First-Year Writing Seminar: Aesthetics on Trial

Semester and Year	FA 2011
Course Number	FIRST-UG319
Section	001
Instructor	Christopher Trogan
Days	Tue,Thu
Time	6:20 PM - 7:35 PM
Units	4.0
Level	U
Foundation Requirement

Notes/Restrictions

Open to Gallatin first-year students only.

Description

While cultures often like to see themselves reflected in the arts, groundbreaking art is frequently accompanied by controversy. In literature, Nabokov was faced with charges of obscenity. In the visual arts, controversies surrounding “public art” have helped to determine what art can be and do from a social perspective. In photography, people like Mapplethorpe have challenged the role of the visual arts as innocent representation. In film, Riefenstahl blurred the line between aesthetics and politics by directing for Hitler while Pasolini directed what still remains one of the most shocking films in cinematic history. Through critical writing we will investigate such questions as: How do we define art? What constitutes obscenity in the arts? Is art inherently political? Three shorter essays and a longer literary-critical paper are required. Texts may include selections from Dante, Hume, Lin, Nabokov, and Plato.

Syllabus

FIRST-UG319

Course Type

First-Year Program: Writing Seminars (FIRST-UG)