Art, Aesthetics and Theories of Interpretation offers students an introduction to art, broadly defined to encompass written, oral, aural, visual, and kinesthetic forms.   Courses in this category are intended to help students understand how works of art and other expressions of cultural traditions are created, how they mediate the relationship between our thoughts and senses, and how these experiences can be interpreted. Upon completing a course in this category, students should have met at least three (3) of the following learning goals:

Learning Goals for AAI

  1. Define, evaluate, and use critical vocabulary that facilitates the analysis of both artistic form and content.
  2. Explore the boundaries of what constitutes art, as well as its role in society and in our lives.
  3. Evaluate the moral dimensions of art, including values underlying aesthetic criteria, public reception, and the ability to promote appreciation of alternative worldviews.
  4. Analyze works of art or literature, using various critical or theoretical methodologies.
  5. Situate works of art or literature in their relevant historical, cultural and intellectual contexts.
  6. Construct creative and cogent interpretations of art or literature in written, oral, visual or digital presentations.
  7. Exercise creative expression in the practice of art-making, performance, literary uses of language, or other forms of cultural production.