Philosophy 280: Aesthetics, Schedule of Assignments, Hettinger, Spring, 2013
1. Jan 9: Introduction
Origins of Art
2. Jan 14: Stephen Davies, The Philosophy of Art (hereafter “Davies”), Ch. 1: Evolution and Culture, pp. 1-25
What is Art?
3. Jan 16: Elizabeth Telfer, “Food as Art,” Arguing About Art (hereafter “Arguing”), pp. 11-29, on class webpage
MLK Holiday
4. Jan 23: Davies, Ch. 2: Defining Art, pp. 26-51
5. Jan 28: “Is it Art or Just a Toilet Seat?” on class webpage
Public Art and Censorship
6. Jan 30: Two readings:
a. Various contributors, “Transcript of a Hearing to Decide the Future of Tilted Arc,” Arguing, pp. 399-405
b. Gregg Horowitz, “Public Art /Public Spaces: Spectacle of the Tilted Arc Controversy,” Arguing, 416-426
(See also Dave Barry, “Does Public Art Make Sense?” (humor) on class webpage)
7. Feb 4: Michael Kelly, “Public Art controversy: The Serra and Lin cases,” Arguing, pp. 427-439
a. Possible video in class: Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision
8. Feb 6: Peter Levine, “Lessons from the Brooklyn Museum Controversy” on class webpage
a. Also, “Quebec Special Effects Artist Not guilty of Corrupting Morals” on class webpage
What is Aesthetic Appreciation?
9. Feb 11: Davies, Ch. 3: Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art, pp. 52-80
10. Feb 13: Same as above
Rock versus Classical Music
11. Feb 18: Roger Scruton, “The Decline of Musical Culture,” Arguing, pp. 121-136
12. Feb 20: Bruce Baugh, “Prolegomena to Any Aesthetics of Rock Music” on class webpage
13. Feb 25: Stephen Davies, “Rock versus Classical Music” on class webpage
14. **Feb 27: MIDTERM EXAM**
Spring Break
The Ontology of Artworks
15. Mar 11: Davies, Ch. 4: Varieties of Art, pp. 81-108
16. Mar 13: Same as above
Meaning, Intention, and Interpretation
17. Mar 18: Oct 6: Davies, Ch 5: Interpretation, pp. 109-134
Emotion and Art
18. Mar 20: Alex Neill, “Fiction and the Emotions,” Arguing, pp. 272-288
**Paper proposal due: Friday, March 22, by email to hettingern@cofc.edu
19. Mar 25: Berys Gaut, “The Paradox of Horror,” Arguing, pp. 317-329
20. Mar 27: Davies, Ch 6: Expression and Emotional Responses, pp. 135-166
21. Apr 1: Same as above
Representation and Art
22. Apr 3: Davies, Ch. 7: Pictorial Representation and the Visual Arts, pp. 167-195
Environmental Art
23. Apr 8: Glen Parsons, “Art in Nature,” on class webpage
a. Video: Andy Goldsworthy, “Rivers and Tides”
Value and Art
24. Apr 10: Kendall Walton, “Morals in Fiction and Fictional Morality” on class webpage
**Paper due: Thursday, April 11, 2pm, 14 Glebe Mailbox**
25. Apr 15: Davies, Ch 8: The Value of Art, pp. 199-231
a. Video: Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will
26. Apr 17: Same as above, plus two readings:
a. Goldfish Blending Art? on class web page
b. “‘Artist Leaves Dog To Die on Exhibition Display” on class webpage
Aesthetics of Nature
27. Apr 22: Allen Carlson, “Aesthetic Appreciation of the Natural Environment,” Arguing, pp. 157-171
28. Apr 24: Noel Carroll, “On Being Moved by Nature: Between Religion and Natural History,” Arguing, pp. 172-191
**Final exam: Mon, Apr 29, 12-3, in classroom**