Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of important aesthetic topics, i.e. ideas and theories regarding various forms of artistic phenomena. Students will gain a general historic overview of aesthetics, but will also study selected themes in greater detail. Students will improve their ability to reflect upon their own experiences of art, so they will be in a better position to discuss their own views concerning aesthetic topics.

Course Description

The course material comprises around 800 pages. More than half of the texts consist of overviews, which describe the main lines of development in ideas on literature, music and the visual arts. The selection of original texts focuses on six problem areas within aesthetics: (1) the concept of art; (2) the beautiful and the sublime; (3) artistic creation; (4) aesthetic tastes; (5) interpretation; (6) art and gender.

The course will demonstrate how different ideas and positions oppose each other within the different areas. These are ideas and positions that answer common questions, insofar as they are relevant to the various disciplines that are included in the field of art. Consequently, the course material will also include literary texts, music and images as examples.

Learning Methods

Lectures and seminars up to 3 hours per week.

Assessment Methods

The mid-term examination counts for 40% of the final grade. The final written examination counts for 60%. Students must receive passing marks in both the mid-term examination and the final examination in order to achieve a final passing mark. Graded mark.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean