Philosophy 273
The Philosophy of Art
Syllabus
Unless otherwise specified, all readings are from The Nature of Art. ER stands for Electronic Reserve.
I am trying to arrange for visits to various museums as well as from some local artists. The syllabus will change to accommodate these as they are set. I will go over these in class, but you will be expected to attend.
Jan 26 Introduction
What is art?
Jan 31 Realism: Plato
Feb 2 Undermining Realism: Bazin (ER)
Feb 7 Expression: Collingwood
Feb 9 Significant Form: Bell
Feb 14 The Artworld: Danto
Feb 16 Metaphysics: Heidegger
Feb 21 Critical Perspectives: Weitz and Freud
Feb 23 Truth: Merleau Ponty (ER)
***Meet in Art Museum***
Feb 28 Experience: Dewey
Paper #1 Due March 2 in class
Tragedy
Mar 2 Tragedy: Aristotle
Mar 7 Apollo/Dionysus: Nietzsche
*March
8 Film: Othello, 7 p.m
Skinner
216
Mar 9 Skepticism: Cavell (ER)
Spring Break
Comedy
Mar 21 Laughter: Bergson (ER)
Mar 23 Jokes: Freud (ER)
Class
with Jim Coleman in Studio 2, Kendall
*March 23 Film: The Marx Brothers, Monkey Business, 7
pm Skinner 216
Mar 28 Humor: Cavell (ER)
Mar 30 Comics: Carrier, The Aesthetics of Comics, pp. 1-7, 29-59
April 4 Comics: Carrier, pp.62-74, 107-123
Paper #2 Due on April 6 in class
Evaluating Art
April 6 In class: Emily's Art
April 11 Taste: Hume
April 13 Judgment: Kant
April 16 Piano Concert 8 pm Pratt
Art and Society
April 18 Carroll (ER)
Alan
Bonde and Mary Jo Salter in class
Meet in McCullough Auditorium, Pratt Hall
April 20 Benjamin
April 25 Berger (ER)
Bonnie Miller to show her paintings in class
April
27 Appiah and Jegede
Meet at Meade Art Gallery, Amherst College
May
2 Concluding Discussion
Paper #3 due in class