PHIL 242: Philosophy of Art

Spring Semester 2013 | Evening | Burnaby

INSTRUCTOR: J. Warriner, WMC 5607 (jwarrine@sfu.ca)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Why do we classify some objects as “art” and others as “furniture?” What qualities must an object possess in order to be called “art?” Must art be beautiful? Can art disgust us? Who gets to decide this and why? What role should art play in society? Are horror films art? Does gender play a role in creating art? In this class, we will be considering these kinds of questions (and more) through classical and contemporary philosophical theories of art.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Aesthetics: The Big Questions, Carolyn Korsmeyer, ed. ISBN: 978-0631205944
• Arguing about Art, Third Edition, Alex Neill and Aaron Ridley, eds. ISBN: 978-0415424516
• The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art, Guerrilla Girls ISBN: 978-0140259971

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• 2 papers (one worth 20% and one worth 30%) -  50%
• Short writing assignments - 20%
• Registrar-scheduled final exam - 30%
• Students must submit papers to turnitin.com
  

NOTE:  Philosophy 242 has no prerequisites and may be applied towards the Certificate in Liberal Arts