AESTHETICS

Within the framework of the Master’s Degree in Philosophical Sciences, the Advanced Course in Aesthetics aims to introduce students to the contemporary aesthetic debate, with a specific focus on investigating some of the most significant proposals within pragmatist-inspired aesthetics. In addition to familiarizing students with some of the most recent voices and topics in aesthetic inquiry, the course aims to encourage them to develop their own critical approach to the great eighteenth- and nineteenth-century aesthetic tradition acquired during their Bachelor’s degree.

Knowledge and understanding: As a result of this course students should acquire the conceptual tools for understanding the contemporary aesthetic debate, by engaging it with Classical Aesthetics; by the end of the course, students are expected to be able to contextualize the debate on its theoretical and historical background.
Applying knowledge and understanding: As a further goal, students should achieve the capacity to use concepts and arguments arising from the aesthetic debate to interpret the different forms of artistic productions and, more generally, the cultural world.
Making judgments: The course is intended to provide some basic tools for a critical reconstruction of the debate on pragmatist aesthetics.
By the end of the course, students should gain adequate communicative skills apt to analyzing the current debate and expressing their own evaluations with clarity as well as on the basis of convenient arguments.

In order to attend the course, students are requested to know the main aspects of classic German aesthetics, particularly the main lines of Kant's, Schiller's and Hegel's aesthetic theories.

Although the label "pragmatist aesthetics" was first coined by Richard Shusterman in his 1992 book, and its retrospective application may appear problematic in some respects, it is undeniable that since the 1980s and 1990s, a variety of aesthetic proposals inspired by pragmatism have emerged, at times significantly differing from one another. This course aims to explore three of these original proposals, independently advanced by leading figures in the pragmatist debate: Joseph Margolis, Richard Rorty, and Richard Shusterman.
The course will start from a general introduction to the common features characterizing pragmatist approaches to aesthetics, starting from John Dewey’s views on the philosophy of art. The first section will be devoted to an examination of Joseph Margolis intellectual trajectory, moving from the analytic debate on the definition of art and the ontology of cultural artifacts toward an anthropology of art (1.). The second part will be dedicated to Richard Rorty's conception of literature as an ethical exercise and as a tool for decentering oneself from self-complacency (2.). The final section of lectures will explore Richard Shusterman's proposals, ranging from his well-known emancipation from the barriers between the Fine Arts and popular culture to so-called somaesthetics (3.).

Texts by J.Margolis, R.Rorty, R.Shusterman.
More specific details regarding the bibliography required for the exam will be provided before the start of the course.

The examination consists of writing a short essay (approx. 20,000 characters / 10 pages) on one of the authors explored during the course, focusing preferably on a specific topic among those addressed. The drafting of the essay must follow specific guidelines illustrated during the lectures and must be personally agreed upon with the professor (robdre@unive.it). In addition to the essay, which must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the exam date, the examination includes a short oral interview on one of the other two authors covered in class.
The final grade will take into account both components of the exam.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

A. Grades in the range of 18-22 will be awarded for:*
Essay writing: sufficient handling of the issue and the state of the art.
Oral part: sufficient ability to provide answers with correctness, clarity, relevance, and appropriate arguments.

B. Grades in the range of 23-26 will be awarded for:
Essay writing: Decent handling of the issue and the state of the art, fair level of independent judgment.
Oral part: Decent ability to provide answers with correctness, clarity, relevance, and appropriate arguments.

C. Grades in the range of 27-30 will be awarded for:
Essay writing: Good or excellent handling of the issue and the state of the art, ability to provide original insights or hypotheses.
Oral part: Good or excellent ability to provide answers with correctness, clarity, relevance, and appropriate arguments.

D. “Honors” will be awarded to students with:
Essay writing: Excellent handling of the issue and the state of the art, excellent ability to provide original insights or hypotheses.
Oral part: Excellent ability to provide answers with correctness, clarity, relevance, and appropriate arguments.

Reading of the texts, conceptual analysis, arguments analysis, critical reflection, and discussion in the class.

Prior to the start of the course, bibliographical suggestions will be provided to assist non-attending students in preparing for the exam; however, the course content and examination procedures remain the same for all students.

Students are requested to subscribe to the Moodle space of the course as well as to regularly check materials and information they can find there.

Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development