Course description

The purpose of the course is to expose the students to the philosophy (or theory) which stands behind the creation of the arts. As in science, ethics, religion, philosophy has related itself to the act of creation in the arts, and our first question will be concerned with the difference between the above mentioned disciplines and the arts. The second question will have to deal with the meaning of the arts; what do the arts mean and their role in the culture we live in. The third question will have to do with the evaluation of the arts – are there definite criteria in evaluating an art object. In order to reach our goal we will have to discuss (in short) the history of the aesthetics, starting with Aristotle up to the post-modern intuitions we are faced today by contemporary philosophers and artists in Israel and abroad.

The course will present live examples of paintings, sculpture, video art, dance, theater, cinema and literature