Aesthetical problems of late modernity

elective seminars

The course is intended for students with minimum knowledge in aesthetics and students with basic knowledge in aesthetics, who have taken a course in aesthetics previously.

During this course both historical and most contemporary philosophical texts discussing main problems and ideas in aesthetics will be introduced as well as some basic discussion with presented texts. Discussed texts will come mostly from aesthetic writers with few exceptions. The course is intended for students with minimum knowledge in aesthetics and students with basic knowledge in aesthetics, who have taken a course in aesthetics previously.

How have the scope and functions of what is aesthetical changed in the context of leading philosophical and cultural trends of the late modernity? Do the modes of functionalising of what is aesthetical created by modernity such as: emancipation, compensation, criticism, communication, escapist function or totalisation continue to be up-to-date? What does “aesthetical” stand for today: escape from the world, a manner of manifesting the truth, a way of world’s reintegration and amendment, creation of new possibilities or mere entertainment, easy consolation or illusion?

During this course both historical and most contemporary philosophical texts discussing main problems and ideas in aesthetics will be introduced as well as some basic discussion with presented texts. Discussed texts will come mostly from aesthetic writers with few exceptions. The course is intended for students with minimum knowledge in aesthetics and students with basic knowledge in aesthetics, who have taken a course in aesthetics previously.

Literatura po angielsku:

Discuted texts of autors: G. Vattimo, P. de Man, M. Zaleski, E. Escoubas, S. Żiżek, P. Lacoue-Labarthe, H.Foster, S. Kracauer, W. Welsch, J. Rancière, J. McKenzie, E. Fischer-Lichte, E. Domańska, T. Załuski, N. Bourriaud, K.Wodiczko, A. Ostolski.

Discuted texts of autors: G. Vattimo, P. de Man, J. Derrida, A. Artaud, M. Zaleski, E. Escoubas, S. Żiżek, P. Lacoue-Labarthe, S. Kracauer, H. Foster, J-F. Lyotard, K. Barad, m. Bakke, R.Schneider, Z. Bauman, Jon McKenzie, M.Murawska, S. Kracauer, W. Welsch, E. Fischer-Lichte, E. Domańska, T. Załuski.

Knowledge:

The student:

1. Knows basic Polish terminology used in contemporary philosophy and aesthetics related to the themes discussed during the course.

2. Is familiar with and understands the relationships between contemporary analyses of modernity and changes in culture and art.

Skills

The student:

1. Can autonomously associate philosophical analyses of late modernity with various appearances of the aesthetic.

2. Can critically analyse literature related to the above issues.

3. Can autonomously interpret a philosophical text, comment on it and juxtapose ideas presented in different texts.

4. Can identify the relevance of the proposed theses to the issue under discussion.

Social competences

The student:

1. Is aware of his/her knowledge and skills and understands the need of continous education

2. Participates in artistic and cultural life, is interested in innovative philosophical and aesthetic ideas with respect to other aspects of cultural and social life.

The assessment will be based on the quality of the paper presented as well as class participation. The evaluation will be as follows:

- (dst): moderate class participation

- (dst+): moderate class participation, paper graded „dst”

- (db): frequent class participation, paper graded „db”

- (db+): frequent class participation, paper graded „db+”

- (bdb): frequent class participation, paper graded „bdb”.