Definition
Courses bearing the Aesthetic Understanding (A) designation explore visual art, music, theatre and film. These courses provide students with the opportunity to understand our cultural heritage as expressed in works of artistic expression created by others and/or to create these kinds of works themselves. Students study the creative process itself in order to better understand and evaluate works intended to provoke an aesthetic response.
Goals
- To become acquainted with major achievements in the arts.
- To explore the cultural and historical context of artistic achievements.
- To learn techniques for critical analysis and appreciation of works of art.
- To acquire an appropriate vocabulary with which to articulate this knowledge.
- (In classes focusing on creative experience) To learn the techniques, discipline, and value of creating works intended to evoke an aesthetic response.