Perceiving the Arts

Dennis J. Sporre is an internationally prominent and award-winning writer, scholar, and artist. He has a bachelor's degree in Speech and Drama with a minor in music from Central Michigan University and a graduate degree in theatre scenic design and technology from the University of Iowa. Until his retirement he was a tenured professor, department head, and dean at various universities across the United States, including Ball State University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, The Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Arizona. His administrative and teaching experience has encompassed interdisciplinary courses in the humanities and fine arts. He has sung professionally and designed scenery and lighting for more than fifty productions. His writings, including more than a dozen books, numerous journal articles, and poetry, have covered numerous topics including the humanities, theatre history, and design and technology. He has spent decades traveling the world researching and experiencing the arts and cultures about which he writes.

Brief Contents



Chapter 1. Introduction: What Are the Arts and How do We Respond to and Evaluate Them?
Chapter 2. Pictures: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, and Photography
Chapter 3. Sculpture
Chapter 4. Architecture
Chapter 5. Music
Chapter 6. Literature
Chapter 7. Theatre
Chapter 8. Cinema
Chapter 9. Dance