Coming soon
Western Aesthetics (Theory)
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But is it? This course, designed for students with no background in formal philosophy, will examine classic texts in philosophical aesthetics, from Plato to the present. We will explore Western Aesthetic Theory’s central question: “what do we mean when we say something is ‘beautiful’”? It will stress the relevance of aesthetic philosophy for our industrialized world, and will discuss the links between aesthetics and morality, that is, between knowing the beautiful, and knowing the good. The class will begin with a brief overview of aesthetic theory in ancient Greece, and then consider Renaissance and Neo-classical theories, followed by a review of noted philosopher Immanuel Kant’s theories of aesthetics, as well as his counterparts in England: the “Romantics,” – especially Coleridge and Wordsworth. The course will end with a look at modern challenges to traditional aesthetic theory coming from feminist, post-colonial and other “postmodern” perspectives. Liberal use of overhead projections of pictorial and narrative art, and of musical examples, will add a practical dimension to the course.
Introduction. Examination of terms used in aesthetics. Discussion of the aims of philosophy in general, and of aesthetics in particular, Its Meaning, Purpose and Scope.
The Greeks, especially in the context of Sixth Century Athens. Plato and Aristotle on beauty. What is the role of “imitation” in the arts–that is, what exactly does art “imitate”? Is it nature itself? Or the “spirit” within nature? Is it the artist’s own mind or impressions? What did Aristotle mean by “catharsis”? Why did Plato want to dismiss poets and artists from his Utopian community? Why did Plato think that the artist was subversive? Well, are the arts subversive, perhaps even intrinsically so? What comparisons can we make between Plato and Aristotle conceptions?
Conceptions of beauty in the Renaissance, The rise of Humanism and its implications for aesthetic theory of Leonardo Da Vinci, Alberti, Albert Durer, General Trends and characteristics with reference to the developments in Literature, Sculpture, Painting, Music
Immanuel Kant and the Origin of a Science of Aesthetics. Background of the Kantian philosophy. Kant makes the notion of aesthetics central to his philosophy — why? An overview will be presented of Kant’s third critique, the Critique of [Aesthetic] Judgement.
European Romanticism and the deification of the artist/composer/poet. Can the arts fill the void left by the receding of religion? How important, comparatively, is “creative” thinking as against logical thinking? The Romantic view of “imagination” and the moral importance of the arts
Art for Art’s Sake, or “Formalism.” Is art after all the “supreme” good? Is music the “supreme” expression of art? What is the relationship between what is beautiful and what is useful–that is, can or should the arts be “cut loose” from practical considerations? Here, Oscar Wilde is the focus, along with John Ruskin and William Morris. The art of Turner and Whistler will be examined.
Books:
H.W. Janson, History of Art, Thames & Hudson, 1991 Revised reprint
