The course will investigate the link between art and politics in Benjamin's thought. In particular, how this relationship was defined in the years in which the philosopher wrote the essay The Work of Art in the Age of its Technical Reproducibility, published in 1936. This essay, whose conceptual apparatus influenced all contemporary reflection on art, will be placed at the centre of an interpretation that will link it, on the one hand, to the author's reflection on Charles Baudelaire in those years and, on the other, to some of his Theses on the philosophy of history.

The course will cover the following topics:

1. The life and works of W. Benjamin;

2. The conception of time and history in the years following the materialistic turn;

3. Reading and commentary on the essay The work of art in the age of its technical reproducibility;

4. Beyond the "aura"; the emancipatory values of the new art forms: cinema and photography;

5. Benjamin’s relationship with the avant-gardes of his time. In particular, we will examine some Dadaist works, some photographs by Eugène Atget, Sergej Michajlovič Ėjzenštejn’s theory of montage and Dziga Vertov’s materialistic conception of the cinematographic image;

6. “Politicisation of art” versus “Aesthetisation of politics”.

At the end of the course the student is expected:

- to have a general knowledge of the founding concepts of Modern Aesthetics;

- to know the essays by Benjamin examined and critically interpret the text;

- to know how to discuss and adequately understand aesthetic-philosophical problems;

- to know and understand the theoretical problems related to Benjamin's conception of art;

- to interpret, read, comment on, recognise and explain philosophical texts;

- to interpret, read, comment on, recognie and explain philosophical texts; to contextualise philosophical arguments and theories (particularly in the field of aesthetics);

- to argue philosophical theses in an appropriate and convincing way; to recognise and evaluate different philosophical traditions;

- to acquire autonomy of judgement in relation to philosophical theses;

- to acquire communication skills in the presentation of philosophical theses and arguments.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

taught lesson

Attendance

to attend at the last 70% of the lesson

Course books

W. Benjamin, 2000, L’opera d’arte nell’epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica. Arte e società di massa, trad. it. Di E. Flippini, Einaudi, Torino.

W. Benjamin, Su alcuni motivi in Baudelaire, in Id., Angelus Novus, a cura di R. Solmi, Einaudi, Torino 2014.

W. Benjamin, Tesi di filosofia della storia, in Id., Angelus Novus, a cura di R. Solmi, Einaudi, Torino 2014.

Assessment

oral exam

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Assessment

oral exam

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.