Seminar in Art and Aesthetics

Catalog description

What is the relationship between art and knowledge, art and truth, art and politics, art and philosophical theory? What role is played in criticism by art theory, by considerations of the artists’ intentions, by ethics and other forms of cultural criticism? What makes an interpretation of an artwork valid or invalid? How is aesthetic value related to other values? The questions discussed are philosophical questions about art and aesthetic experience. The meetings in this course are not lectures but discussions, and participation is required of all students. Since the theories and examples discussed are mostly from the Western canon, familiarity with the history of Western art is recommended. Graduate level elective.