28107 - Philosophy and Theory of Arts (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to acquire methodological and critical knowledge about the relationship between philosophy and the ideas, theories and essential categories characterizing the reflection about art. From a historiographical point of view they are expected also to become familiar with two main themes, such as the relationship between philosophical aesthetics and modernity and the possibility to define the conditions under that we can speak of an aesthetic thinking (related to the status of art in general and of the particular arts) also in the ancient philosophy.

Course contents

This course focuses on the analysis of some of Walter Benjamin's writings on the arts, starting with The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. The essay will be read and examined in depth, emphasizing its historical relevance in the process of defining the relationship between aesthetics and critical theory, which developed in the first half of the 20th century, particularly within the Frankfurt School's reflections. Throughout the course, we will explore the persistence – or overcoming – of key concepts in Benjamin's philosophy of art (aura, exhibition value, politicization of art), re-evaluating their assumptions, developments, and possible applications to the arts, including contemporary ones: from architecture and cinema to photography and the visual arts. The course will also analyze the internal dialectics of Benjamin's philosophy of art, along with thematic threads found in his other writings related to images and mass media

Readings/Bibliography

1) Sources (mandatory texts)

- Walter Benjamin, L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, Ed. integrale comprensiva delle cinque stesure, a cura di F. Desideri e M. Montanelli, Roma, Donzelli, 2019, especially the "Terza versione" ("Third Version").

- Walter Benjamin, Aura e choc. Saggi sulla teoria dei media, Torino, Einaudi, 2012, pp. 95-99 (“Sulla pittura, ovvero ‘Zeichen’ e ‘Mal’”), 245-255 (“Lettera da Parigi [II], Pittura e fotografia”), 225-244 (“Piccola storia della fotografia”), 295-298 (“Teatro e radio”).

 

2) Critical studies (mandatory texts)

Tecniche di esposizione. Walter Benjamin e la riproduzione dell’opera d’arte, a cura di M. Montanelli e M. Palma, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2016, the following essays: D. Gentili, “La politicizzazione dell’arte. Individuo, massa, mercato”; A. Campo, “Arte oltre l’opera. Una lettura antropologico-politica de L’opera d’arte di Benjamin”; M. Tomba, “Benjamin: l’aura oltre i tradizionali rapporti di proprietà”; E. Tavani, “Walter Benjamin e il potenziale politico delle immagini”.

 

Mandatory texts for non attending students:

Non-attending students are required to study from the volume in Item 2 (Tecniche di esposizione. Walter Benjamin and la riproduzione dell'opera d'arte), in addition to those mentioned above, the following essays: F. Desideri “Dottrina della percezione e crisi della democrazia”; C.-C. Härle, “Eterotropia dell’opera d’arte”.

Teaching methods

The course consists of frontal lessons. The sources are commented and discussed, and their main content and historical context are synthetically reconstructed.

Assessment methods

The final proof will take place in the form of an oral 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 authors and themes from both a historical and a strictly speaking conceptual point of view. During the oral examination 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).

 

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

It is recommended that you contact the university office well in advance. Any adaptations must be submitted 15 days in advance for the teacher(s)' approval. They will also assess the adaptations' appropriateness in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

Exam sessions

Exam sessions are scheduled during the calendar year in the following months: January, February, March, May, June, July, September, November.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations containing useful texts and materials for further study of the course topics will be shown during the lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Gatti