Ateneo - UPO

The course will address the relationship between aesthetic experience and emotional experience. The first part will be devoted to introducing the basic concepts of modern and contemporary aesthetics. The second part will be devoted to introducing the main theories of emotions. The third part of the course will address two classic problems related to the relationship between aesthetic appreciation and emotions: (1) paradox of fiction: how do we explain the emotions felt in front of fictional works of art such as novels and movies? (2) how do we explain attributions of emotional states to inanimate objects such as music and paintings?

Un solo testo a scelta tra:
- D'Angelo, P. La tirannia delle emozioni, Laterza 2021 (parti selezionate)
- Walton, K. "Fearing Fictions", Journal of Philosophy 75 (1):5-27 (1978)
- Robinson, J. "Aesthetic Emotions", The Monist 103 (2):205-222 (2020)
- Matravers, D. "Art and the feelings and emotions". British Journal of Aesthetics 31 (4):322-331, (1991)

The course aims, at a basic level, to provide:
1. (knowledge and understanding): basic knowledge of the main concepts employed in aesthetic debate;
2. (ability to apply knowledge): ability to use the concepts to critically analyze the classical and contemporary texts examined;
3. (autonomy of judgment): ability to independently evaluate and to correlate the philosophical perspectives considered;
4.(communication skills): ability to clearly and correctly present the acquired knowledge;
5. (learning skills): ability to use concepts to critically analyze concrete examples.
At a more advanced level, the course aims to provide:
1. (knowledge and understanding): in-depth and structured knowledge of concepts employed in contemporary aesthetics
2.(ability to apply knowledge): advanced ability to accurately and thoroughly reconstruct the arguments in the texts and put them into dialogue with each other
3.(autonomy of judgment): ability to critically analyze the various theories discussed, identifying any weaknesses or fallacies
4. (communication skills): excellent ability to present clearly, correctly and engagingly the knowledge acquired through the use of technical vocabulary
5.(learning skills): excellent ability to analyze texts and to adopt and explain different perspectives on the same topic or problem, demonstrating understanding of the role of aesthetics in multidisciplinary debates.

Knowledge of Italian

- Lectures
- Seminar discussions
- Presentations by students using slide-show

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) or Special Educational Needs (BES) can request specific services and tools dedicated to them by contacting the Career Development and Coordination and Student Services Staff and consulting the dedicated page of the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentidisabili- e-dsa Students with disabilities, DSA, BES, once they have made contact with the University Staff, they can contact the professor regarding educational aspects and examination mode.

Drafting of a short essay in Italian or English. Theme and references to be agreed with the teacher.
Grading will depend on the achievement of the following objectives:
(a) argumentative, stylistic and content adequacy of the essay (50%)
(b) mastery of the program themes (25%)
(c) ability to critically rework the program themes in relation to the written text (25%)

1. Introduction: what is aesthetics? What is analytic aesthetics? Basic questions on aesthetics and emotions. Outline of the course syllabus and testing methods
2. Aesthetics as a theory of art and as a theory of experience. Review and comparison of major approaches to aesthetics as a specific discipline.
3. Necessary and sufficient conditions, closed vs. open or “clustered” concepts for defining what is art. Analysis of a case study (Brancusi's Oiseau) for defining a work of art from the perspective of conceptual negotiation.
4. Historical introduction. Mimesis between Plato and Aristotle. Conceptions of art, convergences and divergences on the role of imitation in art.
5. Historical introduction. Hume and the Standard of Taste. Reflections on the judgment of taste and the role of the critic.
6. Historical introduction. Burke and the Sublime. Reflections on the nature of the beautiful and the sublime.
7. Historical introduction. Kant, Transcendental Aesthetics and Critique of Judgment.
8. Historical introduction. Schopenhauer, will and music. Presentation and discussion of a selected text.
9. Aesthetics and emotions: two sets of problems. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
10. Aesthetics and emotions: what are emotions (i). Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
11. Aesthetics and emotions: what are emotions (ii). Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
12. Aesthetics and emotions: emotions in fiction. Presentation and discussion of a selected text.
13. Aesthetics and emotions: theories of expressiveness, from illusion to emotional solicitation. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
14. Aesthetics and emotions: theories of expressiveness, from the role of imagination to the role of perception.
15. Summary lecture.

The expected learning outcomes are:
1. (knowledge and understanding): knowledge of the main concepts employed in aesthetic debate at an elementary level [minimum objective]; in depth [advanced objective].
2. (ability to apply knowledge): ability to use the concepts to critically analyze the texts examined [minimum objective]; to reconstruct accurately and thoroughly the arguments in the texts and to put them in dialogue with each other [advanced objective];
3. (autonomy of judgment): ability to evaluate the philosophical perspectives considered [minimum objective]; to identify and discuss any weaknesses or fallacies [advanced objective];
4.(communication skills): ability to present the acquired knowledge clearly and correctly [minimum objective]; to do so in an engaging manner and using technical vocabulary in a rigorous manner [advanced objective]; 4.
5. (learning skills): ability to use concepts to critically analyze concrete examples [minimum objective]; to understand the role of aesthetics in multidisciplinary debates [advanced objective].