This course will explore some of the most important writings on art and beauty from different cultural and philosophical traditions, with a focus on how they relate to literature and literary interpretation. Reading literary texts alongside theories of art and perception, we will examine connections between literary, artistic and conceptual practices, and consider a series of questions including the nature of art, understanding works of art, the relationship between art and the emotions, and the social implications of aesthetic values.  

Perception, interpretation, taste, and judgment; the nature of art and aesthetic experience; Aesthetics and the intrepretation of literature; aesthetics and ethics 

The course will familiarize students with the development of theories of art in various cultural and philosophical traditions. It also aims to help students develop a better understanding of aesthetic perception and experience in specific social contexts. Students will learn to reflect on and engage with literature through theoretical lens. 

The course consists of two-hour seminars and one-hour tutorial sessions. Tutorial sessions will begin in the third week of the semester, and include discussions, small group work, and oral presentations by individual students. 

The 100% coursework assessment will comprise marks from 

Class Work (including attendance, contribution to all discussions, and evidence of preparation and intellectual curiosity) – 15%

Oral Presentation – 15%

Mid-term Paper – 30% 

Final Essay – 40% 

Materials may include: 

Excerpts and essays from Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Burke, Kant, Schiller, Hegel, Croce, Ruskin, Pater, Fry, Adorno, Tagore, Zehou Li 

A selection of poems and novels as well as artworks