OVERVIEW

Basic introduction to the history of aesthetics and the aesthetical concepts. Main points of interest: the ontological status of the artistic object; the receiver’s role in the construction of its meaning; the relation between aesthetics and psychology, history, and semiotics of arts; the current theoretical debate. A practical corollary will be the guided reading of one of the major texts in this discipline.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Being able to outline the history and the major topics of aesthetics, with a special focus on the current debate. Students will be guided through the reading of one or more classics in aesthetics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The specific aim of the course is offering the basic notions of aesthetics and an overview of its history. Each year a classic in this field is read, in order to consider the actual development of aesthetic arguments, and to train students in direct text interpretation. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course

Fundamentals of history of aesthetics. Major topics in aesthetics. Constructivist aesthetics.

Contents for students who are taking the 9-CFU course

Fundamentals of history of aesthetics. Major topics in aesthetics. Constructivist aesthetics.

Reading of Aristotle's Poetics

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Term of a course: 54 hours. Frontal lessons, learning tests, and seminar readings.  

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

OSCAR MEO (President)

ILARIA BOEDDU

LETTERIO MAURO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 25, 2017

Class schedule

AESTETHICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During each class, active interaction and debate is encouraged through discussion on single topics. During the final examination, an individual oral exam, the students' level of comprehension and expression abilities will be assessed. Students who have understood the basic concepts of the course and are able to present them in a clear, coherent way, with essential terminology, but who barely outline the main ideas, lacking in-depth knowledge, will be graded as "pass". Students who are able to present concepts in depth and to develop them autonomously with logically sound arguments, references to other topics addressed during the course, appropriate and clever personal observations, and who have a strong command of specific terminology, will be graded as "excellent". Since students from different study programs (not necessarily within the School of Humanities) are attending the course, students' background and specific professional needs will be taken into account for assessment purposes.

FOR STUDENTS OF THE FIRST-CYCLE DEGREE PROGRAM IN PHILOSOPHY:
An optional written essay (approved by the professor) on one of the topics addressed during the course.

FOR STUDENTS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM IN PRODUCT AND EVENT DESIGN:
A Power Point or .pdf slide show (10 minutes maximum, and approved by the professor) on the relation between image and inscription within a design sub-sector (to be chosen among advertising, packaging, websites, instruction manuals, logos, comic books, illustrated books, journals, etc.).

Exam schedule