Week 6

Re-Visioning Art and Aesthetics


THEME: How have new ways of perceiving, new media, and recent
transformations in society redefined art and aesthetics? Can
we find a new theory or way to understand all forms of art?
Berleant seems to say we can ; Binkley seems to say we can't.


QUESTION A: According to Berleant, what is the new aesthetic?


ASSIGNMENT A: Read in the Alperson text Arnold Berleant: "Aesthetics and the
Contemporary Arts" (pp. 415-425).
Berleant's basic point is that the discovery of new media and new ways
in which art is practiced and perceived call for a new understanding
(theory) of art. We don't produce art, look at art, and think about art in
traditional ways anymore. Describe the charachteristic tendencies as-
sociated with traditional works of art and show how these tendencies
have been modified or changed in the new aesthetic. What are the new
characteristics associated with art today? State why you agree or dis-
agree with these new characteristics. Describe briefly what Berleant
means by the term "aesthetic field". Ftp your response to the site.

For an additional point of view on contemporary changes in aesthetics
see Joseph Margolis' article "Radical Changes in Aesthetics".

QUESTION B: What does Binkley mean when he says that "An artwork is a piece"?


ASSIGNMENT B: Read in the Alperson text Timothy Binkley: "Piece: Contra Aesthetics"
(pp.450-459). Read also in the Cooper text the entry under "end of art"
(pp.138-141).

Since Binkley relies heavily on two works of art by Marcel DuChamp
in order to show the point he's making in his essay (piece), we have
provided links to those works:

DUCHAMP'S L.H.O.O.Q.
[http://www.library.upenn.edu:80/finearts/slide/28601029.htm]
DUCHAMP'S L.H.O.O.Q. Shaved
[http://www.library.upenn.edu:80/finearts/ slide/28653003.htm]

[Visit an interesting site on DuChamp: Encounter with Marcel DuChamp ;
  for some background, read Andre Breton's essay What is Surrealism? ]


How does Binkley use these two works (pieces) by DuChamp in order
to show how art has moved beyond aesthetics? Ftp your response to
the site.
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