remain a cherished memory for the rest of my life) and the variety of cultural exposure I gained as result of IA programming, I believe I have been transformed into not only a better scholar, but additionally a more informed and active global citizen.

And while my relationship with my Global Citizenship mentee has not amounted to everything that I anticipated, I remain very close to my own mentor, and continue to see her on a weekly basis. She was not only an invaluable resource during my freshman year and a continuous fount of support as a sophomore, but additionally guided me to membership in Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, the base upon which most of my most important relationships of the past year have been built. Without her, I cannot imagine where I would be. My college experience has been forever changed because of her guidance – my mentor Maggie truly made Ohio State my home.

Over the past year I believe I have additionally cemented my status as a leader, and as a extracurricularly involved student. When I entered OSU, I was vaguely lost and uncertain about who, and what, I wanted to be. But via my participation in student organizations – many of which I was initially exposed to through Honors & Scholars resources, or contacts made within IA, I have not only built a résumé which connected me with my dream internship, but additionally have grown as a citizen of this university and as a philanthropically-minded individual.

All in all, I believe that I have matured vastly through my participation in the International Affairs Scholars Program. I am a more confident, aware, and prepared student, with a mind opened through the cultural exposure I have gained. In reflecting on the past year, I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been provided with, and feel ready to face any challenges I have to come.

G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness: My participation in the International Affairs Scholars Program while at The Ohio State University has vastly increased my participation and awareness in global policy, and truly transformed me into a citizen of the world. My participation in the IA May 2015 trip to Northern India greatly increased my awareness of culture, history, and contemporary issues in that region, acquainting me with an area of the world I may have never otherwise encountered. The life changing interactions  I had there – from trekking to an ancient hilltop palace-fort, to touring a rural village – gave me a vested interest in a nation far from my daily routine, and a desire to stay in-touch with current affairs there. I truly began to feel at home in India, and I miss the vibrancy of life and diversity of experience I encountered there every day.

Original Inquiry: Over the past semester, I have engaged in extensive original inquiry in my composition of two in-depth research theses. In drafting these works – one a rumination on 19th century flânerie in the work of Édouard Manet, the other an exploration of nationalistic identity in the art of M.F. Husain – I utilized many of the scholastic resources this university has to offer in search of evidence to support my arguments. These experiences have helped me to take initial steps in planning my senior thesis, and have endowed me with the research skills I will require if I am to pursue a graduate degree.

Academic Enrichment: While at the Ohio State University, I am pursuing a dual degree in History of Art and Strategic Communications. I have additionally enrolled in the Honors Program, out of a desire to complete a more rigorous curricular program, which has pushed me to explore upper-level course work I may not have otherwise had the opportunity to pursue. My membership in the International Affairs Program has additionally provided an invaluable supplement to my classroom experience, enabling me to attend fascinating lectures on topics as varied as public health in Africa and the roots of the current Syrian conflict. I have additionally been invited to membership in four honoraries which reward high levels of university academic achievement – ALD/PES, Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary, Chimes Junior Class Honorary, and the Order of Omega.

Leadership Development: For the past year, I have served as the Vice President of Programming for Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary, and acted as the Executive Director of the Mirrors Ball – an annual charity gala which benefits the James Cancer Hospital. In this role, I lead the organization, funding, and execution of this major event, coordinating dozens of volunteers, hundreds of guests, and nearly 20 sponsors and donators to raise almost $3,000 to benefit the James. I have additionally been recently elected as Head of Fundraising for Chimes Junior Class Honorary, and serve as the Chi Connections Chair for Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity.

Service Engagement: For the last year I have worked as a Restful Nights Volunteer at the James Cancer Hospital, taking time once a week to visit with inpatient visitors as they recover from chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplants, and the like. Providing amenities that promote a calm and restful environment, such as eye masks, earplugs, neck pillows, and reading materials, I have the chance to often visit and speak with these patients, discussing their treatment and providing some much-needed company. I’m often surprised by the diverse life experiences they mention – from the former member of the Israeli army, to a retired Ohio State professor of 40 years. I additionally participate in events to promote Domestic Violence Awareness through my membership in Alpha Chi – an especially important pursuit considering 1 in 5 college women will be sexually assaulted during their time at university. And I additionally was able to participate in several service pursuits abroad while traveling Northern India with IA scholars, from making roti in a communal lehenga kitchen, to working with children in impoverished inner-city Delhi.

Career

enjoy-the-arts-logo-2013This summer I will be serving at the Marketing & Outreach Intern for Enjoy the Arts, a non-profit organization that provides free cultural activities, arts access, and special events for people under 35 in the Greater Cincinnati area. In this position I will be tasked with many duties, such as assisting with communications (including social media, media outreach, and web/print marketing), compiling research, planning and implementing Enjoy the Arts’ community, university, and youth events, and finding artistic/community partnerships and cross-promotional opportunities. All of this experience will be highly applicable in pursuing my future ambitions of working in arts administration, and the skills gained will be transferable to many different communicative positions within the field. Additionally, in fulfilling the requirements of this role, I will be able to draw upon curricular knowledge gained through work in my major of Strategic Communications, and utilize abilities fostered through my extra-curricular position as Vice President of Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary.

Read My Résumé Here: Courtney Johnson Résumé