Pre-Thought
Academia has both an official job market (listed positions, tenure- track or otherwise, each of which attracts between 100 and 200 applications according to the Hi Ed Chronicle) and a much larger unofficial job market of adjunct positions. Teaching experience -- and the M.F.A.degree itself -- count. but only so much. Applicants for listed jobs in creative fields are expected to have a body Creative Works,which increasingly includes one or more showings with reputable institutions. Most M.F.A. students do not have a strong portfolio by the time they graduate and would not meet the requirements for these jobs. So what needs to happen to have these recents grads. ready for work in the Academic world?

First Essay
Art in the Hellenistic period was different than that of the Classical period in many aspects. Hellenistic art was grandeur and more elaborate than before. Classical art dealt with ideal figures and images while art of Hellenistic artists used more realism. Alexander's campaign had a direct impact on these changes, especially in small art, such as jewelry and small objects. These items had Oriental and Egyptian influences. Architecture was also quite different. Temples of earlier times were simple in design being proportionally ideal and dealing only with straight lines. Style was usually classified by the columns that were used. Ionic columns were usually aligned in double rows and were both tall and slender. Corinthian order was even more elaborate than Ionic structures. Their columns were a lot more decorative and often used floral decorations. Proportions were still ideal only larger and more open. Temples became secular and had store in the back of them. Sculpture in Hellenistic times had greater degrees of movement, emotion, and realism. The Cnidarian Aphrodite was depicted in the nude. Until then women, especially goddesses, were heavily clothed. Portraiture, which had previously been uncommon unless for gods, became popular. Busts were commonly sculpted of prominent men. Some state coined money with the portrait of their kings, especially the Ptolemies in Egypt.

Second Essay
If you had to choose between selling what you wanted to sell, or what the majority of people wanted to buy, which would you choose? Are you sure? The truth is that you have already chosen, and your success in selling is determined largely by your answer to that question. Are you selling what you want to sell, or what the people want to buy? Noted psychologist Richard Exley warns that we Americans are beginning to define ourselves by our career choices, and not just externally, but internally as well. Many of us define “who we are” by “what we do,” and we suffer mentally and emotionally as a result. Think about it. Does selling a better quality of product help you see yourself as a better quality person? When you sell to an important customer, does it make you feel more important? It’s certainly not my intention to preach at you, but this is a matter which relates very directly to advertising and marketing. I think you’ll see my point in a moment. The sales volume of any retailer is determined solely by the retailer’s ability to serve the public in the manner the public best likes to be served. The retailer often says to Advertising, “Here’s what I want to sell. Now you go make people want to buy it,” never stopping to consider how much easier it would be if he would simply sell what the public is telling him they want. A willingness to do what it takes to be successful doesn’t make you a dishonest person. What it does make you is sensitive to what the public wants, and much more willing to give it to them. Increased sales and higher volume are your just reward. It’s the American Way.