90770 - Pop Theory and Poetics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected to acquire the knowledge of essential aspects of the debate on the phenomenon of Pop, which is broad, complex and of fundamental importance to understand the present age. Central issues for this course are, in particular: the relationship between “pop” and “popular culture”; the comprehension of the relation between the different theories of Pop and the various poetics of Pop in different artistic fields; a critical understanding of the intertwinement of cultural, creative and productive processes that is a central feature of the aesthetic domain today.

Course contents

Titolo:

Pop, aestheticization, music.

This lecture course will explore some contemporary transformations of the aesthetic deriving from pop culture, with its particular and original aesthetics, and also connected to the current relevance of aesthetics aspects in the determination of social relations.

In this perspective a particular attention will be paid to current meanings and social functions of an aesthetic practice and experience like that of rock music which is of great importance and influence both on 20th/21st-century culture and on everyday life, also investigating the often problematic relation between 'pop' and 'rock'.

Readings/Bibliography

1. One of these two texts:

Y. Michaud, L’arte allo stato gassoso. Saggio sul trionfo dell’estetica, ed. by G. Matteucci, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2019, only: Introduzione, Chap. 1, Chap. 2, Chap. 4

or

D. Ferdori, La filosofia degli U2 Il conflitto tra Eros e Agape, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2013.

2. A. Mecacci, L’estetica del pop, Donzelli, Roma 2011,

only: Chap. 1 (Il pop: un percorso filosofico) and Chap. 3 (Il pop e l’immaginario).

3. A. Alfieri, Rocksofia. Filosofia dell’hard rock nel passaggio di millennio, il melangolo, Genova 2019.

The bibliography may be subject to changes until the beginning of the lecture course.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures, also using video and audio materials, and class discussions with students.

Assessment methods

The assessment method is a written paper on at least 2 fundamental topics among the main topics included in at least 2 of the 3 books in program. In case the teacher thought it was necessary or useful to further examine some students, he will ask those students to also make an oral exam after the correction of their written papers. The assessment will examine the students’ 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; general orientation on the main features and aspects of contemporary aesthetic culture. 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 summarize 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

During the lecture course we will use power point slides concerning the lecture course's texts and main topics, and also audio and video materials that are coherent with the basic questions presented in the books of our program.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Marino