A Brief History of Western Modern Art and Design

Author: Zheng Lijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book comprehensively summarizes the history of Western modern design, covering the design movement in arts and crafts, the of modern design, and the mutual influence among designers, from inheritance and development to the expression of individuality. The text is clear and accessible, accompanied by numerous illustrations, making it highly readable. As China undergoes modernization, not only has aesthetic education become a key aspect of humanities education for college students, but also enriching and enhancing the quality of life for the general population through aesthetic forms and applied technology has become an inevitable trend. Most art academies are increasingly focusing on cultivating applied talents rather than traditional fine artists or pure art creators. This shift necessitates adjustments in teaching approaches. Serving education is one of the primary duties of a publishing house, and in response to this change, we have prioritized the reform and revision of textbooks. In the teaching of applied talents in university art and design programs, practical and applied technical subjects have become the core of the curriculum, and most students spend a significant amount of time on these areas during their studies. To accommodate this, universities and departments have adjusted faculty allocation, course schedules, and even educational models to align with disciplinary development. Our publishing house has actively collaborated to publish a series of applied foundational textbooks across various disciplines to meet these needs. Many of these textbooks have been well-received by teachers and students, gaining considerable influence. However, we have also collaborated with faculty and authors from several universities to address another critical issue: Is higher education and vocational training in art academies merely aimed at cultivating skilled craftsmen? What is the difference between higher education and vocational training? The answer is clear. Higher education should focus on cultivating designers and opening a path to train technically skilled professionals with creative and innovative abilities. In a four-year undergraduate program at universities, theoretical and historical-theoretical courses are absolutely essential and should form the backbone of the knowledge structure. Overemphasizing applied and practical courses while neglecting foundational theoretical learning is highly risky. In response to this adjustment, Shanghai People's Art Publishing House has decided to develop two sets of theoretical textbooks to enrich our publishing portfolio. One set is titled "Series of Theoretical Textbooks for Higher Education in Fine Arts," primarily focusing on traditional fine arts theories. The other set is "Series of Theoretical Textbooks for Higher Education in Design," focusing on foundational theories in art and design. Both sets share a unified concept and are developed in strict accordance with the teaching requirements of the Ministry of Education. In the planning and manuscript acquisition process, we have prioritized the presentation and arrangement of key knowledge points and learning objectives. At the same time, we have adapted to the reading habits of modern students by combining the readability of the textbooks with interactive visual materials. Our goal is to overcome the rigid and outdated appearance of traditional theoretical books through the best possible book design, making these two sets of textbooks valuable tools for achieving our pursuit of perfect teaching goals, demonstrating our ongoing efforts.