ABSTRACT
The PhD research examines the concept of a PhD in fine art, inclusive of historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives, in order to better understand the perceptions of six artist or teachers toward the possible introduction of the PhD in fine art into the United States. The participants were all Master of Fine Arts (MFA) faculty who teach within influential art school cultures, and are professional artists active within the greater art world. The chapter explores the ways in which these visual artists understood themselves, their position within the art community, and how their lived experiences affected their views concerning the PhD in fine art. Through the structure of a collective case study and the employment of the active interview approach, the authors attempted to gain a more informed understanding of how artists in the United States perceive the concept of the fine art PhD in relation to their roles as teachers, researchers, and makers of art.
