Philosophy of art is part of the educational activities of the degree course in Communication Sciences. The course aims to provide a critical knowledge of the main issues and problems of the philosophy of art in its main historical-conceptual and theoretical junctions. The course aims at stimulating students' ability to autonomously consider the implication of different forms of representation and reflect on the connections between aesthetics, epistemology of the human sciences, and forms of knowledge and communication, also providing the conceptual tools of philosophy and aesthetics. At the end of the course, the student will be able to deal with texts, documents and concepts belonging to different orientations of the philosophy of art as well as critically understand different aesthetic ways of representing the real.
teacher profile teaching materials
This course explores the conceptual category of beauty within the history of aesthetics, with a particular focus on the Eastern world and Japanese thought. Specifically, it examines key concepts of the Japanese tradition (Wabi, Sabi, Yūgen, Shibui, Fūryū, Iki) before delving into the re-elaboration of aesthetics in the work of the philosopher Kitarō Nishida (1870–1945).
Following an introduction to the concept of the beauty in Western aesthetics—and its relativity when compared with Eastern thought—the course will examine classical Japanese aesthetic ideas as expressed through concrete artistic activities and practices of everyday life. Subsequently, the reading and commentary of three essays by Nishida will allow students to analyze the author's complex endeavor to engage Eastern spirituality in dialogue with Western philosophical speculation.
In addition to theoretical texts, in-class screenings (followed by discussions) of a selection of films will investigate the conceptual nodes of Japanese aesthetics through different expressive registers. Film attendance is mandatory for both attending and non-attending students.
F. Iannelli, Beyond the Western Ideal of Beauty. A wabi sabi Aesthetics to survive the future, in “Agalma. Rivista di studi culturali e di estetica”, n. 41, 2021, pp. 100-111.
F. Jullien, Quella strana idea di bello, il Mulino, Bologna 2010.
L. Ricca, La tradizione estetica giapponese. Sulla natura della bellezza, Carocci, Roma 2016.
K. Nishida, Tre saggi di estetica (Una spiegazione del bello, Il mondo d’oggetti dell’arte, Sulla poesia tanka), in E. Magno, M. Ghilardi, La filosofia e l’altrove. Fetschrift per Giangiorgio Pasqualotto, edited by E. Magno, M. Ghilardi, Mimesis, Milano 2016, pp. 351-361.
Films:
Viaggio a Tokyo (1953) by Yasujirō Ozu.
I racconti della luna pallida d’agosto (1953) by Kenji Mizoguchi.
Morte di un maestro del tè (1989) by Kei Kumai.
Sogni (1990) by Akira Kurosawa.
L’innocenza (2023) by Hirokazu Kore’eda.
Programme
This course explores the conceptual category of beauty within the history of aesthetics, with a particular focus on the Eastern world and Japanese thought. Specifically, it examines key concepts of the Japanese tradition (Wabi, Sabi, Yūgen, Shibui, Fūryū, Iki) before delving into the re-elaboration of aesthetics in the work of the philosopher Kitarō Nishida (1870–1945).
Following an introduction to the concept of the beauty in Western aesthetics—and its relativity when compared with Eastern thought—the course will examine classical Japanese aesthetic ideas as expressed through concrete artistic activities and practices of everyday life. Subsequently, the reading and commentary of three essays by Nishida will allow students to analyze the author's complex endeavor to engage Eastern spirituality in dialogue with Western philosophical speculation.
In addition to theoretical texts, in-class screenings (followed by discussions) of a selection of films will investigate the conceptual nodes of Japanese aesthetics through different expressive registers. Film attendance is mandatory for both attending and non-attending students.
Prerequisiti
The course has no specific prerequisites.Core Documentation
Texts adopted:F. Iannelli, Beyond the Western Ideal of Beauty. A wabi sabi Aesthetics to survive the future, in “Agalma. Rivista di studi culturali e di estetica”, n. 41, 2021, pp. 100-111.
F. Jullien, Quella strana idea di bello, il Mulino, Bologna 2010.
L. Ricca, La tradizione estetica giapponese. Sulla natura della bellezza, Carocci, Roma 2016.
K. Nishida, Tre saggi di estetica (Una spiegazione del bello, Il mondo d’oggetti dell’arte, Sulla poesia tanka), in E. Magno, M. Ghilardi, La filosofia e l’altrove. Fetschrift per Giangiorgio Pasqualotto, edited by E. Magno, M. Ghilardi, Mimesis, Milano 2016, pp. 351-361.
Films:
Viaggio a Tokyo (1953) by Yasujirō Ozu.
I racconti della luna pallida d’agosto (1953) by Kenji Mizoguchi.
Morte di un maestro del tè (1989) by Kei Kumai.
Sogni (1990) by Akira Kurosawa.
L’innocenza (2023) by Hirokazu Kore’eda.
Attendance
Attendance is strongly recommended.Type of evaluation
The written examination consists of 10 questions, including both closed-ended questions—designed to verify the comprehension of key concepts, historical-aesthetic frameworks, and core theoretical issues addressed during the lectures—and open-ended questions —focused on critical analysis, such as the genesis, evolution, and development of a given concept. Duration: 90 minutes.