Performative Aesthetics
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with an in-depth historical and critical-theoretical investigation of the main issues within aesthetics, with a special focus on performance. The proposed path will address the fundamental questions and authors of this disciplinary field, while also taking into consideration its interdisciplinary connections with other domains such as: the history of theater, the history of literature, the art history, media history and theory, psychology, anthropology, and cognitive science, in order to deepen the philosophical education of the BA students.
The students will be able to critically analyze and employ the acquired notions particularly in the professional areas of secondary school teacher, professional in the field of education and popularization, editor-in-chief of texts and images, and coordinator of cultural projects in the public and private domain.
The students will be able to critically analyze and employ the acquired notions particularly in the professional areas of secondary school teacher, professional in the field of education and popularization, editor-in-chief of texts and images, and coordinator of cultural projects in the public and private domain.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
Students will acquire an in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of the main theories and issues addressed within aesthetics. Notions as agency, performance and embodiment will be addressed. Along the way, students will be called on to critically compare the fundamental authors and concepts of this disciplinary field, and to develop an understanding of its methods and specialized terminology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire the skills necessary to apply the conceptual frameworks of the major aesthetic theories to situations pertaining to aesthesiology, visual and performance studies, and performative practices, through recourse to an adequate specialized lexicon. They will be able to critically discuss the main theoretical models (of both the continental and analytic traditions) and the corresponding literature. Students will be able to securely navigate interdisciplinary study environments. They will be encouraged to propose original and stand-alone solutions to problems arising from the joint discussion.
Students will acquire an in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of the main theories and issues addressed within aesthetics. Notions as agency, performance and embodiment will be addressed. Along the way, students will be called on to critically compare the fundamental authors and concepts of this disciplinary field, and to develop an understanding of its methods and specialized terminology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire the skills necessary to apply the conceptual frameworks of the major aesthetic theories to situations pertaining to aesthesiology, visual and performance studies, and performative practices, through recourse to an adequate specialized lexicon. They will be able to critically discuss the main theoretical models (of both the continental and analytic traditions) and the corresponding literature. Students will be able to securely navigate interdisciplinary study environments. They will be encouraged to propose original and stand-alone solutions to problems arising from the joint discussion.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
During the ongoing covid emergency, the course syllabus will be maintained with the following changes made to enhance the effectiveness of the online version of the course, which was originally designed for face-to-face teaching.
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available until the sameday of the following week.
Online environments used: Ariel
Teams (keycode in Ariel)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available until the sameday of the following week.
Online environments used: Ariel
Teams (keycode in Ariel)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
Course syllabus
Title:
The agency of the artifacts and the power of cultural tradition
The course will address the notion of material agency and discuss it taking into account the notion of classic. Why is a classic a classic? The problem of dating is key, and will be treated as a heuristic, not merely archivistic, matter. Bringing to the forefront material objects and the similarities they share in the long term, I will propose an analogy between artefacts and natural bodies, borrowing the method of cladistics, already widely used in archaeology, from the life sciences. In this way, it will be revealed how it is possible to propose a historical genealogy that methodologically does not require following the causal logic of the before and after.
The agency of the artifacts and the power of cultural tradition
The course will address the notion of material agency and discuss it taking into account the notion of classic. Why is a classic a classic? The problem of dating is key, and will be treated as a heuristic, not merely archivistic, matter. Bringing to the forefront material objects and the similarities they share in the long term, I will propose an analogy between artefacts and natural bodies, borrowing the method of cladistics, already widely used in archaeology, from the life sciences. In this way, it will be revealed how it is possible to propose a historical genealogy that methodologically does not require following the causal logic of the before and after.
Prerequisites for admission
A basic knowledge of the history of philosophy and aesthetics and some familiarity with the world of the visual and performing arts (dance and theater) is required.
Additional and optional readings will be provided at the students' request to assist in the understanding of the issues covered.
Additional and optional readings will be provided at the students' request to assist in the understanding of the issues covered.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Discussione
Students' talks/presentations
Discussione
Students' talks/presentations
Teaching Resources
Bibliography 9 CFU:
Chiara Cappelletto, Le metamorfosi del classico: corpi naturali, artefatti materiali e nuove pseudomorfosi, "Rivista di estetica", 67/1, pp. 197-218.
Alfred Gell, Arte e Agency. Una teoria antropologica. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2020.
Georges Didi-Huberman, Ex-voto. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2007.
Francesco Parisi, La tecnologia che siamo, Codice, Torino 2019.
Bibliography 6 CFU:
Chiara Cappelletto, Le metamorfosi del classico: corpi naturali, artefatti materiali e nuove pseudomorfosi, "Rivista di estetica", 67/1, pp. 197-218.
Alfred Gell, Arte e Agency. Una teoria antropologica. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2020.
Georges Didi-Huberman, Ex-voto. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2007.
All non attending students will add:
Salvatore Settis, Il futuro del classico. Einaudi, Torino 2004.
Chiara Cappelletto, Le metamorfosi del classico: corpi naturali, artefatti materiali e nuove pseudomorfosi, "Rivista di estetica", 67/1, pp. 197-218.
Alfred Gell, Arte e Agency. Una teoria antropologica. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2020.
Georges Didi-Huberman, Ex-voto. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2007.
Francesco Parisi, La tecnologia che siamo, Codice, Torino 2019.
Bibliography 6 CFU:
Chiara Cappelletto, Le metamorfosi del classico: corpi naturali, artefatti materiali e nuove pseudomorfosi, "Rivista di estetica", 67/1, pp. 197-218.
Alfred Gell, Arte e Agency. Una teoria antropologica. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2020.
Georges Didi-Huberman, Ex-voto. Tr. it. Cortina, Milano 2007.
All non attending students will add:
Salvatore Settis, Il futuro del classico. Einaudi, Torino 2004.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral:
For attending students, the oral exam consists of an interview on the topics presented in the lectures and questions aimed at assessing the student's knowledge and understanding of the various texts assigned. The interview will be conducted in part by the professor and in part by subject-matter specialists who make up the exam committee. For non-attending students, questions on the course will be substituted by questions on the additional texts assigned to them.
Evaluation criteria:
-Level of knowledge of theory (exposition);
-Ability to exemplify the concepts (understanding);
-Use of independent judgment in the gathering and interpretation of useful elements for an increasingly in-depth study of the questions dealt with during the course (development);
-Communication skills: adequate use of jargon to demonstrate acquired skills and express relevant issues.
Students who have submitted in-depth work during in-person hours will bring to the exam a shorter bibliography, to be specified on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the topic chosen for the classroom presentation.
Exams will be held in person or remotely on Microsoft team, in accordance with university guidelines.
For attending students, the oral exam consists of an interview on the topics presented in the lectures and questions aimed at assessing the student's knowledge and understanding of the various texts assigned. The interview will be conducted in part by the professor and in part by subject-matter specialists who make up the exam committee. For non-attending students, questions on the course will be substituted by questions on the additional texts assigned to them.
Evaluation criteria:
-Level of knowledge of theory (exposition);
-Ability to exemplify the concepts (understanding);
-Use of independent judgment in the gathering and interpretation of useful elements for an increasingly in-depth study of the questions dealt with during the course (development);
-Communication skills: adequate use of jargon to demonstrate acquired skills and express relevant issues.
Students who have submitted in-depth work during in-person hours will bring to the exam a shorter bibliography, to be specified on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the topic chosen for the classroom presentation.
Exams will be held in person or remotely on Microsoft team, in accordance with university guidelines.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)