The course formulates an aesthetics for the art of the world as a whole. It takes up the art of China, India, Europe, and Africa, from the standpoint of tradition, anti-tradition, the mutual influence of the different cultures, and characteristics possibly common to the art of all of them. It ends by contrasting local with universal judgment.
The seminar is meant for graduate students (especially of philosophy or art), but a particularly well-equipped undergraduate may be accepted at the teacher’s discretion. While the course is yearly, some students may be admitted at the teacher’s discretion at mid-year.
The main basis for the course is an unpublished book, written in English, named A Philosophy of World Art. Apart from weekly reading assignments in the book, students are expected to write brief weekly essays and a course essay, usually a seminar paper. Class sessions are devoted mainly to discussion.
A student’s mark is based mainly on his or her course essay.