28107 - Philosophy and Theory of Arts (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to acquire methodological and critical knowledge about the relationship between philosophy and the ideas, theories and essential categories characterizing the reflection about art. From a historiographical point of view they are expected also to become familiar with two main themes, such as the relationship between philosophical aesthetics and modernity and the possibility to define the conditions under that we can speak of an aesthetic thinking (related to the status of art in general and of the particular arts) also in the ancient philosophy.

Course contents

The Aesthetic Dimension: Art, Culture and Society.

The course will provide an in-depth study of two key texts in 20th century aesthetic and philosophical literature, both of which are associated with the production of the Frankfurt School: The Dialectic of Enlightenment by Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno (1947) and Eros and Civilisation (1955) by Herbert Marcuse. Both works deal with issues related to the individual and social aesthetic dimension, to the cultural production and consumption, to the forms of communication that emerged in the first half of the 20th century, all of which are subjected to a rigorous and disenchanted analysis that leads the reader to an informed view not only of the structures of reality and its dynamics, but also of the very contemporary phenomenon of the 'consumption' of cultural products and their reification as 'commodities'.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Sources (mandatory texts)

M. Horkheimer, Th.W. Adorno, Dialettica dell’illuminismo, trad. it. di R. Solmi, Torino, Einaudi, 1997 (or any later reprint), only chapters 1 e 4 ("Concetto di illuminismo" and "L’industria culturale. Quando l'illuminismo diventa mistificazione di massa").

H. Marcuse, Eros e Civiltà, Torino, Einaudi, 1974 (or any later reprint), only Part II, chapters VII, VIII and IX ("Fantasia e utopia"; "Le immagini di Orfeo e Narciso"; "La dimensione estetica").

2) Critical studies (mandatory texts)

S. Petrucciani, La Scuola di Francoforte. Storia e attualità, Roma, Carocci, 2023, pp. 11-71 (corresponding to chapters 1, 2, 3, 4).

L. Distaso, Marcuse e Adorno. Percorsi fra estetica e politica, Roma, Carocci, 2022, pp. 51-68 (corresponding to chapters 5 e 6), 85-93 (corrispondenti ai capp. 9 e 10).

 

Mandatory texts for non attending students:

C. Galli, Introduzione, in M. Horkheimer e Th.W. Adorno, Dialettica dell’illuminismo, trad. it. di R. Solmi, Torino, Einaudi, 1997 (or any later reprint), pp. VII-XLVIII.

G. Jervis, Introduzione, in H. Marcuse, Eros e Civiltà, Torino, Einaudi, 1974 (or any later reprint), pp. 9-31.

Teaching methods

The course consists of frontal lessons. The sources are commented and discussed, and their main content and historical context are synthetically reconstructed. Powerpoints of the study materials will be projected.

Assessment methods

The final proof will take place in the form of an oral examination. During the examination the teacher will assess whether the student has achieved or not some basic educational goals: knowledge of the texts and capacity to contextualize authors and works; comprehension of the fundamental concepts and capacity to provide a correct interpretation of them; clarity in the explanation of concepts and accuracy in the use of philosophical terminology; capacity to establish connections between the various authors and themes from both a historical and a strictly speaking conceptual point of view. During the oral examination the teacher will assess if the student possesses the abovementioned knowledge and skills in a (more or less) complete, precise and adequate way, or vice-versa in a (more or less) incomplete, vague and superficial way. The final grade will correspondently vary from excellent (30 and honors) to very good (30) to good (27-29) to fairly good (24-26) to more than enough (21-23) to merely enough (18-21) to unsatisfactory (<18).

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special accommodations according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the teacher but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adaptations. For more information, visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

Further readings will be made available through the channels provided by the Unibo portal.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Gatti