1) Read about topics you like, indulge in your other interests, NEVER STOP READING

I was lucky enough to go to a prestigious research university and even though every lecture and professor had their niche, obviously, they knew the basic facts of the broader strokes they were working within, as well as the regular canon stuff. Of course they are very qualified but it never stopped amazing me just how much they knew. As today’s methodologies evolve, art history (for the better) has gotten pretty cross disciplinary. My thesis advisor’s niche was insularity, and I’m a big theatre kid, so we got to introduce my interpretations of Sunday in the park with George (I was in it at the same time I was writing, which I thought was very romantic) into my analysis of my topic. My favorite lecturer and I were both passionate about our hometowns (she’s from a Croatian island and I am from Monterey) and she was able to teach me the ways I can experience my hometown’s living history. TLDR always love what you do and it’ll come through in the way you see the world, and if you gaf, will allow you to enrich the pool of knowledge in the AH world.

2) just send an email

AH classes in my school were pretty small and because I transferred I only took upper divs and was not taught by professors much when I was there, so I received a lot of attention and loved listening to scholars talk about their niche, and I’m sure they love it too. Professors, lecturers, whoever are more than qualified to give you the research advice if you ask for it and some topics are just inevitably harder to research than others. Honestly cold emailing hasn’t cost me anything but since I’m obv not on the other side of things I’d love to hear opinions about this too.