Artworks of different genres have been delighting people from all ages and all places. We enjoy their beauty and their articulation, but we know nothing or very little about their creation process. The practice of aesthetic appreciation of art not only enables us to enjoy art through deeper understanding of the works, but also enables us to recognize and realize our creative potential and capability, as well as cultivates and broadens our vision of artistic culture. The course will be taught in two parts: Firstly, Introduction to visual and performing arts, which includes common lectures on What is Art? Art and Culture, Understanding Art Genres, Approaches to Art Appreciation. Secondly, Introduction to Visual Arts Appreciation, which includes lectures designed to equip the students with basic knowledge of the different visual art forms and teach them how to appreciate and interpret such artworks by illustrating the relationship between form/style to theme/culture. Masterpieces from different regions/places reveal not merely local colors, but also profound cultural contents, echoing profound problems of life for seeing and understanding the world.

After completing the course, students are able: 1. To comprehend how human experiences is imaginatively perceived, explored and aesthetically represented in visual art forms; 2. To appreciate visual artworks with aesthetic sensitively and cultural perceptivity 3. To read, create and interpret visual artworks in their cultural and social contexts from different perspectives; 4. To apply what they have learned from the course to aesthetic appreciation of visual artworks with genuine understanding and critical taste, making connection with major themes, concepts and ideas prevalent in visual art practices; 5. To further develop their aesthetic-moral character as well as faculties of imagination and critical thinking