Discipline: Philosophy Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Philosophy 13


COURSE DESCRIPTION
13 Philosophy of Art Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
An introduction to the philosophy of the arts, including the nature and function of the aesthetic experience, artistic meaning and value, form, expression and the bases of aesthetic criticism. Class experience in analyzing and evaluating music, painting and literature. 54 hours lecture
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Introduction to the philosophy of the arts; its principles, meaning and the validity of critical judgments.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Recognize and evaluate fundamental questions within the
      Philosophy of Art.

2.   Examine and formulate philosophical questions that address
      fundamental problems in aesthetics and major fine arts fields.

3.   Identify, restate, and explain philosophers’ answers to
      fundamental questions in the Philosophy of Art, along with their
      supporting arguments.

4.   Explain how philosophical inquiry into fundamental questions about
      art contributes to the appreciation of art, art criticism, aesthetic
      enjoyment, and art in social and political life.

5.   Write an essay that defends a position in the philosophy of art, the
      role of philosophical reflection in the arts, or the importance of
      aesthetic experience.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Survey of the alternative definitions and types of art.
  2. The nature and significance of aesthetic experience
  3. Meaning and value in the arts: music, the visual arts, and literature are compared to illustrate how meanings and values are communicated diversely through different mediums.
  4. Examination of the concept of beauty, and its role in nature, aesthetic experience, and artistic practice.
  5. The role of art in social and political life.
  6. The philosophy of comedy, tragedy and horror.
  7. Criticism: a survey of criteria and theories of criticism and the philosophical problems they involve.
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presenting class lectures/discussions/demonstrations in order to familiarize students with the Western philosophical tradition, contrast different ideas and traditions, model philosophical analysis, reasoning, and organization of ideas.
  • Facilitating small group activities in order to provide an opportunity to work with others to come to an understanding of how philosophical questions arise and the sorts of answers that can be given to them.
  • Developing and assigning class exercises that require analysis and understanding of the texts and the traditions that give rise to them.
  • Showing videos/films/audio tapes in order to focus discussion of abstract philosophical ideas on concrete situations to explore the implications of particular philosophical positions.
  • Conducting individual conferences in order to assist in the organization of essays and the analysis of arguments.
  • Developing and assigning web-based/web-enhanced/online/distance learning tasks/activities such as further reading, investigation of philosophy websites to deepen understanding of the contexts and traditions in which philosophical discussion is conducted.
  • Inviting guest lecturers to class in order to present contrasting traditions and approaches to philosophical questions.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Oral reports/presentations designed to assess students’ ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate answers philosophers have given to philosophical questions.
  • Quizzes and examinations designed to evaluate ability to identify key philosophical ideas, terms and traditions, compare and contrast philosophical positions, explain and evaluate different answers, and the arguments given in support of those answers to philosophical questions.
  • Written assignments designed to provide the opportunity to analyze texts, explain implications of ideas, critically assess philosophical positions, and provide support for the claims made in these assignments.
  • Group and individual projects designed to show evidence that students are able to solve problems and work with others to come to an understanding of the different philosophical traditions and answers that can be given to philosophical questions.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Korsmeyer, Carolyn . The Big Questions. any: Blackwell, 1998.
  • Marcuse, Herbert . The Aesthetic Dimension: Toward a Critique of Marxist Aesthetics. any: Beacon Press, 1979.
  • Neill, Alex. Arguing about Art. 2 ed. any: Routledge, 2001.
  • Nietzsche, Frederich. The Birth of Tragedy. any: Vintage, 1967.
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