Purdue University North Central

PHIL 275: PHILOSOPHY OF ART

Division 1, Spring 2008

Mondays, Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., SWRZ 260

Instructor: Dr. Deepa Majumdar

Contact Information

 

 

Office: SWRZ 30G                                                  

Office Telephone:  219-785-5693

Web: www.pnc.edu/ss/faculty/Majumdar/dMajumdar.html                   

E-Mail: dmajumda@pnc.edu

Social Science (SS) Office:  203B SWRZ                                                      SS Telephone: 219-785-5275

Office Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays 10a.m. – 12 p.m. or by appointment.

 

Course Description and Objectives

 

 

In this introductory course, we study the foundations, meaning, purpose, and impacts of art. Our topics include (i) what is art? Art v. profanity; (ii) art, mimesis, representation, and origins (iii) theological foundations: beauty, the beautiful, the sublime, and aesthetic judgment; (iv) categories of contemporary art (painting, photography, dance, etc.), the politics of art; (v) non-western art. Our approach, in general, is that of the history of philosophy in the western tradition. But topics from the non-western world (Asiatic arts) are also included.

Using original works (sometimes in translation) and drawing from ancient and contemporary sources, we study the works of Plato, Plotinus, Eco, Heidegger, Hume, and Burke, among others.  For non-western sources we use the reflections of Coomaraswami and others. Through conversational lectures, discussions, three papers, and one presentation, you will gain a personal understanding of the philosophy of art. You will also gain writing, analytical, and cognitive skills. To get the most out of this course, do all pre-assigned readings, attend classes regularly, and participate actively in discussions.

 

Required Book ( in PNC Bookstore)

 

 

      Aesthetics: A Reader in Philosophy of the Arts, D. Goldblatt (ed.), (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1997)

 

Required Readings in I Drive (I)

  1. Art, Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Art, Arthur C. Danto, Humanities, Vol. 4, No. 1 (February 1983), pp. 1-2 (I)
  2. Comments on Andres Serrano by Members of the United States Senate (I)
  3. “Socrates’ Dinner Party Speech,” from Plato’s Symposium (I)
  4. What Is Art? Leo Tolstoy (I)
  5. “Tolstoy’s prophesy: “What Is Art?” today,” by J. S. Allen, The New Criterion Vol. 17, No. 9, May 1999 (I)
  6. On Beauty [Ennead 1.6(1)], Plotinus (I)
  7. Education through Art, Nita Mathur (I)
  8. Buddhist Art, the Mission of Harmonious Culture, Jin Weinuo (I)
  9. Buddhist Aesthetics, A. J. Bahm, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Vol. 16, No. 2 (Dec., 1957), pp. 249-252; doi:10.2307/427603 (I)
  10. Across the Himalayan Gap – Indian Savants’ Observations on China, A.K. Coomaraswami (I)
  11. “Ramprasad as Revealed by his Songs,” from Ramprasad, the Melodious Mystic, Swami Budhananda (I)

 

Course Assignments and Grading Policy

 

 

Assignments

·         Reading assignments, in-class discussions:  Each week read ahead of the class lecture and come to class prepared for discussions based on readings. Active, informed class participation is strongly encouraged.   Discussion points will be given only for comments that are relevant, textual, and critical. Classroom decorum must be maintained. Points may be deducted for tangential conversations or class disruptions. 

 

·         Presentation on (i) categories of contemporary art and (ii) non-western art: Students will be asked to do in-class presentations (10-15 minutes each) of topics and readings chosen from these two areas.

 

·         3 papers (5 pages each, take-home assignments): A set of essay questions will be posted on the I Drive (see page 3 for dates). These will include a research assignment. Your papers will be graded using the following criteria: • degree of reference to text materials • textual accuracy • quality of interpretation • quality of writing (depth, clarity, creativity, word choice, spelling, grammar, length).

 

·         5 reading assignments: Check the I Drive for a document called “Notetaking-Notemaking.” Use it to write 1 summary-response per reading listed (see p. 3 for dates and texts).  Do either 5 or 3 of these assignments. If you do 5, these substitute for your class presentation. If you do 3, these substitute for your discussion points. Each assignment will be graded on a +/- basis.

 

Grades

  • Papers will be evaluated by points. The course grade will be computed by converting points to percentages and percentages to letter grades.

           

Assignments                            Points                %                              %             Letter Grade                           

Paper 1                                   30              30                          90-100                  A               Excellent

Paper 2                                   30              30                          80-89                     B       Above Average    Paper 3                                                 25            25                          70-79                       C               Average

Presentation                                10                10                            60-69                       D        Below Average

Discussion                                    5            5                           0-59                       F          Unsatisfactory

      Total                                        100 points    100%                                

 

  • At any point during the semester feel free to discuss your cumulative grade with me.

