Art Theory Introduction to Aesthetics Online Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Behind every artwork there is an idea that defines it on a level above the visual. Philosophers, critics and artists have long tried to define those ideas, inspiring much discussion and creating the field known as Aesthetics. This is the field where the most fundamental questions of art are in constant debate; What is art? Is it important, or useful? Why makes an artwork an artwork? What is beauty, and should artworks always be beautiful? Beyond being philosophical inquiries, these are all questions that most art lovers have asked themselves, too. Thinking about art in this way allows us to put it into a larger conceptual framework and often leads to questions that extend well outside of art alone.
Throughout this course we use the works of artists from all periods, from Ancient Greece to the present day, using their art as ways of exploring the key issues of aesthetics. Each lecture involves a set of images and certain texts that students will be asked to read before each session and discussion is encouraged throughout.
Who this course is for
The course is for those who want to learn about the relevance of philosophy to art, add new dimensions to their art analysis, and appreciate the evolution of the concept of art across history.
No previous experience is required but some dedication to reading and note taking is needed. This course will interest followers of philosophy, art or any critical creative practice that are keen to expand their perspectives in the world of art.
Key information
Topics covered
- The ideas of Plato and his attitude towards the arts; why were artists excluded from his ideal republic? Can art convey genuine knowledge, or is it deceptive?
- What role does imitation play in the arts? Is it ever possible to create something entirely new?
- The enlightenment aesthetics of Winckelmann and Lessing; what makes an artwork beautiful? How should artists achieve beauty in their works?
- What are the fundamental differences between the arts, such as poetry and painting? Does one have an advantage over the other?
- What role does expression play in the arts? How has expression been defined historically?
- The modernity of Baudelaire and the Futurists; what is modern art? What does it mean to be modern, and how does an artist do it? Is it important that art is always new?
- What relationship should artists have to the past? Should we reject the art of the past, or build on it?
- The critical perspectives of Theodor Adorno and Walter Benjamin. What is popular culture? Why is it so often defined against fine art?
- What effect do mass production and media have on the arts? In an age of photography and printing, what importance does the 'original' artwork have?
- Clement Greenberg's division between avant-garde and kitsch. Why are they opposed? What does it mean to be avant-garde?
- Is kitsch necessarily a bad thing? How have artists responded to kitsch in their work? Is the divide between 'high' and 'low' art as simple as we think?
Learning outcomes
- An overview of key issues and questions of aesthetics
- Understand the evolution of the concept of art across history
- Knowledge of core ideas from foundational thinkers in the field
- Practical skills in criticism and applying the ideas we study
- Feedback on your own art writing and analysis
- Receive a digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
Course Specific Materials:
- A pen
- A notebook
If you would like to read in advance of or during the course, the following titles are a recommended reading list, but they are not required:
- Moshe Barasch, Theories of Art 1 & 2
- Monroe Beardsley, Aesthetics from Classical Greece to Present
- Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (essay)
- Marshal McLuhan, The Medium Is the Message
Please see our Guide to taking online short courses.
Tutor
Theo Carnegy Tan
Theo Carnegy-Tan is an arts academic from London, and he has taught Short Courses with Central Saint Martins since 2014. Previously has given a number of talks at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, and has worked in the archives of Zaha Hadid Architects and the Mucha Foundation. His writing has been featured in Another Gaze, MAP, and The Quietus among othersBook a course
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