27992 - Contemporary Aesthetics

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to acquire knowledge of the main issues of the aesthetics of the last century. They also acquire the essential conceptual and methodological tools in order to investigate crucial issues that are at the centre of contemporary aesthetic debate, according to a predominantly theoretical-problematic approach.

Course contents

 

This seminar-based module analyses a group of texts that constitute the working notes of the courses Merleau-Ponty gave at the Collège de France between 1953 and 1954. If in the 1945 work, the Phenomenology of Perception, the centre of investigation was represented by corporeality, to which the phenomenon of expression was brought back, even if not reduced, in the context of these courses the relationship between expression, sensibility and language takes centre stage, along with a particular focus on literatur. After an in-depth examination of Merleau-Ponty's references to Saussure's linguistics, special attention will be given to the analysis of literary language and to Merleau-Ponty's main author of reference: Marcel Proust. Using also the direct reading of the sources, of the literary passages commented by Merleau-Ponty, the peculiar philosophical use that Merleau-Ponty makes of literature will be questioned.

Provisional lecture schedule

First week: introduction to Merleau-Ponty

Second week: reading and commentary of "The Prose of the World"

Third week: "Le problème de la parole"

Fourth week: "L’istituzione"

Fifth week: "La passività"

Readings/Bibliography

Students are free to choose one mandatory reading from the group 1) and one from the group 2)

1)

- M. Merleau-Ponty, La prosa del mondo, a cura di P. Dalla Vigna, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2019.

- M. Merleau-Ponty, Le problème de la parole. Cours au Collège de France. Notes, 1953-1954, MetisPresses, Genève 2020.

- - M. Merleau-Ponty, L’istituzione, la passività. Corso al Collège de France (1954-1955), pref. di C. Lefort, ed. it. a cura di G. Fava, R. Valenti, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2023.

2) - G.A. Johnson, M. Carbone, E. de Saint Aubert, Merleau-Ponty’s Poetic of the World. Philosophy and Literature, Fordham University Press, New York 2020.

- L. Vanzago, Merleau-Ponty, Carocci, Roma 2012.

- E. Caramelli, Poetiche del testo filosofico. Hegel, Merleau-Ponty e il linguaggio letterario, Carocci, Roma 2024

Programm for non-attending students

Non attending students are expected to prepare extra mandatory reading:

E. Caramelli, Merleau-Ponty e la "innere Sprachform". Tra linguaggio filosofico e parola letteraria, «Ermeneutica letteraria», XV (2019), pp. 95-106.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures and discussions with students.

Assessment methods

The final proof will take place in the form of a viva voce examination. During the examination the teacher will assess whether the student has achieved or not some basic educational goals:

– knowledge of the texts and capacity to contextualize authors and works;

– comprehension of the fundamental concepts and capacity to provide a correct interpretation of them;

– clarity in the explanation of concepts and accuracy in the use of philosophical terminology;

– capacity to establish connections between the various themes from both a historical and a strictly speaking conceptual point of view.

As optional, students can prepare a paper. The choice of written paper is strongly recommended. The paper is to be handed in by e-mail at least 10 days before the exam date. In this case, the oral examination will consist in the discussion of the paper.

As optional, students can prepare a paper. The choice of written paper is strongly recommended. The paper is to be handed in by e-mail at least 10 days before the exam date. In this case, the oral examination will consist in the discussion of the paper.

Students can write:

option 1: a commentary (25000-30000 characters c.ca, including blank spaces) on one among Merleau-Ponty texts in the prescription, point 1);

option 2: a book/collective work/monographic issue review (max. 20000/25000 characters) on Merleau-Ponty, to be written also on the basis of study of one of Merleau-Ponty's works from the prescription, point a). The direct reading of Merleau-Ponty must emerge in the course of the review.

option 3: an annotated translation (25/30000 characters) of selected passages of a Merleau-Ponty’s text in French from the prescription, point 1).

The different ways of writing the three types of written work will be discussed in class with the instructor. An extra translation workshop with optional participation is scheduled during the lectures period.

The essay will be evaluated both for form and for content. Topic and type of written paper are to be agreed with the instructor.

For the evaluation of the oral examination/written paper the teacher will assess if the student possesses the abovementioned knowledge and skills in a (more or less) complete, precise and adequate way, or vice-versa in a (more or less) incomplete, vague and superficial way. The final grade will correspondently vary from excellent (30 and honors) to very good (30) to good (27-29) to fairly good (24-26) to more than enough (21-23) to merely enough (18-21) to unsatisfactory (<18).

Exam sessions
During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: September 2025, October 2025, January 2026, February 2026, April 2026, May 2026, June 2026.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

All the aforementioned texts (in the specified editions) are an essential tool in order to actively participate in the classes. It is recommended to get hold of the text (group 1) that the student intends to choose for the final proof.

An extra translation workshop with optional participation is scheduled during the lectures period.

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Caramelli