Ever wondered what makes something "art"? Or whether something called "art" shouldn't be? These are aesthetic questions with no easy answers. Let's start with what "aesthetics" means. Defining it is almost as difficult as defining "art." From its Greek origin, the word "aesthetics" has come to mean how we perceive something--how we feel about something--not intellectually but emotionally. Closely related is the word "anesthetic"--something that causes a loss of sensation or feeling. The Encyclopedia Britannica refers to "aesthetics" as "the philosophical study of beauty and taste."(1) It is closely related to the philosophy of art, which is concerned with the nature of art and the concepts in terms of which individual works of art are interpreted and evaluated....Aesthetics is broader in scope than the philosophy of art, which comprises one of its branches. It deals not only with the nature and value of the arts but also with those responses to natural objects that find expression in the language of the beautiful and the ugly."......[eventually I hope to finish this....}
Introduction This week we continue our study of art aesthetics and the questions "What is art? When is art?" We'll read brief summaries of the philosophies of several philosophers of art. Click on the link below for a brief podcast on this module's topic. And yes, the "video" part of the podcast is so small you can hardly see it! We're working on the problem. Meanwhile, just listen to the audio.
Here's a link to "What is art? When is art?" or, if that doesn't work, you can also link to it using the link below:
What is art? When is art? You may see a window asking you to select iTunes to open the file. If you don't already have iTunes on your computer, you should go ahead and install it. Objectives 1. Study/review the art theories of philosophers Abbe Batteux, Immanuel Kant, Arthur Danto, and M. A. Staniskewski.
2. Begin to think about your own definition of art Preparation Great philosophers of art
1. Read "Abbe Batteux"
2. Read "Kant's Critique of Judgment"
3. Read "Arthur Danto"
4. How would you summarize the contribution of each to the definition of "art"? Be prepared to discuss how each would define art. This question may come up later in the course.
Defining "art"
1. Listen to "The definition of art" (podcast) by Derek Matravers, author of Art and Emotion...in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites (www.philosophybites.com). (Reference is made several times to this pivotal artwork, "Urinal" or "Fountain," by Marcel Duchamp.) Matravers pleads for reasons for what makes something "art." NOTE: Clicking on the link will take you to a web page; on the right hand side is a list of names; scroll down the list to select "Derek Matravers" to hear the podcast.
2. Read "Believing is Seeing." Here Staniszewski gives a brief survey of the ways in which the definition of "art" has changed.
Assignment(s) 1. Review Aesthetics quiz and find correct answers to any questions you missed.
2. Take the Art theories quiz. Be sure to read all the articles and listen to podcast carefully before you take the quiz. A little extra... 1. See if you can tell which painting is by an ape or an artist at "An artist or an ape?"--a quiz by Mikhail Simkin. (See images below.) Here's another similar quiz: "Bremen Artists" by Graydon Parrish & Mikhail Simkin. How did YOU do on the quizzes?
(1)Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7484/aesthetics>. Accessed 6/7/2015.
Introduction This week we continue our study of art aesthetics and the questions "What is art? When is art?" We'll read brief summaries of the philosophies of several philosophers of art. Click on the link below for a brief podcast on this module's topic. And yes, the "video" part of the podcast is so small you can hardly see it! We're working on the problem. Meanwhile, just listen to the audio.
Here's a link to "What is art? When is art?" or, if that doesn't work, you can also link to it using the link below:
What is art? When is art? You may see a window asking you to select iTunes to open the file. If you don't already have iTunes on your computer, you should go ahead and install it. Objectives 1. Study/review the art theories of philosophers Abbe Batteux, Immanuel Kant, Arthur Danto, and M. A. Staniskewski.
2. Begin to think about your own definition of art Preparation Great philosophers of art
1. Read "Abbe Batteux"
2. Read "Kant's Critique of Judgment"
3. Read "Arthur Danto"
4. How would you summarize the contribution of each to the definition of "art"? Be prepared to discuss how each would define art. This question may come up later in the course.
Defining "art"
1. Listen to "The definition of art" (podcast) by Derek Matravers, author of Art and Emotion...in conversation with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites (www.philosophybites.com). (Reference is made several times to this pivotal artwork, "Urinal" or "Fountain," by Marcel Duchamp.) Matravers pleads for reasons for what makes something "art." NOTE: Clicking on the link will take you to a web page; on the right hand side is a list of names; scroll down the list to select "Derek Matravers" to hear the podcast.
2. Read "Believing is Seeing." Here Staniszewski gives a brief survey of the ways in which the definition of "art" has changed.
Assignment(s) 1. Review Aesthetics quiz and find correct answers to any questions you missed.
2. Take the Art theories quiz. Be sure to read all the articles and listen to podcast carefully before you take the quiz. A little extra... 1. See if you can tell which painting is by an ape or an artist at "An artist or an ape?"--a quiz by Mikhail Simkin. (See images below.) Here's another similar quiz: "Bremen Artists" by Graydon Parrish & Mikhail Simkin. How did YOU do on the quizzes?
(1)Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7484/aesthetics>. Accessed 6/7/2015.
