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Suzanne Duchamp. Broken and Restored Multiplication 1918-19. Oil and Silver, paper on canvas. Art Institute, Chicago.
What is art? What is a craft? What is aesthetic value? Is art a language? Why are specific works considered worthy to be exhibited in museums and preserved for future generations? Should art be part of everyday life? Philosophers have debated questions like these and developed ideas and theories about art. Critically reviewing and evaluating theoretical approaches will broaden understanding of the questions raised about works of art and offer tools in an assessment of artistic pursuits. Since the Philosophy of Art emerged as a discipline in the 18th century in Europe, the exploration of artistic pursuits will include insights regarding the historical roots of the theoretical discussions and exemplary reflections of these in the field of art. Thus, it is with the following thesis that we will proceed: knowledge and understanding of the aesthetic philosophy of the Western past and present will provide a foundation that allows us to frame and critically discuss significant issues raised about artworks.
Objectives:
- To acquire knowledge and understanding of philosophical theories of art, and analyze exemplary artistic sites and/or artifact
- To discern, define, and critique artistic pursuit
- Describe the philosophical approaches to art
- Give examples and interpret definitions of the nature of art
- Trace characteristics of creative thought
- Demonstrate and use aesthetic criticism and judgment
- To demonstrate the ability to perform research and to utilize the acquired knowledge of philosophical approaches to art
- To analyze, discuss, and critically assess
a philosophical theories of art
Topical Outline:
- Definitions: aesthetics, art, creativity, critics
- Philosophical approaches to art: appearance, beauty, formal structure, form and content, intuition, expression, experience, irrationality
- Creativity and art: characteristics, development
- Distinctions among the various art forms: theoretical and practical
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