73061 - Elements of Contemporary Aesthetics (1)

Learning outcomes

The main objective of the course is to provide the student with adequate instruments to interpret the relation between symbolic and productive processes that characterize the field of the aesthetic today. At the end of the course the student has a good awareness of the main aesthetic traditions of the last century, is able to contextualize aesthetic phenomena in present culture, and has acquired the conceptual tools enabling him/her to understand the key aspects of taste preferences, social roles and personal identity.

Course contents

Title: Aesthetics, fashion, rock music.

This lecture course will explore the contemporary transformations of the aesthetic also starting from the analysis of their relevance in the determination of social relations. In this perspective a particular attention will be also paid to current meanings and social functions of two aesthetic practices of great importance and influence in the contemporary age: fashion and rock music.

Readings/Bibliography

Testi/Bibliografia

1) G. Matteucci (ed.), Elementi per un’estetica del contemporaneo, Bononia University Press (BUP), Bologna 2018, only pp. 5-61, 81-104, 123-179.

2) G. Matteucci (ed.), Estetica della moda, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2017, only pp. 1-10, 69-109.

3) E. Wilson, Vestirsi di sogni. Moda e modernità, Franco Angeli, Milano 2008, only pp. 15-28, 192-219.

4) D. Ferdori and S. Marino (eds.), Filosofia e popular music, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2013, only pp. 7-44, 81-124.

 

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

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures and class discussions.

Assessment methods

The assessment will take place in the form of an oral exam on the various texts in program.

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

The assessment will thus 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

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

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Marino