Aesthetics

Instructor – Eric Buck

Office – Haupt 206, x8160, ebuck@transy.edu

Office hours – T/R 10-1, W 1-3, and by appointment

To a large extent, philosophical aesthetics have dealt either with drama or with the visual arts. Such concepts as beauty, its relation to truth, the faculty of judgement, artistic value and criticism, and so on, have been of primary importance. But in the 20^th century, philosophical analysis threw into question the very possibility of making any sense of aesthetic claims or statements. In response, philosophers of art turned more of their attention toward the text and literature.

In this course we cast our net more widely. The term ‘aesthetics’–as its etymology suggests–will cover a much wider range of human experience than either the visual arts or theater and literature would suggest. In fact, “aesthetic” refers to the entire spectrum of corporeal experience in an environment. In a certain manner of speaking, aesthetics is about experience plain and simple. Even our thoughts and memories are aesthetic in that they appear to some capacity we possess for perceiving them. So we will take what I think is a more ordinary, everyday approach to the topic of aesthetics, and this course will introduce the student to a kind of practical, living philosophy. I intend the course to result in a skill for living more deeply and with increased sensitivity by living more philosophically.

More specifically, we will approach art and aesthetics from the perspectives of American pragmatism and (European) phenomenology. It is not expected that the students are already familiar with these views of the world, but that they will exert themselves to achieve a basic understanding of these perspectives. Lastly we focus more on nature and architecture—environmental aesthetics—than on pieces of art—object aesthetics, though the latter will lead us on to the former.

Texts

Art as Experience - John Dewey

Spell of the Sensuous - David Abram

The Nature of Order, vol. one, The Phenomenon of Life - Christopher Alexander. This book must be purchased online from the Center for Environmental Structure, who is offering a discount to members of the class. From now until September 17, please go to the following website and purchase the book using a credit card: www.patternlanguage.com/transy2294.htm. The books will be shipped to me and I will distribute them in class.

As need arises additional readings will be assigned as a counterpoint to or in support of the prevailing views of aesthetic experience. These will come from a packet of readings and some books on reserve available in the library. We also will look at selected musical pieces, fairy tales, fiction, poetry, buildings, films, dance videos, (theatrical) performances - as announced or presented.

Mechanics

The student must come to class having read or viewed and reflected upon the assigned material. The course work includes discussion of the extensive readings, experiences, and essays. Hoping to learn simply from lecture or discussion is a fancy that you must forget.

Cheating/Unacceptable shortcuts

Do your work and only your own work. If you make use of the work of others, give them credit, as you would want for another’s use of your own. Some projects will be collaborative. Any other instances of “getting help” from a student, website, or what have you, where this is not acceptably credited, will be considered cheating. The penalty is failure.

Attendance

Required. You cannot participate if you do not attend. Nor can you expect to learn all by yourself. This is especially true of philosophy, about which you may be starting your study. I expect students to be on time to class. Excused absences (essentially a mark for attending) will be granted for reasons conforming to university regulations.

Lateness

For every class day that an assignment is late, the student is docked 10%, unless the student is excused according to university regulations.

Extra Credit

There is none, ever.

Grading

On individual assignments, I follow a letter grade and plus-minus system (the only exception is participation, which see). To calculate the final grade, I convert each letter grade into the 4-point system and give the average grade from that (as a letter). The weight of each assignment (see assignment handouts for details on each) is as follows:

Minor Essays

painting 10%

music 10%

gustatory 10%

total experience 20%

Attendance/Participation 20%

Major Essay: Aesthetic Inventory of Transy and Environs. See Handout.

List of twenty sites 5%

Positive and Negative Essays 20%

Abstract 5%