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  2. Theory, Taste and Trash [HMN3042]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

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

    HMN3042

  • Year

    2015

  • 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 and historicises 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 literary, visual and filmic texts, raising questions about gender, class, beauty and ugliness, the substance of style, and the ethics of cultural production in the global economy.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded TRN3042

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse debates regarding the opposition between high and low forms of culture, beauty and ugliness, imitation and reproduction, and the relationship between morality and artistic value.
  2. Apply a range of aesthetic theories to the analysis of cultural texts and/or creative practices.
  3. Explain philosophical positions in primary texts regarding the determination of value in literature, film and/or the plastic arts.
  4. Formulate critical positions regarding the value of cultural texts and/or creative practices.

Unit Content

  1. Historical and contemporary contexts associated with aesthetics and value.
  2. Philosophical debates about the relationship between cultural products and the social good.
  3. Primary philosophical texts regarding aesthetics and value.
  4. The relationships between aesthetics and social identities, including issues of class, gender, sexual orientation, and race.
  5. Theoretical debates regarding the social value of low (trash) and high (taste) art-forms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Tutorials/workshops.

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
PrecisPrecis of selected theorists30%
EssayTheoretically informed reading of a literary, visual or filmic text30%
ProjectCreative/academic project with exegesis40%

Text References

  • ^ TRN3042: Theory, Taste and Trash Unit Reader
  • Harrington, A. (2004). Art and social history: sociological arguments in aesthetics. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Halliwell, S. (2002). The aesthetics of mimesis: Ancient texts and modern problems. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://www.ecu.eblib.com.au/
  • Gaut, B., & Lopes, D.M. (Eds.). (2005). The Routledge companion to aesthetics. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Davies, S., Higgins, K.M., & Hopkins, R. (2009). A companion to aesthetics. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://www.ecu.eblib.com.au/
  • Korsmeyer, C. (2004). Gender and aesthetics: An introduction. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Regan, S. (Ed.). (1992). The politics of pleasure: Aesthetics and cultural theory. Buckingham: Open University Press.
  • Levinson, J. (Ed.). (1998). Aesthetics and ethics: Essays at the intersection. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kelly, M. (Ed.). (1998). The encyclopedia of aesthetics. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://0-www.oxfordartonline.com.library.ecu.edu.au/
  • Kieran, M. (2006). Contemporary debates in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Janaway, C. (2006). Reading aesthetics and philosophy of art:: Selected texts with interactive commentary. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
  • Danto, A. (2003). The abuse of beauty: Aesthetics and the concept of art. Chicago.

Journal References

  • October
  • New Literary History: a journal of theory and interpretation
  • ELH
  • Curator: the Museum Journal
  • Contemporary Literature
  • British Journal of Aesthetics
  • Art Journal
  • Philosophy and Literature
  • Sub-Stance: a review of theory and literary criticism
  • The New Review of Film and Television Studies

^ 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.

HMN3042|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

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

    HMN3042

  • Year

    2015

  • 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 and historicises 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 literary, visual and filmic texts, raising questions about gender, class, beauty and ugliness, the substance of style, and the ethics of cultural production in the global economy.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded TRN3042

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse debates regarding the opposition between high and low forms of culture, beauty and ugliness, imitation and reproduction, and the relationship between morality and artistic value.
  2. Apply a range of aesthetic theories to the analysis of cultural texts and/or creative practices.
  3. Explain philosophical positions in primary texts regarding the determination of value in literature, film and/or the plastic arts.
  4. Formulate critical positions regarding the value of cultural texts and/or creative practices.

Unit Content

  1. Historical and contemporary contexts associated with aesthetics and value.
  2. Philosophical debates about the relationship between cultural products and the social good.
  3. Primary philosophical texts regarding aesthetics and value.
  4. The relationships between aesthetics and social identities, including issues of class, gender, sexual orientation, and race.
  5. Theoretical debates regarding the social value of low (trash) and high (taste) art-forms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Tutorials/workshops.

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
PrecisPrecis of selected theorists30%
EssayTheoretically informed reading of a literary, visual or filmic text30%
ProjectCreative/academic project with exegesis40%

Text References

  • ^ TRN3042: Theory, Taste and Trash Unit Reader
  • Harrington, A. (2004). Art and social history: sociological arguments in aesthetics. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Halliwell, S. (2002). The aesthetics of mimesis: Ancient texts and modern problems. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://www.ecu.eblib.com.au/
  • Gaut, B., & Lopes, D.M. (Eds.). (2005). The Routledge companion to aesthetics. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Davies, S., Higgins, K.M., & Hopkins, R. (2009). A companion to aesthetics. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://www.ecu.eblib.com.au/
  • Korsmeyer, C. (2004). Gender and aesthetics: An introduction. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Regan, S. (Ed.). (1992). The politics of pleasure: Aesthetics and cultural theory. Buckingham: Open University Press.
  • Levinson, J. (Ed.). (1998). Aesthetics and ethics: Essays at the intersection. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kelly, M. (Ed.). (1998). The encyclopedia of aesthetics. (Ebook library version). Retrieved from http://0-www.oxfordartonline.com.library.ecu.edu.au/
  • Kieran, M. (2006). Contemporary debates in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Janaway, C. (2006). Reading aesthetics and philosophy of art:: Selected texts with interactive commentary. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
  • Danto, A. (2003). The abuse of beauty: Aesthetics and the concept of art. Chicago.

Journal References

  • October
  • New Literary History: a journal of theory and interpretation
  • ELH
  • Curator: the Museum Journal
  • Contemporary Literature
  • British Journal of Aesthetics
  • Art Journal
  • Philosophy and Literature
  • Sub-Stance: a review of theory and literary criticism
  • The New Review of Film and Television Studies

^ 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.

HMN3042|1|2