University of Essex

PY954-7-SP-CO:
Philosophy and Aesthetics

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Postgraduate: Level 7

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 15 January 2024

End date: Friday 22 March 2024

Credits: 20

Last updated: 20 October 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module is dedicated to the theoretical reflection on aesthetic practices and objects and their history (from artworks to the aesthetic strategies of protest movements). It will shed light on what it means to relate aesthetically to one's life, social world, or art.

The module examines why aesthetic practices and experiences play such a central role in continental thought from Kant and Hegel to Adorno and Rancière.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

To introduce students to main themes in philosophy and aesthetics.

To consider what philosophical issues have been at stake in the development of aesthetic practices.

To consider how aesthetics interacts with other currents of philosophical, art historical and critical social thought.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Understand what makes the aesthetics a distinctive tradition within modern European philosophy.

Understand the central philosophical problems involved in aesthetics and aesthetic practices.

Form their own view of the validity of aesthetic theories.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

One 2-hour seminar per week.
One Reading Week with no seminars.

Discussion will be encouraged throughout.

Bibliography

Guyer, P. (2014) A history of modern aesthetics. New York , NY: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107110342.
Reckwitz, A. and Black, S. (2018) Invention of Creativity. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4875216.
Grois, B. (2016) In the flow. London: Verso. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5649887.
Rebentisch, J. and Ganahl, J. (2016) The art of freedom: on the dialectics of democratic existence. Cambridge: Polity Press. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1259550.
Ranciere, J. (2013) Politics of Aesthetics. Edited by G. Rockhill. London: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5309787.
Miller, J. (2021) Politics of Perception and the Aesthetics of Social Change. Columbia University Press. Available at: https://www-degruyter-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/doi/book/10.7312/mill20142.
Honneth, A. and Ranciere, J. (2016) Recognition or Disagreement. NY: Columbia University Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4471743.
Schaub, J. (2019) ‘Aesthetic freedom and democratic ethical life: A Hegelian account of the relationship between aesthetics and democratic politics’, European Journal of Philosophy, 27(1), pp. 75–97. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejop.12403.
Chiapello, E. (2004) ‘Evolution and Co-optation: The "Artist Critique” of Management and Capitalism’, Third Text, 18(6), pp. 585–594. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0952882042000284998.
‘What is Liberation? Christoph Menke in dialogue with Beate Roessler and Titus Stahl’ (2023). YouTube: SPUI 25. Available at: https://youtu.be/_AlFGHcQLBA?feature=shared.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	4000 word essay		100%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Joerg Schaub, email: jschaub@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff:

Contact details: PHAIS Postgraduate Queries: phaispg@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Alexander Golob

Institution: King's College London

Academic role: Senior Lecturer

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 22 hours, 22 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)

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Module Directory

PY954-7-SP-CO:Philosophy and Aesthetics