Ralph Smith's Concept of Aesthetic Experience and its Curriculum Implications

Abstract

Based on the aesthetic philosophies of Monroe Beardsley and others, Smith has shaped a view of art education based on the excellence of aesthetic experience afforded by exemplary works of art. Although aesthetic experience is valuable, it may not provide grounds to justify the teaching of art. Four difficulties are noted: (a) determining whether students are having quality aesthetic experiences, (b) attention to exemplary works limits opportunities to judge artworks independently, (c) a tendency to exclude problematic works, and (d) a tendency to limit study to modern or premodern works.