Course detail

Introduction to Philosophy of Art 1

FaVU-1UFIL-ZAcad. year: 2023/2024

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the major themes of Anglo-American analytic philosophy of art since the establishment of the discipline in the 1950s to the present moment. The lectures will focuse on the interpretation of scholarly texts, the choice of which has been motivated not only by their historical significance but also, and above all, by their relevance in the present. In the course we will ask how philosophers can contribute to the solution of the problems faced by contemporary art, or by artists themselves. The lectures will focus on the specificity of art as opposed to ordinary things; the reception of art; issues related to the historical transformation of art and the idea that art has come to an end; and, last but not least, the ethical dimension of art.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

Orientation in contemporary art and a general overview of art theory and philosophy.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Written work on a pre-consulted topic.
Attendance at lectures is not compulsory.

Aims

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the main themes and concepts of Anglo-American analytical philosophy of art.
Graduates of the course should be able to grasp the basic concepts of philosophy of art, apply them adequately and understand them in a broader context.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

ANDINA, Tiziana. The Philosophy of Art: The Question of Definition. London: Bloomsbury, 2013. (EN)
BELTING, Belting. Konec dějin umění. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2000. (CS)
BULLOUGH, Edward. “Psychická distance“ jako faktor v umění a estetický princip. Estetika, 1995, 32, s. 12-31. (CS)
DANTO, Arthur C. Konec umění. Estetika, 35, 1998, č. 1, s. 1–18. (CS)
DANTO, Arthur C. Po konci umění. Praha: Academia, 2021? (CS)
DANTO, Arthur C. Svět umění. in: KULKA, Tomáš –CIPORANOV, Denis (eds.). Co je umění? Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart 2010, s. 95-111. (CS)
DAVIES, Stephen. Definitions of Art. Ithaka, London: Cornell University Press, 1991. (EN)
DICKIE, George. History of the Institutional Theory of Art. In: týž. Art and Value. Malden, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2001, s. 52–73. (EN)
DICKIE, George. Co je umění? Institucionální analýza. in: KULKA, Tomáš –CIPORANOV, Denis (eds.). Co je umění? Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart 2010, s. 113–132. (CS)
DICKIE, George. The Art Circle. Evanston: Chicago Spectrum Press, 1997. (EN)
DICKIE, George. The Myth of Aesthetic Attitude. in: MARGOLIS, Joseph (ed.) Philosophy Looks the Art. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1987, s. 100-116. (EN)
GOLDIE, Peter, SCHELLEKENS, Elisabeth. Who is Afraid of Conceptual Art? London, New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2010. (EN)
GOODMAN, Nelson. Jazyky umění. Nástin teorie symbolů. Praha: Academia 2007. (CS)
GOODMAN, Nelson. Kdy je umění? in: KULKA, Tomáš –CIPORANOV, Denis (eds.). Co je umění? Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart 2010, s. 255-267. (CS)
KENNICK, William. Does Traditional Aesthetics Rest Upon a Mistake. In. LIPMAN, Mattew: Contemporary Aesthetics. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1973, s. 219–234. (EN)
KRISTELLER, Paul Oskar. The Modern System of the Arts: A Study in the History of Aesthetics Part I. Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct., 1951), s. 496-527. (EN)
KRISTELLER, Paul Oskar. The Modern System of the Arts: A Study in the History of Aesthetics Part II. Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan., 1952), s. 17-46. (EN)
KULKA, Tomáš –CIPORANOV, Denis (eds.). Co je umění? Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart 2010. (CS)
SCHELLEKENS, Elisabeth. Aesthetics and Morality. London: Continuum, 2007. (EN)
WEITZ, Morris. Role teorie v estetice. in Tomáš KULKA – Denis CIPORANOV (eds.). Co je umění? Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart 2010, s. 51–64. (CS)
ZUSKA, Vlastimil. Estetická distance – Dialog sebereflexe. Estetika, 1995, 32, s. 1-9. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

52 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Václav Maxmilián, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1) Introductory class: continental vs. analytic aesthetics. Subject and main topics of the analytic aesthetics and philosophy of art. Influence of philosophy of language.

2) Determining the nature of art as one of the main topics of the analytic philosophy of art. Can art be defined? And does defining art make sense at all? Historical implications of the topic (Kristeller), general publications and studies (Andina, Davies, Carroll)

3) Anti-essentialism in aesthetics (Weitz, Kennick)

4) The turn to defining art. The concept of the "art world" (Danto)

5) Institutional theory of art - from the first formulation to revision and critique (Dickie)

6) Arthur C. Danto: the meaning of the artwork and interpretation (Danto)

7) The end of art - how to understand art historically? Can art history end? (Danto, Belting)

8) Posthistorical art vs. modernism and postmodernism; pluralism of the art world (Danto)

9) How does art affect the perceiver? Aesthetic appreciation of art as a particular kind of experience of the work. A critique of the aesthetic appreciation of art within analytic philosophy (Dickie)

10) Art and Ethics. Moral responsibility of the artist. What moral questions does contemporary art pose and how can philosophy contribute to their solution? Mmoderate moralism (Carroll)

11) Moral criticism of art - Berys Gaut

12) Summary of topics covered, discussion