PHIL 240 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This course is an introduction to some of the major theories of aesthetics throughout history. Our study of aisthēsis, or perception through the senses, covers four historical movements: the Ancient Greeks’ notion of mimetic art and citizenship; the German and English Romantics’ turn to beauty and nature; the Modern desire for selfhood and authenticity; and the Postmodern death of art, authorship, and originality. We study these movements from within a contemporary perspective and alongside particular works of art. By the end of this course, we might consider that throughout history art has always been shifting between two tides: interiority and exteriority, reason and sensation, intention and anti-intention, authorship and history, and so on. Travis Holloway.

Prerequisite(s): one 100-level course in Philosophy.

Two 75-minute periods.