BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI, KK BIRLA GOA

CAMPUS
INSTRUCTION DIVISION
Second Semester 2017-2018 (January to May)
Date: 03/01/2018
Course No : HSS F353
Course Title : Philosophy of Aesthetics
Instructor-in-charge: Rayson K. Alex
Department ofHumanities and Social Sciences
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Description:

The course defines philosophy as a broad methodology to ask fundamental questions dedicated
to the major questions―“what is art?”, “what is the purpose of art?”and “how is art manifested
in cultural societies?”. These questions will discuss a plethora of foundational problems such as,
ideology, ontology, values attached, implicit/explicit meanings, connections with other
disciplines, social manifestations and implications, mediums and representations.

The course proposes to distinctly understand important Indian and Western perspectives on
aesthetics through music, literature, painting and cinema.

Objectives:

1. To provide a broader understanding of the philosophy of art

2. To introduce Indian aesthetics
3. To appreciate and differentiate Indian aesthetics from the Western perspectives
4. To initiate rational and objective thinking about aesthetics

Methodology:

Creative texts will be analysed to derive the philosophy of aesthetics. Representational texts from
each sub-sections will be analysed in the class.

Textbooks:

1. Gracyk, Theodore. The Philosophy of Art: An Introduction. Cambridge and Malden:

Polity Press, 2012. Print.
2. Graham, Gordon. The Philosophy of Art: An Introduction to Aesthetics. New York:
Routledge, 2005. Print.
3. Fenner, David E.W. Introducing Aesthetics. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2003. Print.
Recommended Texts:

1. Gupta, Neerja A. A Student’s Handbook of Indian Aesthetics. Newcastle upon Tyne:

Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017. Print.
2. Carlson, Allen. Aesthetics and The Environment: The Appreciation of Nature, Art and
Architecture. London: Routledge, 2000. Print.
3. Barleant, Arnold. Aesthetics Beyond The Arts: New and Recent Essays. English & USA:
Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2012. Print.
4. Leuthold, Steven. Indigenous Aesthetics: Native Art, Media and Identity. Austin:
University of Texas Press, 1998. Print.

Course Plan:

Session Topic & Sub Topics References

No. Chapter No.
1-5 Introduction Introduction to the Course, Rationale Gracyk, Theodore.
and requirements of the course, “Preface.” The Philosophy of
Brief Introduction to the key Art: An Introduction.
terms―Philosophy, Art, Artistic Cambridge and Malden:
Value, Aesthetic, Aesthetic Value Polity Press, 2012.

Chapter – 6
Gracyk, Theodore.
“Defining Art.” The
Philosophy of Art: An
Introduction. Cambridge and
Malden: Polity Press, 2012.

6-10 Picturing Visual Representations and Pictures, Chapter 1

Theories of Picturing, Intentions and Gracyk, Theodore.
Transparency “Meaning, Interpretation and
Picturing.” The Philosophy
Exercises of Art: An Introduction.
Cambridge and Malden:
Polity Press, 2012.

11-16 Art as Expression Theories: Tolstoy, Chapter 2

Expression Collingwood Gracyk, Theodore. “Art as
Persona Theory Expression.” The Philosophy
Arousal Theory of Art: An Introduction.
Cambridge and Malden:
Exercises Polity Press, 2012.
17-20 Meaning Romanticism, Formalism, Chapter 4
Antiessentialism Fenner, David E.W.
Introducing Aesthetics.
Westport, Connecticut:
Praeger, 2003.
21-25 Meaning and Creativity, Genius, Metaphorical Chapter 3
Creativity Exemplification, Material Bases of Gracyk, Theodore.
Creativity: Plato, Freud, Kant, Marx “Meaning and Creativity.”
The Philosophy of Art: An
Exercises Introduction. Cambridge and
Malden: Polity Press, 2012.

26-29 Judgement Defining Beauty, Subjectivism, Chapter 8 and 9

Naturalism, Art Criticism Fenner, David E.W.
Introducing Aesthetics.
Westport, Connecticut:
Praeger, 2003.
30 Philosophy of Indigenous Aesthetics: Art in the Leuthold, Steven.
Primal Art primal communities, wall/cave Indigenous Aesthetics:
paintings, communal songs and Native Art, Media and
stories Identity. Austin: University
of Texas Press, 1998. Print.

31-32 Sanskritic Natyasastra, Bhava, Rasa, Dhwani Gupta, Neerja A. A Student’s

Aesthetics Handbook of Indian
Aesthetics. Newcastle upon
Tyne: Cambridge Scholars
Publishing, 2017.
33-34 Media Aesth Cinema, Video Games Study material will be
etics provided in class

35 Environmental Aesthetics of Nature, Aesthetic Carlson, Allen. Aesthetics

Art Appreciation of Gardens and and The Environment: The
Landscapes, ontology of Appreciation of Nature, Art
environmental art and Architecture. London:
Routledge, 2000.
Evaluation Schedule:

Components Duration Weightage (%) Date & Time Nature

* Mid Sem 1.5 hours 30 05/03/18, 04.00-05.30 p.m. CB
*Home Assignment (Project) 20 16/04/18 OB

*Class Assignment (Seminar) 10 18, 20, 23, 25, 27/04/18

*Compre. 3 hrs. 40 14/05/18(FN) CB