Art Institute of Chicago rebukes Kanye West's claim he's teaching a course there
Maybe he was just trying to manifest the opportunity.
Over the years, Kanye West’s Twitter usage has resulted in countless news articles, valid criticism, moments of excitement and, well, increasingly routine bouts of controversy. While fans are often reminded that sometimes ‘Ye is just being ‘Ye (and by that, we really mean he’s being the new ‘Ye), his online habits haven proven difficult not to overanalyze and comment on in the age that we live in.
Last week, the rapper-turned-fashion-entrepreneur casually took to his social media platform of choice to share that he “will teach a course at the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Academy of Art.” While fans, especially those in his hometown of Chicago, welcomed the prospect with open arms, it turns out the declaration was news to the institution itself.
“We’re flattered that Mr. West would have an interest in teaching emerging artists and designers at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,” Bree Witt, the school’s public relations director shared in a statement with the Chicago Tribune. “However, Mr. West is not currently teaching at SAIC, and at this time, there are no plans for him to do so.”
Perhaps West was just trying to manifest the opportunity or get a reaction out of fans. Either way, the instance serves as a reminder that not everything we read is rooted in truth, especially when the source can be as fleeting as the nature of the timeline itself.
Before committing to pursuing music full-time as an aspiring producer and rapper, the Chicago native briefly attended the American Academy of Art and Chicago State University in 1997, where his late mother Dr. Donda West worked as a professor. Years later, with his legacy in tact as a household name and entertainer, West was awarded an honors doctorate in 2015 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in March 2015 for his contributions to music, popular culture and fashion.
In addition to his claims about teaching in Chicago, West also announced plans to put a Yeezy office in his beloved hometown, as well as shared that there are plans to do a Comedy Jam and restore the Regal Theatre. While the first claim was verified as a reach at the moment, hopefully Ye will follow through with his other ideas.