 

  • Statement of Special Needs Request

If you need special assistance or accommodation in the course due to an identified and diagnosed disability, please contact the instructor within the first week of classes to discuss your needs.  For verification purposes, a documented diagnosis of your medical condition must be on file with Ms. Jodi James in the Office of Student Support Services, LSF Room 23.

 

 

 

Late Work, Make-Up  Policy
  • There are no make-ups for in-class discussions (individual or group), reading assignments or presentations.

 

  • Papers: All papers (hard copies) are due in class on time. Do not e-mail or fax. Unless pre-arranged, do not put your paper under my office door. If you miss deadlines for Papers 1 and 2, these will be regarded as late and worth no more than the letter grade D each. Late papers must be turned in no later than April 23, 2007. After that they will not be graded. Paper 3 cannot be submitted late.

 

 

 

Attendance

Regular, punctual attendance is a requirement for this course. Make sure you come to class on time. Entering late or leaving too early will count as absences. Too many absences may cause you to fail the course.

     

Absences

Prospective Grade

3-4 consecutive absences, 4-5 scattered absences

no more than “C”

5 or more consecutive absences or 6 or more scattered absences

“F” (Fail)

      Note: A limited number of absences (for medical reasons and court dates) will always be excused. If you

               yourself are sick or have a court date, bring a note from the doctor or court.

 

 

 

Writing Standards, Academic Honesty
  • Your work must be typewritten (font size 12, double spaced) • Write your name on the title page and not inside the paper • Avoid beginning sentences with “I” or “In my opinion” • Staple your paper • To develop analytical skills, avoid using direct quotes • Report the author(s) in your own words • Do not use sources other than readings covered in class. For further information check the I Drive for “Paper Guidelines.”

 

  • Your work is plagiarized  if you

• use outside sources (Internet, books), fail to cite sources, and present these as your own

• copy someone else’s work

• reproduce my handouts

If you plagiarize, you fail the assignment and the course.

If someone copies your work, please protect yourself by informing me.

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative Class Schedule

ARP = Aesthetics: A Reader in Philosophy of the Arts; (I) = posted on I Drive

                                               

~ Introduction: What is art? Art v. Profanity

 

14, 16, 23, 28 Jan                                  • Art, Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Art, A. C. Danto (I)

                                                • Comments on Andres Serrano, members, US Senate (I)

                                                       • What Is Art? Leo Tolstoy (I)

21 Jan                                            • MLK Holiday, no class

~ Art, mimesis, representation, origins

30 Jan, 4, 6, 11, 13 Feb              • Against Imitation, Plato, ARP, 5-9 

                                                      • The Origin of the Work of Art, M. Heidegger, ARP 62-69    

25 Feb                                           • Paper 1 due in class (Tolstoy-Plato assignment) 

~ Theological foundations: Beauty, the Beautiful, the Sublime, Aesthetic Judgment

18, 20, 25, 27 Feb                         • “Socrates’ Dinner-Party Speech,” Plato’s Symposium (I)         

3, 5 Mar                                         • On Beauty [Ennead 1.6(1)], Plotinus (I)                                                                                 

10-12 Mar                                            • Spring Break, no class 

17 Mar                                          • Paper 2 due in class (Assignment on Plato’s Assignment)

17, 19, 24, 26, 31 Mar                   • Plotinus (continued)

                                                       • The Sublime, E. Burke, ARP, 490- 492

31 Mar                                          • Paper 2 due in class (Plotinus assignment)

31 Mar, 2, 7, 9 Apr                        • Judgements about the Beautiful, I. Kant, ARP 492-500

9 Apr                                             • Paper 2 due in class (Kant assignment)

~ Categories of contemporary arts, politics of art

9, 14, 16, 21 Apr                            • Television and Aesthetics, U. Eco, ARP 408-413

                                                • Are Art Museums Racist? M. Berger, ARP 536-542

~ Presentations by students: (i) categories of contemporary art, (ii) non-western art

21, 23, 28, 30 Apr                          • Education through Art, Nita Mathur (I)

                                                • Buddhist Art, the Mission of Harmonious Culture, Jin Weinuo (I)

                                                • Buddhism and Aesthetics (L)

• Across the Himalayan Gap – Indian Savants’ Observations on China, A.K.  Coomaraswami (I) 

30, Apr                                           • Paper 3 due in class

Note 1: We may drop readings if we run out of time.

Note 2: There is no final exam. Pick up your graded paper from my office at the start of Summer I 2008, or give me a stamped and addressed envelope.

 

Texts and dates for 5 reading assignments:

Tolstoy: 2/4

Plato (“Against Imitation”): 2/25

Plato (“Socrates’ Dinner-Party Speech”): 3/17

Plotinus: 3/19

Kant: 4/2