00345 - Aesthetics (A-E)

Learning outcomes

Student are expected to acquire knowledge of the main issues regarding genesis, development and different te the essential knowledge of the birth, development and most influential theories of aesthetics – also in its deep-rooted relations with other disciplines, both theoretical (poetics, hermeneutics, rhetoric, etc.) and performing arts. Student are expected then to master the appropriate vocabulary as well as the basic conceptual and methodological tools of the discipline in order to assess them critically and to know how to deal with the guided reading of a "classic" text of aesthetics.

Course contents

Part I Kant and Modern Aesthetics

After an introduction to the history and fundamental problems of aesthetics, the first part is dedicated to the analysis and commentary of the Critique of Judgment. The understanding of Kant's vocabulary and conceptuality will be supported by a constant comparison with the aesthetic theories preceding and contemporary to Kant, in such a way as to keep together the critical comparison with the classic reference and the introductory character of the whole module, useful to instruct students of all curricular backgrounds on the vocabulary and conceptuality of modern aesthetics.

Part II Hegel's Aesthetics: Art, Appearance, History

The second part will be devoted to the reading and commentary of the scheduled sources on Hegel's Aesthetics. Starting from the themes of Hegel's introduction to the Aesthetics, which confronts Kant and Schiller, the module will firstly deal with the transition to the historicization of aesthetics; secondly, deepening the problem of the plurality of sources we have at our disposal for Hegel's aesthetics as a classic of the discipline, the last part aims at constituting a first introduction to the more general problem of how to organize a critical confrontation with philosophical texts.

Class schedule

Part I

Weeks 1 and 2: introduction to the key concepts of Aesthetics between ancient and modern (sensibility; art/work of art/artist; tast; genius; beautiful; sublime

Third week: Introduction to Kant; nature and freedom; determining judgment and reflecting judgment; analytic of the judgment of taste

Fourth week: Analytik of the sublime; paradoxes of aesthetic judgments; sensus communis

Fifth week: Art; Genius.

Part II

Weeks 1 and 2: Historicization of aesthetics.Starting from Schiller

Third week: the genesis of Hegel’s Aesthetics; the problem of the end of art in Hegel’s thinking

Fourth week: symbolic, classical and romantic form of art

Last week: The arts in Hegel’s aesthetics: architecture, sculpture, painting, music and poetry

Readings/Bibliography

Part I

1)

• E. Cassirer, I problemi istitutivi dell’estetica moderna, Meltemi, Milano, 2024.
• P. D’Angelo, E. Franzini, G. Scaramuzza (a cura di), Estetica, Cortina, Milano, 2002, pp. 157-293 (ossia le parti relative a Kant, Schlegel, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Baudelaire, Croce e Benjamin).

2) I. Kant, Critica del giudizio, ed. by L. Amoroso, Rizzoli, Milano 1995 (only Preface, Introduction, §§1-22; Nota generale alla prima sezione dell’analitica; §§23-29; nota generale all’esposizione dei giudizi riflettenti estetici; §40, §§43-50)

Part II

3) G.W.F. Hegel, Lezioni di estetica, trad. e introduzione di P. D’Angelo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2000 .

All readings are mandatory.

Bibliography for non attending students:Non attending students must prepare extra mandatory reading:

O. Höffe, Immanuel Kant, tr. it. di S. Carboncini, Il Mulino, Bologna 1986 (first part)

L’estetica di Hegel, a cura di M. Farina e A.L. Siani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015 (second part)

Teaching methods

The course will consist of frontal lessons; sources will be commented and discussed and the problems and their historical context synthetically reconstructed. 

Assessment methods

6 cfu. Students (Module I) will be evaluated on the basis of an oral exam.

12 cfu. Students (Module I + Module II) will be evaluated on the basis of a two steps evaluation:

a) a written part which consists of a multiple-choice test (21 questions concerning the readings listed in the Bibliography related to point 1 of the first module; correct answer = 1,5 point; wrong answer= 0). Unless special cases are certificated (cf. students with disabilities and SLD), the examination will take 60 minutes. A pass mark (15/30 = 10 correct answers at least) on the multiple-choice test is required in order to access the oral interview.

b) an oral part, aiming to test the achievement of the fundamental learning outcomes, such as: thorough knowledge of the mandatory readings and ability to contextualize them in their historical period; full understanding of the core concepts and interpreting skills; ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and cogently; ability to build connections between authors and topics of the prescription. The oral exam will mainly focus on texts indicated as 2) and 3) in the bibliography; yet questions requiring links to the topics of 1) may still be asked.

Depending on the performance of the oral interview, the final mark may confirm or lower/grade up by max. 3 points the mark obtained in the written test.

The final grade is therefore an overall assessment: excellent (30L); top mark (30); good (27-29); fairly good (24-26); sufficient (22-23); almost sufficient (18-21).

It is not possible to switch from group A-E to group F-N or O-Z, nor vice versa. The only exception is for international students/students.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are entitled to special adjustments according to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact teachers or Department staff, but make an appointment with the Service. The Service will then determine what adjustments are specifically appropriate, and get in touch with the teacher. For more information, please visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

 

Teaching tools

Further readings will be provided via Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Caramelli