AESTHETIC I

The first part of the course will introduce classical themes and authors of the history of western aesthetics conceived in both meanings, philosophy of art and theory of perception. Particular attention will be given the role played by Kant’s work for the process which led to aesthetics as an autonomous field of studies. In the second part of the course, heteronomous issues and dimension of aesthetics will be analyzed through theoretical debates and approaches which will highlight the dialogue between aesthetics and field such as anthropology, history of art and sociology. With reference to the Bachelor’s Degree Programe in “Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management”, this course aims to develop, on the one hand, the ability to contextualize and to analyze, both from an historical and cultural point of view, the origin and development of concepts and categories risen within the western aesthetic thought. On the other hand, the course intends to foster the critical capacity of addressing the dynamics and interactions linked to the application of western aesthetic concepts to contexts and cultural products of a different tradition.

By attending face-to-face lectures and preparing the compulsory readings, students will:
1. learn classical themes, authors and problems which characterized the historical development of western aesthetics as autonomous field of studies
2. develop the ability of contextualising categories, concepts and debates from both, the cultural and historic point of view
3. learn to critically analyse aspects and problems linked to the application of concepts and categories of western aesthetic to contexts belonging to non-western tradition
4. acquire a specific vocabulary of aesthetics

The course does not have any pre-requirement.

In the first part of the course, key passages of Kant’s “Critique of Judgment” will be analyzed in order to address, from an historical perspective, categories and key concepts of western aesthetics such as aesthesis, aesthetics as both philosophy of art and theory of perception, taste, beauty, sublime, genius. The second part of the course will focus on the following issues and topics: the historical analysis of the origin of aesthetics developed by Pierre Bourdieu; Clifford Geertz’s interpretation of art as a cultural system; different theoretical positions on questions such as aesthetics as intercultural category, the relationship between aesthetics and anthropology, the notion of non-western aesthetics.

A) COMPULSORY READINGS (ATTENDING STUDENTS)
- Kant I., Critica del giudizio, Laterza (o atre edizioni). Sono da preparare le seguenti parti: Introduzione (in particolare i paragrafi III e IV), Parte I, “Critica del giudizio estetico”
- Caoci A. (a cura di) (2008), Antropologia, estetica e arte; Milano: Franco Angeli
- Geertz C. (2001), “L’arte come sistema culturale”, in: Id., Antropologia interpretativa; Bologna: Il Mulino, pp. 119-152
- Gene Blocker H. (2005), “L’estetica non-occidentale come invenzione coloniale”, in: G. Matteucci (a cura di) (2005), Elementi di estetica analitica, «Discipline Filosofiche», XV, 2, pp. 211-222
- Bourdieu P. (2005), “La genesi storica dell’estetica pura”, in: Id., Le regole dell’arte; Milano: Il Saggiatore, pp. 369-399
B) NON ATTENDING STUDENTS must add to the list A) one of the following books (with particular reference to the specified parts, if indicated):
- Desideri F.-Cantelli C. (2020), Storia dell’estetica occidentale, Da Omero alle neuroscienze. Nuova edizione; Roma: Carocci (in particolare, le parti dedicate ai seguenti temi e autori: Platone pp. 41-51, Aristotele pp. 51-58, Baumgarten pp. 305-310, Kant pp. 311-321, Schiller pp. 349-355, Hegel pp. 386-403, Arnheim pp. 520-522, Danto pp. 658-662, Everyday aesthetics, comparative aesthetics and anthropological approaches, Neuroaesthetics pp. 667-685); Roma: Carocci
- Pinotti A. (ed.) (2022), Il primo libro di estetica; Milano: Mimesis
The BIBLIOGRAPHY may be subject to changes until the beginning of the lecture course.

The written exam consists of a paper to be sent (in word or ODT format) to the lecturer by e-mail 14 days before the date of the exam call in which the student intends to register in order to take the exam.
1. The paper must be written in Times New Roman 12, with a 1,5 line spacing and with 2 cm margin.
2. All direct or indirect quotes in the course, mandatory and/or further readings must be attributed to the author indicating the author's name, publication date and page number. The author-date method must be completed by a list of bibliographic references at the end of the paper. Students are invited to use editorial guidelines of a national or international philosophical journal.
3. After the communication of the final course mark, students are invited to receive some feedback on their paper
4. Attending students: the maximal lenght of the paper must not exceed 25.000 characters (including spaces, excluding bibliography)
5. Non attending students: the maximal lenght of the paper must not exceed 30.000 characters (including spaces, excluding bibliography)
6. Both attending and non attending students must agree the theme of the paper with the lecturer.
7. Students who do not submit the paper by e-mail to the lecturer within the date and time indicated cannot sustain the exam and must sustain at the next scheduled exam session.
8. On the MOODLE page of the course, students will find DETAILS concerning POSSIBLE TOPICS for the paper along with FURTHER INDICATIONS about how to prepare the paper.
9 - In order to pass the exam, students will be expected to analyze the topic of their paper by using (and comparing) the theoretical approaches addressed by EACH of the texts of the compulsory readings.

Assessment criteria:
1. knowledge and ability to critical analyze the compulsory readings
2. comprehension of key notions
3. bibliographic references to pertinent theoretical contents, quote and examples
4. accuracy of contents and comprehensiveness of the addressed topics
5. capacity for clear expression use of the specific vocabulary
6. capacity to link and compare different authors and theoretical approaches

- Face to face lectures (with use of ppt, excerpts from video material, photographs)
- Analytical reading of selected passages from the compulsory readings
- Students are encouraged to participate actively
- After the communication of the final mark, students are invited to receive feedback on the written exam

Italian

NB: In order to take the exam of Aesthetic II students are requested to have passed the written examination in Aesthetics I with Professor Dreon.
The syllabus Aesthetics II is designed as a development of the program worked out in Aesthetics I by Professor Dreon.

Class attendance is not compulsory but it is highly recommended. All students are invited to regularly check the MOODLE page of the course.

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