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  2. Theory, Taste and Trash [ENG3042]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Theory, Taste and Trash

  • Unit Code

    ENG3042

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

Description

This unit focuses on aesthetics in order to investigate theoretical approaches to cultural, literary and artistic objects. It maps debates regarding high and low art forms, as well as ideological presumptions regarding value and longevity. Students examine a range of mass and high cultures most celebrated texts and objects, raising questions about gender, beauty and ugliness, the substance of style, sentimentalism, and the ethics of literature and art in the global economy.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse forms of subjectivities in relation to literature, art, and media texts.
  2. Apply a range of aesthetic theories to the analysis of cultural texts and/or creative practices such as writing or photography.
  3. Articulate with clarity, the debates regarding the opposition between high and low forms of culture; beauty and cultural objects; mimesis, representation and simulation.
  4. Discuss ideas regarding form and meaning-making systems, including but not limited to language.
  5. Explicate critical debates in primary theoretical texts relating to literature, media and/or the plastic arts.
  6. Participate in debates regarding the ethical implications of art-forms.

Unit Content

  1. Primary theoretical texts regarding modernity, art-forms and aesthetics.
  2. The historical and contemporary context associated with aesthetics.
  3. Theoretical debates regarding representation, subjectivity and meaning-making.
  4. Theoretical debates regarding the ethical aspects of art-forms, including gender, race and class issues.
  5. Theoretical debates regarding the social value of low (trash) and high (taste) art-forms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Seminars, workshops and web-based support.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseJournal40%
EssayCritical Analysis30%
AssignmentResearch Project30%

Text References

  • Waugh, P. (2006). Literary theory and criticism: An Oxford guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Risatti, H. (2007). A theory of craft: function and aesthetic expression. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
  • Munster, A. (2006). Materializing new media: Embodiment in information aesthetics. Dartmouth: Dartmouth College Press.
  • Leitch, V., Cain, W., Finke, L.A., & Johnson, B. (Eds.). (2001). The Norton anthology of theory and criticism. New York: Norton.
  • Korsmeyer, C. (2004). Gender and aesthetics: An introduction. New York: Routledge.
  • Culler, J. (2006). The Literary in theory. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
  • Gilbert, S. M., & Gubar, S. (Eds.). (2007). Feminist literary theory and criticism: A Norton reader. New York: Norton.
  • Harrington, A. (2004). Art and social theory: Sociological arguments in aesthetics. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Kieran, M. (2006). Contemporary debates in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Adorno, T.W. (2005). Aesthetic theory. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.

Journal References

  • Philosophy and Literature
  • Poetics Today
  • New Literary History
  • Journal of the History of Ideas
  • boundary 2
  • Diacritics
  • Hypatia

Website References

Other References

  • ^ Theory Taste and Trash Unit Reader

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENG3042|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Theory, Taste and Trash

  • Unit Code

    ENG3042

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

Description

This unit focuses on aesthetics in order to investigate theoretical approaches to cultural, literary and artistic objects. It maps debates regarding high and low art forms, as well as ideological presumptions regarding value and longevity. Students examine a range of mass and high cultures most celebrated texts and objects, raising questions about gender, beauty and ugliness, the substance of style, sentimentalism, and the ethics of literature and art in the global economy.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse forms of subjectivities in relation to literature, art, and media texts.
  2. Apply a range of aesthetic theories to the analysis of cultural texts and/or creative practices such as writing or photography.
  3. Articulate with clarity, the debates regarding the opposition between high and low forms of culture; beauty and cultural objects; mimesis, representation and simulation.
  4. Discuss ideas regarding form and meaning-making systems, including but not limited to language.
  5. Explicate critical debates in primary theoretical texts relating to literature, media and/or the plastic arts.
  6. Participate in debates regarding the ethical implications of art-forms.

Unit Content

  1. Primary theoretical texts regarding modernity, art-forms and aesthetics.
  2. The historical and contemporary context associated with aesthetics.
  3. Theoretical debates regarding representation, subjectivity and meaning-making.
  4. Theoretical debates regarding the ethical aspects of art-forms, including gender, race and class issues.
  5. Theoretical debates regarding the social value of low (trash) and high (taste) art-forms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Seminars, workshops and web-based support.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseJournal40%
EssayCritical Analysis30%
AssignmentResearch Project30%

Text References

  • Waugh, P. (2006). Literary theory and criticism: An Oxford guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Risatti, H. (2007). A theory of craft: function and aesthetic expression. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
  • Munster, A. (2006). Materializing new media: Embodiment in information aesthetics. Dartmouth: Dartmouth College Press.
  • Leitch, V., Cain, W., Finke, L.A., & Johnson, B. (Eds.). (2001). The Norton anthology of theory and criticism. New York: Norton.
  • Korsmeyer, C. (2004). Gender and aesthetics: An introduction. New York: Routledge.
  • Culler, J. (2006). The Literary in theory. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
  • Gilbert, S. M., & Gubar, S. (Eds.). (2007). Feminist literary theory and criticism: A Norton reader. New York: Norton.
  • Harrington, A. (2004). Art and social theory: Sociological arguments in aesthetics. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Kieran, M. (2006). Contemporary debates in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Adorno, T.W. (2005). Aesthetic theory. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.

Journal References

  • Philosophy and Literature
  • Poetics Today
  • New Literary History
  • Journal of the History of Ideas
  • boundary 2
  • Diacritics
  • Hypatia

Website References

Other References

  • ^ Theory Taste and Trash Unit Reader

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENG3042|1|2