PHIL 240 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This intermediate philosophy course on the philosophy of art & aesthetics focuses on the moments and movements of creation, fashioning, or poiesis. “Creation”, accordingly, is interrogated as the center of gravity for work of art, artist, and art. Questions addressed include: what happens in the ‘moment’ of creation; what are the relations between creator and created; and, what changes does the creator undergo once the ‘moments’ of creation are finished and some thing is created? Concepts the course looks at include: the demiurge (god as creator), genius, author and authority, form and fashion, artist, poet, designer, and craftsperson. Readings come from: Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Kant, Nietzsche, Lukács, Heidegger, de Beauvoir, Barthes, Foucault, and Moten. Osman Nemli.

Prerequisite(s): One 100-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS