B015849 - AESTHETICS AND THE LANGUAGES OF ART

Italian

The course intends to analyze and discuss: 1) the definition of aesthetics in relation to emotions, cognitions and language; 2) the aesthetic dimension of understanding and communicating; 3) the fundamental critical notions of a theory of contemporary art, in the light of the thought of Th. W. Adorno.

First part of the Course (borrowed also from "Estetica" for "Scienze Filosofiche) - 6 CFU - Prof. Fabrizio Desideri

1. F. Desideri, Origine dell'estetico. Dalle emozioni al giudizio, Editore Carocci, Roma gennaio 2018

2.) For the students of "Scienze Filosofiche": Th. W. Adorno, Teoria estetica, edited by F. Desideri & G. Matteucci, Einaudi 2009) - limited to the following pages: 62-181, 235-347;
- For the students of "Teorie della comunicazione" and all other Courses:
Th. W. Adorno, Minima moralia, edited by L. Ceppa, Einaudi Torino 2015

3) R. Krauss, Reinventare il medium. Cinque saggi sull'arte di oggi, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2005

Second part of the Course (only for "Teorie della comunicazione") - 6 CFU - Prof. Chiara Cantelli

1. W. Benjamin, Piccola storia della fotografia, Ed. Skira, Milano.2011
2) R. Krauss, Teoria e storia della fotografia. Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2006

Knowledge: Acquisition and development of conceptual skills related to the aesthetic dimension of human experience and communication, especially through the analysis of the relationship between ordinary language, new media and languages of art. First orientation with respect to the contemporary debate on the ontology of art, with reference to the relationship between photography and contemporary art practices.
Competencies: Ability to navigate with conceptual and practical skills in the issues regarding the theoretical and symbolic frontiers of the new intertwining of aesthetics, art and communication in a globalized and hyper-technological Net-Society.
Judgment autonomy: Acquiring orientation and judgment skills in the contemporary debate on art definitions and issues related to interweaving aesthetics, art and communication in contemporary society.
Communicative Skills: Acquire basic linguistic-conceptual skills to handle the topics discussed in the course and to communicate with multimedia tools as well.

For attending the Course and in any case for taking the exam is presupposed an extensive basic knowledge concerning contemporary aesthetics. To fill any gaps it's recommended: F. Desideri – C. Cantelli, Storia dell'estetica occidentale. Da Omero alle neuroscienze, Carocci, Roma 2008 (Chapter 7, pages 397-588).

The course, in addition to the normal frontal lessons, will also have a seminar part, with short reports in PowerPoint prepared by small groups of students.

Course Title

Origins of aesthetics in the human world and theory of contemporary art.

The exam will be held in oral form and will take into account the brief reports presented by the students. The oral exam will verify the acquisition by the student of conceptual knowledge and skills related to: the relationship between the aesthetic dimension of the experience, its role in the dynamics of understanding and communication and the development of a critical lexicon the forms of contemporary art.

The course has three main objectives: 1) to clarify the definition of aesthetics in relation to emotions, cognitions and language; 2) to analyze the aesthetic dimension of understanding and communication dynamics; 3) acquire a critical lexicon related to a possible theory of contemporary art.