Peking University, July 31, 2014: More than 190 middle school students experienced in mid-July the cocktail of theories, appreciation and perform of art at Peking University. These teenagers had been selected by the University’s School of Arts from about 500 applicants from all across China.

Through the form of a 5-day summer camp, the School aimed at prospective candidates who are interested in its bachelor programs of art studies, movie & TV program editing & directing, and public utility management. Volunteers were recruited from among undergraduates and graduates to ensure all the activities on the trail.

The camp raised its curtain on the morning of July 16, when Honorary Dean Ye Lang and Dean Wang Yichuan made their respective speeches to encourage the campers on the pursuit of “eternal dream of art.”

According to Wang, the School’s freshmen are expected to become art theorists, art historians, art critics, creative playwrights and art cultural managers. His deputy, Chen Xuguang, detailed the full-spectrum training system of the bachelor programs — from profession syllabus, social services, overseas exchanges to graduate employment.

In the next one and a half days, a tight series of eleven lectures were held successively on frontier art research, the highlight of the week. Nearly half of the School’s staff members from three departments shared their latest research fields, leading to the students’ reconsideration of the relationship between art and life.

One of the 11 art lectures

Ding Ning, Li Song, Bai Wei, Gao Yi and Weng Jianqing not only analyzed some artistic works — both traditional Chinese paintings and western sculptures, like The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen and Jonathan Borofsky’s Walking to the Sky — from the perspective of art, but also revealed the hidden social and ideological meanings.

Peng Feng, Lin Yi and Chen Shaofeng told the potential artists never to stop to be more advanced, creative, and pioneering.

In the movie sector, Chen Xuguang, Chen Yu and Li Daoxin explored the life theme and social values, as well as the “distinctiveness of the stunning visual world constructed by cameras.”, from the dimensions such as dream, window, mirror, fable, “the way of watching” and “intangible culture.”

Then, on July 18 and 19, the campers took written examination and interview for the selection of “excellent campers.” Afterwards, there was a gala containing on the evening of July 19, containing instrumental, singing and play programs.

The gala show

At the final report meeting on July 20, the three sub-camps exhibited their practice results, which were spoken highly of by Professor Chen Xuguang. A group of campers planned a science fiction movie and simulated the whole industrial process of a movie, which consists of planning, shooting, production, promotion and releasing. The second sub-camp played original micro films, while the third played their self-made drama.

During the week, a set of visiting events were also arranged for the campers at China National Film Museum, the 798 Art Zone, the National Museum of China, the National Art Museum of China, and so forth.

A visit to the 798 Zone

Written by: Wang Yawen
Edited by: Arthars
Source: School of Arts