Filling the 'gap' in aesthetic education

High education indicator

Speaking at the seminar “Aesthetic education in the university education system - Theoretical and practical issues”, Prof. Dr. Huynh Nhu Phuong (Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University) said that when he was studying before 1975, his generation liked to sing historical songs and songs praising love for the homeland and country.

Now, on the youth art stage, he listens to more rap songs, which seem not to suit his own taste. But one day, by chance, he heard the songs “Bring money home for mom” and “Hide and seek” by rapper Den Vau, and he realized that the young audience has reasons to explain their preferences.

There is still a chance for generations to find empathy in art, not an insurmountable barrier. From the above example, Professor Huynh Nhu Phuong raised the issue of aesthetic education for the younger generation, in which the awareness of respecting the diversity of rich and healthy aesthetic tastes according to interests, gender, profession and each individual is determined.

Scientists and experts agree on the importance of aesthetic education in education, especially in the university education system. According to Dr. Bui The Duc - Vice Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art, literature and art as well as the cultural industry cannot exist and develop steadily without a workforce that is not only proficient in their profession, but also has a solid ideological and cultural foundation, and has refined, modern and healthy aesthetic tastes. At the same time, genuine literary and artistic works cannot exist without a public with good aesthetic orientation.

“Aesthetic education in schools plays an extremely important role, because the university system is the main source of human resources for literature and art and carries out the cultural industry; at the same time, students - a large proportion of the youth - are also the current and future audience of the country's literature and art”, Dr. Bui The Duc emphasized.

Professor Huynh Nhu Phuong believes that intellectual, moral, aesthetic and physical education are four organically related areas of comprehensive education, from preschool to university. Compared to the other three areas, aesthetic education is the most delicate and difficult to verify its effectiveness. Aesthetic education at each level has different requirements, goals and methods.

According to Professor Phuong, in today's era, when technology is developing, along with the fierce explosion of conflicts, people need to find a balance between the voice of science and conscience, between the ambition for power and material strength and the desire for beauty and harmony. Therefore, aesthetic education is the path to help people find a life in harmony with nature, society and those around them.

According to experts, although aesthetic education does not bring about practical and visible results like vocational training, it is an indicator of a high level of education. Students who are trained in theory and practice of classical art demonstrate a nation with a high level of education.

The State and the Ministry of Education and Training have tried to develop aesthetic education subjects in schools, from primary to university. However, the implementation still has many shortcomings due to historical circumstances, awareness of parents, students themselves, regulations and implementation organization...

Specializing in aesthetic and art education

Dr. Dao Le Na - lecturer of the Department of Art Studies (Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University) said that currently, aesthetic education for students is mainly carried out through the General Aesthetics course, with a duration of 2 theoretical credits, equivalent to 6 class sessions.

“Obviously, students will not learn much from a subject that is short in duration, large in number and whose lectures are often designed for many majors,” Dr. Na said. Realizing the importance of aesthetic education for students, some faculties such as Literature, Vietnamese Studies, Journalism and Communication have opened an additional subject called General Art Studies in specialized semesters.

According to Dr. Dao Le Na, some private and international universities currently have specialized faculties teaching art such as Fulbright Vietnam, Van Lang, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City Technology...

This is helpful for aesthetic education. Therefore, Ms. Na believes that if a department is established to research and teach programs related to aesthetic education or to open a training program in art, the problem of lack of staff to teach art subjects in schools will be solved.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thi Bich Ha - Head of the Department of Stage and Cinema Arts (Van Lang University), popular art forms such as stage and cinema attract a wide range of audiences. In particular, movies have a strong influence on young people, from costumes to manners, language to communication and behavior...

“There are many methods to educate the younger generation about aesthetics, but the method of education through culture and art is considered the most effective and has the fastest effect,” said Ms. Phan Thi Bich Ha.

Making some suggestions to improve the effectiveness of aesthetic education for learners, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Truyen - Head of the Department of Literature (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education) noted the need to integrate teaching and aesthetic education in the program, courses, and literary experience activities.

At Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, to bring aesthetic education closer to students, the school has integrated aesthetic and humanistic education into each subject. In addition, it is possible to study traditional and modern Vietnamese literature, and approach foreign literature inside and outside the school from an aesthetic and humanistic perspective.