To consider how policy, design, and planning might affect human behavior to achieve more sustainable and just landscapes, this seminar will introduce and critically discuss theories about aesthetic experience of landscapes.  It will focus on everyday landscapes, drawing comparisons among cultural experiences and with well-known landscape designs.  Course readings and class discussions will draw on literature in social science, design, and philosophy of aesthetics, and importantly, students’ own experiences.  Students from all disciplines are welcomed to this seminar.

 “Aesthetic experience” means enjoyment of noticeable characteristics. The underlying premise for linking landscape aesthetics and human behavior is:

People protect or change landscapes to make places that conform with their personal, social, and cultural aesthetic values - about nature, care, stewardship, neighborliness, and financial value.  These values and their associated landscape characteristics can be tactically employed in landscape interventions that also support more healthy, just and sustainable urban and rural landscapes.  In short, to promote behavior that supports sustainable and just landscapes, use landscape characteristics give people immediate enjoyment.

The course will have two activities:  First, a series of student-led discussions of required readings to establish a shared conceptual foundation for further examination; each week two or three papers from the refereed literature will be discussed. Second, discussions of topics related to individual student papers, in which students pursue their own interests.  Papers are short (less than 5000 words with references) fully referenced (APA Style) paper.  The paper will initially be produced as a draft for feedback before final submission.