Tzu Han Hong

6.17 Discover and Create Beauty: An Interdisciplinary Journey Through Visuals and Words (Paper)

Tzu Han Hong – Hong Jen Junior High School, Taichung City, Taiwan

Abstract:

The main purpose of this course is to explore intermediality and interdisciplinarity. Throughout the course, students will discover, experience, and create beauty via photography, literary creation, and emotional exploration. Students will be able to achieve personal growth while being actively engaged in exploring their environments. Photography is a crucial element of this course. Students can express their personal feelings and show their perspective of the world through images. They will explore individual and collective aesthetics by taking photos on campus and be engaged in group discussions. One of the objectives of this course is to create visual-textual artwork. Students will write a poem based on the photo they took and combine everything into an artwork. Furthermore, instructors will hold on-campus exhibitions and arrange inter-school postcard exchanges to allow students to showcase their creation and share their piece with students from other schools. The interdisciplinary approach used in this course integrates various fields. Students will develop photography skills and aesthetic appreciation. They will also feel empowered to express their emotion through poetry. Upon completion of this course, students will gain social and cultural awareness through collective discussions and interaction with people outside of their school. As for the teaching methods, instructors will be guiding students on exploring their surroundings and encouraging group discussions. The program also includes creative workshops, reflective journaling, and exhibition planning. Former students who have taken this course show improvements in visual literacy, literary expression, and critical thinking. They also build up a higher self-awareness and a better cross-cultural understanding. This unique learning experience not only enhances students’ artistic and expressive abilities but also deepens their understanding of themself and their environment. Overall, it lays a foundation for lifelong learning and aesthetic appreciation.