PHIL A118: Aesthetics/Philosophy of Art

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	10/07/2021
Top Code	150900 - Philosophy
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S), Pass/No Pass (B)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)	OC Humanities - AA (OC1)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)	OCC Humanities - AS (OSC2)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)	Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)	IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU C2 Humanities (C2)

Course Description

A philosophical approach to a critical evaluation of works of art (literary, musical, visual). Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

Present a critical philosophical analysis of a selected topic in aesthetics that articulates and evaluates the claims made.

Course Objectives

1. Identify and distinguish metaphysical and epistemological issues and their relevance for the problems of art and aesthetics.
2. Explain relevant problems in representation and their bearing upon the field of aesthetics.
3. Distinguish and explain major aesthetical theories/emphases, e.g. Aristotle, representation and the mimetic theory; Dewey and art and ordinary life; Clive Bell and others on the "art-for-arts sake" movement, Roger Frys contributions
4. Distinguish and explain the elements of the relevant artistic fields.
5. Describe and give an overview of the philosophical problems of appreciation and criticism in the artistic fields considered.
6. Discuss "form" and "style," the "unities," i.e. structural, organic.
7. Analyze art as "symbol."
8. Discuss and evaluate the arts in relation to the epistemological issues of meaning, standard(s), and truth.
9. Discuss artistic works in term of their "expressive" qualities.
10. Discuss art and moral values, both as an historical issue and as appropriate to the contemporary world.
11. Analyze, and compare and contrast issues leading to the development of sound artistic critical judgment.
12. Analyze problems in assessing artistic intent and creativity.
13. Evaluate issues relevant to the role of art and the artist in society.

Lecture Content

I. Art, Metaphysics and the World: On Defining Art A. Ordinary Objects B. Artistic Objects C. Mimesis D. Art for Arts Sake Views II. Aesthetic Attitude, Experience, and Response III. Elements of Art and Philosophical Interpretation of Artistic Fields (Topics chosen at the discretion of the instructor, and may vary accordingly and also from semester to semester.) A. Painting B. Music C. Poetry D. Drama E. Architecture F. b Sculpture G. Dance H. Film IV. Art as Form and Style A. Structural Unity and Problems B. Organic Unity and Problems V. Art as Expression and Communication VI. Artistic Intention and Intentionality VII. Art as Symbol A. Defining Symbol B. Problems with Interpreting Symbols VIII. Art as Meaning, Standard, and Truth: Epistemological Topics in Artistic Representation IX. Art and Aesthetic Values A. Art, Aesthetic and Moral values B. The Problem of Moral Educati on X. Artistic Judgment and Criticism A. Originality and creativity B. Individuality C. Imitative and Truth-Telling Aspects D. Representational or Naturalistic Issues E. Humanistic Issues F. Relation to Intellectual Periods and the History of Ideas G. Moral Issues XI. Artistic Personality, Some Issues on Creativity and the Artist XII. Art and Society XIII. Concluding Discussion of Purposes and Functions as Appropriate

Method(s) of Instruction

Lecture (02)
DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

1. Lecture 2. Discussion of the problems of aesthetics 3. Verbal and written analysis of student questions, the latter by way of chalkboard/overhead projector 4. Oral and written projects undertaken by the students, both individually and collectively and to which the instructor will provide oral and written critique 5. Examinations (objective essay); and 6 auxiliary hand-out materials on course themes

Reading Assignments

Students will spend 2-3 hours per week reading from assigned texts.

Writing Assignments

Students will spend on average 2 hours per week on 1. Brief topical papers and critiques of the works of art, assigned in conjunction with critiques delivered orally. 2. Written analyses addressing the structure of philosophical arguments. 3. Comparative critical analysis, using more than one view or author.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend on average 2 hours per week on written analyses, argumentative papers, and reflections on readings.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

1. Brief topical papers and critiques of the works of art, assigned in conjunction with critiques delivered orally. 2. Written analyses addressing the structure of philosophical arguments. 3. Comparative critical analysis, using more than one view or author.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Eligible Disciplines

Philosophy: Masters degree in philosophy OR bachelors degree in philosophy AND masters degree in humanities or religious studies, OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Davies, S.. The Philosophy of Art, ed. Chicago: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006 Rationale: . 2. Required Kieran, M.. Contemporary Debates in Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art, ed. Chicago: Wiley-Blackwell, 2005 Rationale: . 3. Required Graham, G.. Philosophy of the Arts: An Introduction to Aesthetics, ed. Routledge, 2005 Rationale: . 4. Required Lamarque, P., Olsen, S.H.. Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art: The Analytic Tradition: An Anthology, ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003 Rationale: .

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