Date of Award

Spring 5-31-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Caitlin Black

Second Advisor

Dr. Dimitris C. Papadopoulos

Third Advisor

Sejin Hwang

Abstract

This thesis investigated the critique process in art and design higher education, focusing specifically on student experiences at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Through a combination of autoethnographic reflection and a campus-wide student survey, the study explored how critique was perceived, practiced, and internalized by students across disciplines. Central to this inquiry was the emotional and pedagogical complexity of critique, which was often treated as an assumed skill rather than a learned process. Drawing from personal narrative, pedagogical literature, and qualitative data, the research proposed a framework of Trust (Barrett, 2019), Courage (Brown, 2022), and Responsiveness (hooks, 1994) as essential conditions for effective and meaningful critique. These findings revealed the need for institutions to move beyond critique as a ritualized performance and toward a more intentional, inclusive, and relational model that supports student growth, voice, and learning.

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