73061 - Elements of Contemporary Aesthetics (1)

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Rimini
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Fashion Cultures and Techniques (cod. 8772)

Learning outcomes

The main objective of the course is to provide tools for an interpretation of symbolic and productive processes that characterize today the aesthetic field. At the end of the course the student has a good awareness of the major aesthetic traditions in the last century. Also acquires the conceptual tools enabling it to understand and analyze the key issues about taste, social roles and personal identity.

Course contents

Title: Fashion and aestheticization.
The course will explore the contemporary transformations of the aesthetic starting from the analysis of its relevance in the determination of social relations. In this perspective it will also examine the social function of fashion.

Beginning: September, 27st, 2018.

Timetable: first period (first semester) - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 to 11.

Classroom: Briolini 1-2.

Readings/Bibliography

1) T. Edwards, La moda, Einaudi, Torino 2012, only chapters 1-2, 6 and 8 (pp. 3-60, 153-178, 203-226).

2) G. Lipovetsky & J. Serroy, Lestetizzazione del mondo, Sellerio, Palermo 2017, only chapter 1 (pp. 41-114).

3) G. Matteucci (ed.), Elementi per un'estetica del contemporaneo, BUP, Bologna 2017.

N.B.: The bibliography may change until the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures.

Assessment methods

For attending students there will be two intermediate written tests (with both closed and open questions on the content of the texts that will be examined in lesson). A further written test and the oral interview will cover the remaining parts of the program listed in the bibliography.

For non attending students the overall written test and the oral interview will cover the program listed in the bibliography.

The assessment will concentrate particularly on the skill displayed by the student in handling the material in the exam bibliography and his ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.

The assessment will thus examine the student's:

- factual knowledge of the subject;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

We will use power point slides concerning course's texts and topics.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Matteucci