This course introduces students to five of the most significant thinkers in aesthetics from the first half of the 20th century. We will begin with an overview of the formation of aesthetics as a philosophical discipline. Next, we will examine how Benjamin, Bataille, and Merleau-Ponty—in the field of philosophy—and Argan and Greenberg—in the fields of art criticism and art history—insightfully and originally navigated the transformations Western art underwent following the advent of the avant-garde and the emergence of the culture industry. By considering these two radical shifts, which fundamentally altered our relationship with images and the sensory world at large, we will explore the perspectives of these authors and assess the reach and relevance of their writings today.
OBJECTIVES
- Introduce five fundamental authors in 20th-century aesthetics from the first half of the century.
- Develop strategies for reading and interpreting philosophical texts.
(No prior knowledge of the authors is required.)
