On the afternoon of 6 January 2021, Professor Qi Zhixiang, President of the Shanghai AestheticsSociety and Director of theLiterature and Art Aesthetics Research Center of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, was invited by the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) to give an academic lecture entitled "A Historical Reflection on Aesthetic Criticism of Chinese Opera in Ancient China". The lecture was presided over by Professor Chen Jun, Dean of the Department of DramaticLiterature. More than 50 master and doctoralstudents and some teachers attended the lecture.
As the founder of the theory of "music sense aesthetics", Professor Qi Zhixiang first clarified the disciplinary definition of “aesthetics” for the students that it is the philosophy of studying beauty and art, and he shared the core point of view that "beauty is a valuable object of music sense", and also made a unique explanation for the students present . Talking about the Chinese opera theory and criticism in ancient China, Professor Qi pointed out the relationship between the two: "In ancient China, the Chinese opera theory was mainly presented through theChinese opera criticism, while the Chinese opera criticism came into being with the prosperity of Chinese opera creation." Professor Qi divided the history of Chinese opera criticism in ancient China into four stages, namely, germination, foundation, development and synthesis.
In the interaction between the speaker and the audiences, Professor Qi and the students had an in-depth dialogue and exchange on and around such topics as the music theory and dance theory in ancient China, the theory of "ugliness as beauty" in modern Western art, and the views on Mr. Ye Lang's theory of "beauty as aesthetic images", and provided detailed answers for the students. After listening to the lecture, the students felt that they had gained a lot, and they were deeply impressed by Professor Qi's profound academic skills, indulgent in academic studies and passionate and wise speaking style.
