Course Objectives (CO):
· To appreciate the value and centrality of aesthetics in life
· To become acquainted with different aesthetic theories and concepts both in Western and Eastern philosophy
· To inculcate aesthetic reasoning
· To relate and apply the aesthetic theories in everyday life in Art, Architecture, Literature, Drama, Music and in other communication skills.
Course Outline:
Unit I: Introduction to Aesthetics
Definition - Nature and Scope - Aesthetic object - Aesthetic judgment - Aesthetic Art, expression and experience
Unit II: Indian aesthetics
Bharata: Natyasasthra and Rasa – Anandavardhana: Rasa theory – Abinavagupta: Dhvani theory – the Relation between art and five landscapes (Kurunji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal and Palai) in Sangam Literature
Unit III: Western Aesthetics: Ancient and Medieval
Ancient Period: Pre-Socratic Greek Classics – Socrates – Plato – Aristotle - Plotinus; Medieval Period: Augustine - Aquinas
Unit IV: Western Aesthetics: Modern and Postmodern
Modern and Postmodern Period: Renaissance Art – Edmund Burke – Immanuel Kant – G.W.F. Hegel – Benedetto Croce – Theodore Adorno
Unit V: Applied Aesthetics
Aesthetics as applied to Literature – Poetry - Drama - Fine Arts (Music and Dance) - Film Appreciation Architecture and Paintings in South Indian Temples and Churches
Books for Study:
1. Amaladass, Anand, S.J., Introduction to Aesthetics, Satya Nilayam, Chennai, 2000.
2. Barlingay, S.S., A Modern Introduction to Indian Aestheic Theory: The Development from Bharata to Jagannatha, D.K. Printworld, New Delhi, 2007.
3. Rao, B. Tirupati., Aesthetics: Modern and Postmodern, Bharatiya Kala Prakashan, Delhi, 2005.
4. Sekhar, Vincent, S.J., “Sahrdayatva and Suggestiveness: Great metaphors of life”, in Aksharam, N. Umamaheshwari (ed.), Dr. MGR-Janaki College of Arts & Science for Women, Chennai, July 2006, pp. 138-145.
5. Shyamala Gupta: Art, Beauty and Creativity: Indian and Western Aesthetics, D.K. Printworld, New Delhi, 1999.
Books for Reference:
1. Coomaraswamy, Ananda, The Dance of Shiva : Fourteen Indian Essays, Munshiram, New Delhi, 1999.
2. Ghosh, Ranjan, K., Great Indian Thinkers on Art: Creativity, Aesthetic Communication and Freedom. Black & White, New Delhi, 2006.
3. Grover, Satish., Masterpieces of Traditional Indian Architecture, Roli, New Delhi, 2004.
4. Sharma,Manorma., Music Aesthetics, A.P.H. Publications, New Delhi, 2007.
5. Sharma, Sangeet., Architectural Aesthetics, Abhishek Publications, Chandigarh, 2005.
6. Dewey, John., Art as Experience, A Wideview/Perigee books, New York, 1980.
7. Adorno, Theodor., Aesthetic Theory, Continuum, London and New York, 1997.
8. Hegel, G.W.F., Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Arts, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1975.
9. Hegel’s Lectures on Aesthetics web version of Selections from Hegel's Lectures on Aesthetics, by Bernard Bosanquet & W.M. Bryant, "The Journal of Speculative Philosophy", 1886; published by Marxists Internet Archive