May 12th, 2014

MFA THE NEW MBA?

There is no question that there has been a seismic shift within this topic. Gone are the days and nights where left-brain thinkers excel without incorporating right hemispherical abilities within their work. Many are posturing that the high-paying executive careers now filled with 'left-brainers', will be replaced by the 'creatives', otherwise known as the right-brained types. For what has often been denigrated for decades, our right side is no longer deemed  the lesser brain functioning power.

Meditation, creative arts, and music are only several activities to further utilize the right brain. For example, with an opportunity of viewing art, remember this - the very act of seeing involves the ability of our eyes to perceive two different ways. We each tend to favour one over the other - optically or tactilely. Optically, we focus on the light and dark qualities and colour. Tactilely, our eyes reach out with their 'rays' to 'touch' the entity, noticing the dimensional qualities. Initially, the painting's surface quality or texture is noticed. Application of both types of viewing, say, a piece of art, contributes to an awareness of the lights and darks, colours, synthesis, 'warp and weave' and more.

Whether or not, the Master of Fine Arts is the new MBA as posited by many researchers, I agree with Tom Davenport (Harvard Business) that all jobs require input from both sides of the brain. Having a lifestyle which combines and balances  both hemispheres on a daily basis, I will suggest that there are lessons an MBA might learn from an MFA.

Re-posted from my other site dated June 05, 2013