Aesthetics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the methodological tools to investigate the central issues of aesthetics, with particular reference to the phenomenology of perception, the study of non-verbal languages, and theories of art, technology and the media. Through the study of texts by seminal authors in these fields, the course aims to address how the human body, considered the primary medium, underlies the aesthesiological and cognitive processes that govern aesthetic experience, both in relation to works of art and everyday objects. The skills acquired will be transferable to the professional fields of teaching and training, publishing and disseminating texts and images, and coordinating cultural projects in the public and private sectors.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the main aesthetic theories, becoming familiar with the authors, concepts, methods, and vocabulary of the discipline, which will be understood as both the theory of sensibility and the theory of the image (with particular reference to the artistic field).
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
Students will develop the ability to apply the conceptual framework of aesthetics to situations of sensory and artistic experience, using an appropriate specific vocabulary; they will be able to orient themselves among the main theoretical models and within the corresponding reference bibliography; they will apply the knowledge acquired to the reading and critical analysis of fundamental texts in the history of aesthetics.
Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the main aesthetic theories, becoming familiar with the authors, concepts, methods, and vocabulary of the discipline, which will be understood as both the theory of sensibility and the theory of the image (with particular reference to the artistic field).
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
Students will develop the ability to apply the conceptual framework of aesthetics to situations of sensory and artistic experience, using an appropriate specific vocabulary; they will be able to orient themselves among the main theoretical models and within the corresponding reference bibliography; they will apply the knowledge acquired to the reading and critical analysis of fundamental texts in the history of aesthetics.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Surname A-L
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
PLEASE NOTE: the course is reserved for students whose surname falls within the A-L range. The programme is valid for one academic year, corresponding to 7 exam sessions, therefore up to and including the February 2027 session.
After an introduction aimed at outlining the fundamental concepts and the main theories of aesthetics as a philosophical reflection on sensory experience and the arts, the course will address the theme of resemblance and reproducibility through an interplay of theory and artistic practice.
After an introduction aimed at outlining the fundamental concepts and the main theories of aesthetics as a philosophical reflection on sensory experience and the arts, the course will address the theme of resemblance and reproducibility through an interplay of theory and artistic practice.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with the use of PowerPoint; critical reading of selected sections of the texts included in the syllabus; classroom discussions; presentation of diagrams, images, and videos.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU):
A. Pinotti (ed.), Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
G. Didi-Huberman, La somiglianza per contatto: Archeologia, anacronismo e modernità dell'impronta, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2009.
ATTENDING STUDENTS (9 CFU):
A. Pinotti (ed.), Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
G. Didi-Huberman, La somiglianza per contatto: Archeologia, anacronismo e modernità dell'impronta, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2009.
W. Benjamin, L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, in A. Pinotti, A. Somaini (eds.), Aura e choc. Saggi sulla teoria dei media, pp. 5-73, Einaudi, Torino 2012 [or another edition].
S. Kracauer, La massa come ornamento, CUE Press, Imola 2023 (selected chapters provided by the professor).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU):
They add the following text to the programme for attending students (6 CFU):
M. Fontana, L'invenzione del primitivo. Itinerari estetici della falsa somiglianza, Mimesis, Milano 2026.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (9 CFU):
They add the following texts to the programme for attending students (9 CFU):
M. Fontana, L'invenzione del primitivo. Itinerari estetici della falsa somiglianza, Mimesis, Milano 2026.
A. Warburg, Il rituale del serpente. Una relazione di viaggio (any edition).
A. Pinotti (ed.), Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
G. Didi-Huberman, La somiglianza per contatto: Archeologia, anacronismo e modernità dell'impronta, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2009.
ATTENDING STUDENTS (9 CFU):
A. Pinotti (ed.), Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
G. Didi-Huberman, La somiglianza per contatto: Archeologia, anacronismo e modernità dell'impronta, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2009.
W. Benjamin, L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, in A. Pinotti, A. Somaini (eds.), Aura e choc. Saggi sulla teoria dei media, pp. 5-73, Einaudi, Torino 2012 [or another edition].
S. Kracauer, La massa come ornamento, CUE Press, Imola 2023 (selected chapters provided by the professor).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU):
They add the following text to the programme for attending students (6 CFU):
M. Fontana, L'invenzione del primitivo. Itinerari estetici della falsa somiglianza, Mimesis, Milano 2026.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (9 CFU):
They add the following texts to the programme for attending students (9 CFU):
M. Fontana, L'invenzione del primitivo. Itinerari estetici della falsa somiglianza, Mimesis, Milano 2026.
A. Warburg, Il rituale del serpente. Una relazione di viaggio (any edition).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral exam consists of a 20-30 minute interview on the course topics, aimed at assessing the acquisition of the knowledge and skills related to the subject. Attending students will be asked about the contents of the syllabus for attending students and the topics covered during the course (with reference to the slides). Non-attending students will be asked about the contents of the syllabus for attending students, supplemented with the texts assigned for non-attending students.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Fontana Margherita
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professors:
Carrieri Alessandro, Fontana Margherita
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Carrieri Alessandro
Surname M-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is for students whose last names fall within the M-Z range. The programme is valid for one academic year, equivalent to 7 exam sessions.
