Judith Bettelheim

Dr. Bettelheim is the worst instructor I have had at State. I am taking PreHispanic Art-not listed on the choices for this review.There are two exams for the course and only those who receive an "A" on the first one are given the "privelege" of writing a reserach paper-others would not be "qualified" as they are "struggling" with grades. The pace is as fast as it gets-much like a summer intensive study. Slides are up for a moment and gone-available later for viewing upstairs for 1 week "up in the hall"-that is if you are not working-taking back to back classes and have time to have a look see, draw them, photograph them or just memorize on the spot. Her favorite question/statement is "does everyone have it?-is everyone with me? (waits for no answer)-"good lets move on". Slides are numerous (take up most of the class time) and since there is absolutely no hint as to what are more important works-watch out! I have taken numerous art history classes and most instructors spend much more time-review important slides before an exam and don't try to speed through the material. She is unavailable-rude and answers questions with questions.I regret taking this course and have not even completed it yet. If you approach her after class she will simply point out she has no time to talk. She has a very unfriendly manner, a superior tone in her communication and in my opinion is not a good instructor. She is compulsive about the subject matter and wrongly assumes students are as well.The subject is interesting but this instructor plays out like a negative who gets in the way of understanding it and enjoying it. She gives out very little information and it is a guessing game. It is impossible to memorize hundreds of slides or even recall them from a 1 or 2 minute viewing.Some students went upstairs and "drew" them on cards and others tried to photograph them-it is ridiculous-as if the slides (what the tests are on mainly) are "off limits" after 5 days and students will "never" have access again. She also rambles and brings up insignificant details such as a title of something is really not the real title but it is used for lack of better. One day she told the students "shhhh" instead of just stating she was starting the class-a very controlling and odd woman who seems to just be captivated by a subject-not teaching it well enough so others can learn from her. She often challenges her own required text and pointed out she didn't "agree" with things in it.If you have another choice-or option take it. I didn't and had to take it.

Judith Bettelheim's approach to teaching is as problematic as her expectations of her students. Within her non-western courses she teaches, she expects students to spend several hours each week 'memorizing' a juxtaposed assortment of imagery. There are two exams a semester and the exams fixate on small details that are easy to miss. During her lectures, she expects her students to read her study guide, while simultaneously listening to her lecture, take notes, and view the slides on the screen. By the time I had found the correct page in the study guide, Judith was already onto another subject.

It is great that Judith has and continues to focus on marginalized cultures outside of the traditional canon of Art History, but it is a shame that her scope is as narrow and opininated as she is as an individual.

As a graduate from the Art History program at SFSU, I highly recommend avoiding Judith Bettelheim.

I had Judith for a graduate seminar class which is structured differently than an lecture class or survey course would be. The class was smaller and more intimate so there was more interaction on my part with Judith the teacher, than judith the facilitator and teacher. I feel that Judith is direct and to the point with her views and opinions. I found myself thinking hard and self conscious about what I was going to say before I spoke in class. We couldn't get away with generalizations within what we were talking and were pushed to have a grasp on it. I got my first migraine in the preparation for the presentation I gave in her class. I consider my experience with her to be a positive one and I enjoyed her class because it pushed me in my articulation within a setting like that, as well as being set against a high standard or expectation. I feel, as a person, a lot of people get offended or hurt by Judith because they want a nurturing type of teacher, but I'd personally rather be challenged, especially within this field.

The grading system used to evaluate students in this course was based on the outcome of two exams, which consisted of ambiguous material which may or may not have been explained adequately in class. I found myself in a sea of contradicting statements, a course reader in need of both an update and a proof read. Bettelheim seemed more interested in her own agenda(s) than in helping her students. Most people I spoke with were confused by conflicting information between the reader, textbooks, and lecture material. I found myself run ragged in class, frantically trying to scribble down what seemed to be a rushing river of facts, which flowed in whichever direction was randomly chosen. This is not coming from someone who didn't try or care about the class. The material which was covered was very interesting, but the way it was presented significantly detracted from it. Overall, I hope Dr. B. will read this and redo her course reader, because I think that it's unfair to continue to use the current one, which feels like it was put together rather haphazardly. This art survey course shouldn't be easy, but the expectations should be more clear.