Philosophy Of Art Philosophy 330 Spring 2015 Syllabus MWF 1:00 1:50 PM Edith Kanaka ole Hall 111 Dr. Timothy J. Freeman Office: PB8-3 Office: 932-7479 cell: 345-5231 freeman@hawaii.edu Office Hours: MWF 12:00-12:50 and by appointment The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1893 Catalog course description Phil 330 Philosophy of Art The Aesthetic object, form in art, representation, meaning in art, and claims of knowledge in art. Pre: previous work in philosophy and in art or music. Required Text Art and Its Significance: An Anthology of Aesthetic Theory, 3rd edition, ed. Stephen David Ross. State University of New York Press, 1994. WEB site http://tfreeman.net/philosophy/330.html Course objectives The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to a number of philosophical questions regarding art. Perhaps the most important of these, or at least one that has long been of central concern to the philosophy of art, is the Socratic question with regard to art, i.e., what is art? This question seeks some defining essence, some definition of art that would enable one to recognize art when one encounters it and to distinguish art from what is not art. Another central question concerns whether or not, and upon what basis, evaluative judgments regarding art are possible. Are evaluative judgments regarding art merely matters of taste, purely personal opinion, or is there some basis upon which to make an evaluative judgment of art that is not merely a matter of personal taste? In other words, is criticism of art possible? Philosophers of art are also concerned with the question of the purpose and value of art. What is art for? Do we learn something important in encountering art or does the purpose of art lie in giving pleasure in the contemplation of beautiful objects? Is the purpose of art to express feelings, to make statements, to transform society, or is art for art s sake alone? What, then, is the value of art? Is art something merely extraneous to a healthy life or society, or is art vitally important, perhaps even necessary, or is art perhaps dangerous and thus subject to control and censorship?
Student Learning Outcomes [Philosophy courses for GE purposes]: (As with all Philosophy courses) Students who successfully complete the course will be able to: * respond clearly, logically and critically to examination questions and discussion questions about some important philosophical issues relevant to the course; * read, comprehend, and discuss philosophical texts relevant to the course; * compose effective written materials that assimilate, synthesize and reflect on course information; *identify and describe in writing and in class discussion some important aspects of the cultural heritage and contributions of the philosophy of art. Course format Classroom sessions will be both lecture and discussion with emphasis on informal lecture. There will also be an occasional slide show/multimedia presentation and videos. Classroom Policies * All students are expected to come to class on time and to bring their books as well as paper and pen suitable for taking notes of class lectures. * No laptop computers are to be used during class time. * Active cellular telephones or paging devices are not permitted in class. * No consumption of food is allowed during the class period. grading policy The final grade will be based on the following: 1. Term Paper (50%) 2. Mid-term Exam (25%) 3. Final Exam (25%) Attendance: More than 3 unexcused absences will negatively impact your grade for the course. Every fourth unexcused absence will result in 10 points deducted from the final grade average. Grading will be determined according to the following scale A 95-100 Excellent A- 90-94 B+ 87-89 B 84-86 Good B- 80-83 C+ 77-79 C 74-76 Satisfactory C- 70-73 D 60-70 Poor F 0-59 Failure
Advising Statement Advising is a very important resource designed to help students complete the requirements of the University and their individual majors. Students should consult with their advisor at least once a semester to decide on courses, check progress towards graduation, and discuss career options and other educational opportunities provided by UH-Hilo. Advising is a shared responsibility, but students have final responsibility for meeting degree requirements. Special needs Any student with a documented disability who would like to request accommodations should contact the University Disability Services Office - Student Services Center E215, 932-7623 (V), 932-7002 (TTY), uds@hawaii.edu - as early in the semester as possible. Student Conduct Code All students are expected to adhere to the Student Conduct Code as explained in the University of Hawaii at Hilo 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog.
PART I: Historical Background: Week 1: Introduction and Philosophy of Art in Antiquity M 01/12 Course Introduction and Orientation W 01/14 Plato: Republic II & III F 01/16 Plato: Republic X Week 2: Philosophy of Art in Antiquity M 01/19 Holiday: Martin Luther King Day W 01/21 Plato: Ion & Symposium F 01/23 Aristotle: Poetics & Nichomachean Ethics Week 3: Philosophy of Art in the Enlightenment M 01/26 Hume: Of the Standard of Taste W 01/28 Hume: Of the Standard of Taste F 01/30 Hume: Of the Standard of Taste Week 4: Philosophy of Art in the Enlightenment M 02/02 Kant: Critique of Judgment W 02/04 Kant: Critique of Judgment F 02/06 Schiller: Letter of an Aesthetic Education of Man Week 5: Hegel & Romanticism M 02/09 Hegel: Philosophy of Fine Art W 02/11 Schelling: The Philosophy of Art F 02/13 Schopenhauer: The World as Will and Representation Art and Its Significance (9 44) Art and Its Significance (45 76) Art and Its Significance (78 94) Art and Its Significance (95-142) Art and Its Significance (144-159) PART II: Philosophy of Modern Art Week 6: Nietzsche M 02/16 Holiday: President's Day W 02/18 Nietzsche: The Birth of Tragedy F 02/20 Nietzsche: selections from later writings Week 7: Art as Expression M 02/23 Tolstoy: What is Art? W 02/25 Croce: What is Art? F 02/27 Collingwood: The Principles of Art Art and Its Significance (162-175) Art and Its Significance (178-181; 192-201) Week 8: Art as Significant Form M 03/02 Bell: Art as Significant Form W 03/04 Bell: Art as Significant Form F 03/06 Bell: Art as Significant Form **Last Day to Withdraw from Courses with W ** Art and Its Significance (185-190)
Week 9: The Problem of Defining Art M 03/09 Weitz: The Role of Theory in Aesthetics W 03/11 Danto: The Artworld F 03/13 Dickie: The New Institutional Theory of Art Week 10: Heidegger M 03/16 The Origin of the Work of Art W 03/18 The Origin of the Work of Art F 03/20 The Origin of the Work of Art Art and Its Significance (185-190) Art and Its Significance (254-280) Week 11: M 03/30 W 04/01 F 04/03 Merleau-Ponty Spring Recess (March 23-27) Art and Its Significance (282-298) Week 12: Psychology and Art M 04/06 Freud: The Relation of the Poet to Day-Dreaming W 04/08 Jung: Psychology and Literature F 04/10 Breton: Surrealism and Painting Art and Its Significance (500-520) Week 13: Marxism and Art M 04/13 Benjamin: The Work of Art in the Age of its Technical Reproducibility W 04/15 Marcuse: The Aesthetic Dimension F 04/17 Film: Frida Art and Its Significance (526-538; 548-557) Week 14: M 04/20 W 04/22 F 04/24 Week 15: M 04/27 W 04/29 F 05/01 The American Avant-Garde Greenberg: Towards a Newer Laocoon Greenberg: Modernist Painting Film: Pollock Part III: Postmodernism Postmodernism Lyotard: What is Postmodernism?' Foucault: Las Meninas & This Is Not a Pipe Film: Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child Art and Its Significance (440-454) Week 16: The End of Art Theory? M 05/04 Danto: After the End of Art W 05/06 Danto: After the End of Art Final Exam M 05/11 (11:50 am 1:50pm) **schedule is subject to revision**