ESA190 Aesthetica Perennis: Aesthetics as A Theory of Beauty

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Rostislav Niederle, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Rostislav Niederle, Ph.D.
Department of Aesthetics – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Rostislav Niederle, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Aesthetics – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 B2.34, except Wed 17. 4.
Prerequisites
An Introduction to Philosophy An Introduction to Aesthetics
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 45 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 33/45, only registered: 0/45, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/45
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The core of the course is the traditional understanding of aesthetics as a theory of beauty. Historically, this conception will be demonstrated through the theories of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Hume, Kant, Tolstoy, among others. Modern variations of the theory of beauty will be discussed: the works of Beardsley, Mothersill, Zangwill, among others. Arguments in favor of the objectivity of beauty will be constructed and discussed in turn. Implications will be drawn from one precise conception of beauty for aesthetic concepts in general, for the truth of aesthetic judgments, for the role of the subject in evaluative judgment, and for the importance of the distinction between high and low in art. Certain implications for the notion of the content of a work, the doctrine of formalism, and the relationship between morality and aesthetics will follow from this conception. All this will be illustrated with examples from the visual arts, literature and music.
Learning outcomes
Student is able to look history of aesthetics in historic-philosophical contexts.
Syllabus
  • Beauty as proportion and harmony Apollinic and Dionysian Kitsch Modernism and post- Light and colour in Middle-Age Beauty of monsters Reason and beauty Sublimity Romantic beauty Religion of beauty New thing Beauty of machines Beauty of communitacion mediums
Literature
    required literature
  • Dějiny krásy. Edited by Umberto Eco, Translated by Gabriela Chalupská. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2005, 439 s. ISBN 8072036777. info
    not specified
  • Dějiny ošklivosti. Edited by Umberto Eco, Translated by Iva Adámková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2007, 455 s. ISBN 9788072038930. info
  • PRETTEJOHN, Elizabeth. Beauty and art, 1750-2000. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, 224 s. ISBN 0192801600. info
  • Umění, krása, šeredno : texty z estetiky 20. století. Edited by Vlastimil Zuska. Vyd. 1. Praha: Karolinum, 2003, 369 s. ISBN 8024605406. info
  • ECO, Umberto. Umění a krása ve středověké estetice. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 1998, 239 s. ISBN 8072030981. info
Teaching methods
Lectures which requires homework preparation in reading the assigned study literature. After teacher's presentation of the general and particular features of the subject, students are guided to interpretation of the chosen extracts, and class discussions follow.
Assessment methods
The course ends with a written test consisting of two thematic areas 1. lecture topics and 2. the book History of Beauty. Edited by Umberto Eco. Edition 1. Prague : Argo, 2005. Selected answers.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: test na základě látky přednášek a zadané literatury
The course is taught annually.
General note: Obecné podmínky ukončování kursů Semináře estetiky.
Information on course enrolment limitations: posluchači estetiky Bc., kteří začali své studium před více než čtyřmi semestry, musí mít splněnu postupovou zkoušku (ESAPZE), jinak si nesmí předmět zapsat
Teacher's information
http://www.dur.ac.uk/nick.zangwill/index.html
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
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