Philosophy of art

Academic year: 2010-2011 Course code module FLWF008300 Semester: 1st semester Credits: 3 Study load (hours) 84 Theory (hours): 30,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: 1/2 Instructor(s) Arthur Cools Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: exam in the 1st semester Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties Students have a general knowledge of the central issues, the main notions and the primary authors of the history of philosophy in general and of philosophy of culture in particular. *Sequentiality None 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) At the end of the course, students must be able to: -          use and define central notions of the history of the philosophy of art  -           clarify the contribution of the discussed authors to the history of the philosophy of art  -          explain the different understandings of art    -          describe and compare different manifestations of the image in visual art as presented during the course  -          write an analysis of a contemporary artwork (in casu the work of Alfredo Jaar) in accordance with the discussed issues and approaches   3. Course content The course develops three central issues: 1.      The ontological status of the image in art. In the first part, we will consider some basic notions of the philosophy of art that played a major role in the develoment of literature and the visual arts in Europa. In particular we will explain notions as medium, origin, myth, image (eikon, imago), resemblance, mimesis, representation.  2.      The rise and the meaning of modern esthetics. In this second part, we will give an introduction to the esthetics of the main representatives of German idealism, in particular Kant, romanticism and Hegel. In the eldest programm of the German idealism, esthetics is considered in terms of a 'first' philosophy.  3.      Introduction to contemporary art. In this part, students will have to participate to the lecture of the contemporary artist, Alfredo Jaar. Moreover, we will consider some contemporary theories of art, in particular: the representation theory, the expression theory, formalism, and nominalism (language theories) of art. 4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures Seminars (possible question and answer sessions) Personal work: Assignments - individual Case studies - in group 5. Assessment method Exam: Oral, with written preparation Written assignment: Without oral presentation 6. Compulsory reading – study material Text and image materials will be put on blackboard. The written version of the lectures of the first part is available on blackboard. For the second part, we refer to the first three chapters of Frank Vande Veire, Als in een donkere spiegel - de kunst in de moderne filosofie, SUN, 2002. The short version of the courses of the third part is available on blackboard. 7. Recommended reading - study material Frank Vande Veire, Als in een donkere spiegel - de kunst in de moderne filosofie, SUN, 2002. 8. Tutoring during courses, by email of by appointment laatste aanpassing: last update: 22/12/2009 16:53 arthur.cools