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Study Guide

Discussion Groups: 
A-H
I-O
P-Z
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Syllabus
Resources
 
 

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the bearing of cognitive science on the perception and understanding of art. This interest has roots in tradition: Historically, art, aesthetics, and vision science have often been linked. But the growth of knowledge in cognitive science has opened up new opportunities for understanding art and addressing philosophical questions regarding the nature of aesthetic experience. The converse is also true. The production, perception, and understanding of art are human capacities that can shed light on the workings of the mind and brain in general.

In order to give the course a specific focus and make the material manageable, we will concentrate on four central questions, as indicated in the attached syllabus.

Reading Materials
Robert Solso, Cognition and the Visual Arts; Ellen Winner, Invented Worlds: The Psychology of the Arts; course packet.

Requirements 
midterm exam (30%), term paper (25%), take-home final (30%), class participation (15%)

Contact Information
206 Busch Hall Hours MF 1:00-2:00
935-6686 mark@twinearth.wustl.edu