VISUAL AESTHETICS

What we think about art has a direct impact on how we experience and make art. Visual aesthetics involves the study of art theory and the concept of "beauty" as it specifically relates to the visual arts. Union currently offers six specified courses in the area of visual aesthetics: Visual Aesthetics I: The Western Tradition, Classical Greece to the Renaissance; Visual Aesthetics II: The Western Tradition, The Renaissance to the 19th Century; Visual Aesthetics III: The Japanese and Native North American Traditions; Visual Aesthetics IV: The Western Tradition 1900-1950; Visual Aesthetics V: The Western Tradition 1950-2000; and Visual Aesthetics VI: Contemporary Issues 2000-Present. Through these courses, the student will examine and explore such timeless art questions as: What is art? What is the nature of art? What is the value of art? What is the function of art? How do we evaluate art? and What is beauty? In addition, the student will learn how to better "read" works of art through the study of symbolism and iconography.