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Unit of study_

PHIL2618: Aesthetics and Art

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Why is art important to us What is an aesthetic response to something What is the relation between art and aesthetics Is there such a thing as objective interpretation of an artwork Or is it all a matter of taste Should we believe in 'the death of the author' What is the relation between art and representation, expression and emotion We shall discuss these and other questions (eg. modernity, metaphor) from the perspective of an historical approach to the philosophical study of aesthetics and art.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHIL2618
Academic unit Philosophy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
PHIL2518 or PHIL3681
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Philosophy or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Art History
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Macarthur, david.macarthur@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) David Macarthur, david.macarthur@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final essay
Written work to be submitted on-line
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 06 Jun 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 16 Jun 2024
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation Tutorial presentation
In class presentation of written work to be submitted on-line
15% Ongoing
Closing date: 03 Jun 2024
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-home assignment
Written work to be submitted on-line
30% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 10 Apr 2024
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Participation in tutorial
In class tutorial participation
5% Weekly Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Plato and Aristotle: representation Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Collingwood: expression; art & craft Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Hume: A standard of taste? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Kant: no rules of taste Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Kant: genius and masterpieces Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Cavell: aesthetic judgment and reason Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Barthes: is the author dead? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Nehamas: interpretational monism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Cavell: art and intention Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Davidson: Metaphor Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Cavell: photography & film Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Fried: theatricality and modernism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 TImelessness and the Art/Self Analogy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Course Reader available from the Copy Centre

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. This unit of study will acquaint students with contemporary ways of approaching and understanding art philosophically. Students will critically engage with key texts from historical and modern sources in the philosophy of art. This course will challenge students to ask what art is, how to and why it matters to us. Generically, this unit of study will impart new understandings of art and its philosophy, enhance reflective thinking skills, and enhance the ability to speak and write analytically, independently, and clearly.
  • LO2. 2. Identify, formulate and assess philosophical problems and demonstrate an understanding of important conceptual distinctions.
  • LO3. 3. Demonstrate disciplinary expertise in several major areas of philosophy, such as aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, the history of philosophy, logic, metaphysics, theories of the self, philosophy of science, and political philosophy.
  • LO4. Express themselves precisely and demonstrate an ability to make rationally persuasive arguments.
  • LO5. Demonstrate sensitivity, intellectual honesty, generosity and cultural competence in interpretation and argument.
  • LO6. Effectively apply philosophical knowledge and approaches to issues encountered in an interdisciplinary context
  • LO7. Read, understand and critically engage with philosophical texts both historical and contemporary.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Minor changes have been made since this unit was last offered. The information about the order of the lectures has been corrected.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.