Nearly 100 million viewers across the country donned their respective jerseys and broke out the buffalo wings while tuning in to watch the face-off between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals at this year's Super Bowl. Three weeks later, only 36 million sat down on the couch with a bucket of popcorn to root for the best in the movie business at the Academy Awards.
Both events took place on Sunday nights. Both are special in that they only occur once a year. Both events were highly anticipated in that they pulled top-notch players from the athletic arena and the most talented from the Hollywood pool. Yet, despite the equally appealing factors of both affairs, one overwhelmingly captured the attention span of the majority of Americans, and the other flopped. Based upon the statistics, does this perhaps indicate that we would rather see the Steelers take home the Lombardi Trophy than watch Sean Penn give an acceptance speech for Best Actor? And if so, what does this say about our appreciation for the arts?
Then again, some people believe that film is not art and therefore, Penn's emotionally powerful and acclaimed performance in "Milk" isn't all that exceptional. It seems that, slowly but surely, respect for the art world is declining - with UConn being no exception.
On Feb. 23, UConn President Michael Hogan told the Hartford Courant that he is considering closing the Benton Museum and the Museum of Natural History, stating that they are "not at the center of the academic mission."
By closing these buildings, the result would be that the university would be saving $1.25 million.
During these times of economic struggle, it is inevitable that cuts will have to be made and programs will have to be compromised. Tuition will likely be increased for the next academic year although the specific amount is yet to be confirmed. While I'm not sure what changes will follow besides student tuition, I'm quite sure that one does not need to be the next Picasso or Pollock to acknowledge that the closing of the Benton would be a considerable loss to the value of UConn.
One of the most important contributions of the Benton is that is provides a sense of community for UConn students. Whether you are an art history or a computer science major, the Benton is a place for students, regardless of their academic pursuits, to come together and enjoy art. First-time visitors can catch a museum tour or take a few minutes to check their e-mail at one of the computer stations at Café Muse between classes.
"The Benton is probably the most relaxing place on campus," said Vishal Bhuva, an 8th-semester molecular and cell biology major. "The atmosphere is so laid back. I love the puzzle table! I mean, when was the last time you helped put together a 1000 piece puzzle?"
If a student needs to get their mom a birthday present, you can support the museum by purchasing a tote bag with a beautiful Monet reproduction. Both gallery discussions and performances are among the many bonuses offered at the Benton that students are welcome to participate in and view.
Furthermore, the Benton serves as an academic tool to stimulate the intellectual growth of students, with a multitude of educational and cultural resources. The exhibits shown at the museum are not only exquisite to look at, but they are a testament to history. One of the current exhibits called "Yuyanapaq: To Remember" takes viewers on a shocking and powerful photographic journey depicting the political violence that consumed Peru from 1980-2000. Other exhibits incorporate sculpture, video, and graphics.
"The Benton is as crucial to the art students as a laboratory facility would be for science students: it is precious art space and our destination for when we need examples, inspiration, or research for our classes," said Caitlin Yates, a 6th-semester psychology major. "To shut it down would be a real handicap to the arts community."
The Academy Awards are the equivalent of the Superbowl. They are a celebration of the arts - not only with the art of acting, but photography, writing, visual effects, directing, cinematography, fashion (the individuals on the red carpet are literally walking works of art), and more.
As Penelope Cruz stressed in her Best Supporting Actress speech, "Art, in any form, is, has been, and will always be, the universal language and we should do everything we can to protect its survival." We need to protect the survival of art within the UConn campus, and we can start with the preservation of the Benton Museum.
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