The Research Of Appleton's Aesthetics Theory Of Landscape

In the period of aesthetics of landscape's 'former model', Appleton tried to find biological explanations to appreciation of landscape. He turned to Darwin, Lorenz and other biologists in biology. Meanwhile he built his aesthetics theory of landscape on the base of John Dewey's aesthetics theory, and absorbed nutrients from British empirical aesthetics in the 18th century in aesthetics. For the further study of Appleton's aesthetics theory of landscape, this article comprehensively analyzed the process of proposition and demonstration to Appleton's habitat theory, and made detailed analysis of the intensions and limitations of prospect-refuge theory.The generative process of habitat theory is the transformation process from biology to aesthetics. By inspiration of Darwin's natural selection theory, Appleton chosen adaptive behavior associated with survival as his theoretical starting point, to find the biological roots of the aesthetic experience of landscape in the relationship between animal behavior and environment. Human had formed specific environmental perceptive manner and habitat selection mode in the evolutionary process from ape to man. The practical function of the habitat weakened gradually, turning from physical presence to meet human existence to 'meaningful' form gradually during the advanced stage of development of human civilization. The aesthetic satisfaction getting from contemplation of landscape originates from spontaneous perception of landscape features benefitting human's existence, which is the intension of habitat theory.To illustrate the features of the landscape conducive to survival further, by means of'to see without being seen'which is the Lorenz's term, habitat theory had been expanded to prospect-refuge theory which is more specific. Although the various aspects of the environment are important for prediction and prevention of risk, the information relating with potential danger and self-preservation is more meaningful clearly. Appleton, therefore, suggests that natural selection has made human favor the landscape with characteristics of prospect and refuge. To illustrate what is the landscape characteristic of prospect, danger, and refuge specifically, Appleton established a vast and complex symbolic system, and explored the combination of these symbols. After introducing the symbols of Appleton in detail, this paper analyzes some typical landscapes with the terms of prospect-refuge theory.As a utility, prospect-refuge theory has been applied in the fields of landscape assessment and landscape design and art criticism to a certain extent. Not only can it handle the issues of actual landscape at the operational level, but also play a role in the creation and assessment of the art image of landscape. In terms of contribution to theory, the aesthetic theory of landscape of Appleton has put a theoretical foundation to the aesthetic research of landscape of biological pattern, and promoted the development of many theoretical patterns of aesthetic response. At the same time, it has also provided a set of theoretical model for nowadays'research of the aesthetics of landscape for reference.