Quincy Childs

That’s amazing that you remember me and have managed to find me on social media! I have great memories from that trip and I’m so flattered that I made an impression on you at what age were we, twelve? Leave me a message if you like! It’d be nice to catch up after all this time. Take care xx

I know exactly the feeling. Before deciding to pursue History of Art my major was Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. I was happy studying that as well, but nothing makes me feel so alive as researching art history and art theory. It’s really a new awakening for me that is endlessly invigorating. I’m happy you can share this experience! I recommend reading any books by Gombrich. He was an incredible art historian and a pioneer in making a classically erudite subject more accessible to the common reader. From there, I have really just educated myself by visiting libraries, museums, and galleries. Fortunately I live in NYC which is a wellspring of collections from ancient to contemporary art. Something I do miss is the architecture of Europe though, save for New Yorks Gothic churches. In your case, not knowing where you live, I recommend going to your local library and seeing what they have. I find myself reading anything that is available to me and constantly ordering ebooks from Amazon. Some books that I can recommend in particular, besides Gombrich’s bibliography, are Hook’s ‘Breakfast at Soptheby’s’ (more about the art market but still historical), Fernie’s ‘Art History and Its Methods: A Critical Anthology’, and Hollander’s ‘The Gazer’s Spirit’.

The first week they opened I happened to walk by, inquired about weekend availability, and they gave me the job right away! Now we have a full staff so if you want to apply they’ll ask for a resume and probably interview you. But luckily I vibed at ‘hello’ with them. I love my weekend job there, stop bye and say hi sometime!

It’s funny I was going to recommend Proust as that book is a real ‘chef d’œuvre’. Maybe read it in English first and then attempt it in French. Something simpler but also a classic would be Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris. In general, I recommend Sartre’s ‘Nausea’, Flaubert’s ‘Madame Bovary’, and Maupassant’s ‘Bel Ami’. Also, try dabbling in the theoretical works of Foucault, Deleuze, Derrida, and Dumas (fancy film theory?). And of course, all the poetry of Rimbaud and Baudelaire. Profites-bien !

In general, I think every relationship, romantic or friendly, should empower you and inspire you in some way. Whether that is an intellectual or emotional stimulus, it should be constructive. If you feel empty or negative due to someone in your life, you should reconsider how much time you spend with them. Ultimately, there are so many people in this world that a “toxic” friendship is not worth the trouble pursuing. However, if the person seems to be in trouble or afflicted in some way, be a true friend and try your best to help them.