FNA2124*

Aesthetics and art practice: art and the power of emotion

3 points - Two hours lectures/tutorials per week plus 4 hours independent study - Second semester - Caulfield - Prerequisites: Successful completion of two second-year level TAD subjects - Corequisites: none - Prohibitions: TAD2402, TAD2412 - Elective

Objectives On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to understand the dependence of art on emotional communication; appreciate the importance of perception in understanding art; recognise the value of symbolism in artistic communication; use their own emotional experience to generate creative work; and understand ways of integrating theory and practice.

Synopsis Issues related to emotional expression and aesthetic experience will be explored in detail with special emphasis on the role of perception in the creation and appreciation of art. The nature of emotional expression in art will be discussed with reference to the role played by the artist, the work and the viewer. How the communications of emotion is dependent on the interaction of these will be considered as well as how the experience of emotion is essential to a full appreciation of any work. Suggestions as to how this is best achieved will be made as well as processes by which the cultural barriers to enabling this can be overcome.

Assessment Project: 50% - Written assignment (1500 words): 50%

Recommended texts

Best D Feeling and reason in the arts Allen and Unwin
Foster H (ed.) Discussions in contemporary culture Bay Press
Hospers J Artistic expression Appleton Century Crofts
Wollheim R Art and its objects Harper
Hoffert B and others Art in diversity Addison-Wesley Longman, 2nd edn, 1995
Hoffert B Aesthetics and art criticism: The role of emotion in art Addison-Wesley Longman, 1997

Back to the 1999 Art and Design Handbook