After an introduction aimed at outlining the fundamental concepts and main theories of aesthetics as a philosophical reflection on sensory experience and the arts (20 hours), the course will focus on the notions of the virtual (20 hours) and virtual violence (20 hours).
After an introduction aimed at outlining the fundamental concepts and main theories of aesthetics as a philosophical reflection on sensory experience and the arts (20 hours), the course will focus on the notions of the virtual (20 hours) and virtual violence (20 hours).
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with PPT slides; critical reading of the texts; classroom discussions; projections of schemes, images and videos.
Teaching Resources
Programme for attending students (6 CFU):
- Aa.Vv., Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
- A. Pinotti, Alla soglia dell'immagine. Da Narciso alla realtà virtuale, Einaudi 2021 (disponibile online https://www.medialibrary.it/media/scheda.aspx?id=150252277).
Programme for attending students (9 CFU):
- Aa.Vv., Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
- A. Pinotti, Alla soglia dell'immagine. Da Narciso alla realtà virtuale, Einaudi 2021 (disponibile online https://www.medialibrary.it/media/scheda.aspx?id=150252277).
- F. Striano, Violenza virtuale, il Saggiatore 2024.
***
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Programme for non-attending students (6 CFU):
The programme for attending students (6 CFU) is integrated with the following texts:
- A. Pinotti, Immagini che negano se stesse: verso un'an-iconologia, in P. Montani, D. Cecchi, M. Feyles (a cura di), Ambienti mediali, Meltemi, Milano 2018, pp. 231-243.
- T.C. Peck, Putting Yourself in the Skin of a Black Avatar Reduces Implicit Racial Bias, "Consciousness and Cognition" 22:3, pp. 779-787.
Programme for non-attending students (9 CFU):
The programme for attending students (9 CFU) is integrated with the following texts:
- A. Pinotti, Immagini che negano se stesse: verso un'an-iconologia, in P. Montani, D. Cecchi, M. Feyles (a cura di), Ambienti mediali, Meltemi, Milano 2018, pp. 231-243.
- T.C. Peck, Putting Yourself in the Skin of a Black Avatar Reduces Implicit Racial Bias, "Consciousness and Cognition" 22:3, pp. 779-787.
- P. Conte, Rape or "rape"?, "Studi di estetica" 30 (2024), pp. 231-247.
- Aa.Vv., Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
- A. Pinotti, Alla soglia dell'immagine. Da Narciso alla realtà virtuale, Einaudi 2021 (disponibile online https://www.medialibrary.it/media/scheda.aspx?id=150252277).
Programme for attending students (9 CFU):
- Aa.Vv., Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi 2022.
- A. Pinotti, Alla soglia dell'immagine. Da Narciso alla realtà virtuale, Einaudi 2021 (disponibile online https://www.medialibrary.it/media/scheda.aspx?id=150252277).
- F. Striano, Violenza virtuale, il Saggiatore 2024.
***
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Programme for non-attending students (6 CFU):
The programme for attending students (6 CFU) is integrated with the following texts:
- A. Pinotti, Immagini che negano se stesse: verso un'an-iconologia, in P. Montani, D. Cecchi, M. Feyles (a cura di), Ambienti mediali, Meltemi, Milano 2018, pp. 231-243.
- T.C. Peck, Putting Yourself in the Skin of a Black Avatar Reduces Implicit Racial Bias, "Consciousness and Cognition" 22:3, pp. 779-787.
Programme for non-attending students (9 CFU):
The programme for attending students (9 CFU) is integrated with the following texts:
- A. Pinotti, Immagini che negano se stesse: verso un'an-iconologia, in P. Montani, D. Cecchi, M. Feyles (a cura di), Ambienti mediali, Meltemi, Milano 2018, pp. 231-243.
- T.C. Peck, Putting Yourself in the Skin of a Black Avatar Reduces Implicit Racial Bias, "Consciousness and Cognition" 22:3, pp. 779-787.
- P. Conte, Rape or "rape"?, "Studi di estetica" 30 (2024), pp. 231-247.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The learning objectives of the course will be tested through a 20/30-minute oral exam aimed at evaluating whether students know and understand the main concepts introduced during the course, and if they are able to link the various topics and issues that the course itself has covered. Questions are also intended to test the students' ability to communicate the different positions with clarity and pertinence as well as critical awareness.
Modules or teaching units
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
Educational website(s)