SNT 226E - Philosophy of Art

Course Objectives

The main goal of this course is to introduce the students to various philosophical theories, approaches and concepts that largely shaped the dominant artistic practices, aesthetic evaluations and audience responses during a large part of the history of art.

Course Description

Through the study of some classical texts, we will discuss some of the major philosophical problems pertaining art, such as the distinctive characteristics of artistic creation and artworks, the place of artistic activity in our experience of the world, the criteria of taste, and the nature of aesthetic values such as beauty and sublimity. This excursion into the main trends in the field will be sustained by continuous references to a number of exemplary works of art, mostly from visual arts, but also from music and literature.