As instructor for the Arts of China course this J term, I am very much looking forward to introducing the students in our group to some of the wonderful artistic traditions in China that I love.

I remember when I did not have any particlar understanding or appreciation for these non-Western traditions, and I remember clearly those "AHA!" moments of discovery when I suddenly found that I understood them- like opening a door that had always been there and discovering a beautiful new world behind it.

Usually those AHA moments have happened to me when I was "on the road"- deeply immersed in a culture by living and traveling in it. I hope to be able to give our group some opportunities for these moments during our three weeks together in China.

I also hope to foster a deep discussion of how we value the arts, both our own and those of other cultures. How much is an old tradition "worth?" What is it good for? How many rexources should be expended on preserving it, or is it better to "let it go?"

China is a very dynamic place these days, and it sometimes seems that many Chinese don't feel they have the time to worry about the past when the future is roaring down the road at them so rapidly. I hope we will be able to engage some members of the Chinese arts community in a discussion of the value of art in a rapidly changing, modern world.