AAT 101: Art and Aesthetics

3 credits | Prerequisites: None

Course rationale

The course highlights the problem of perception, enjoyment, and evaluation of artworks (ranging from artifacts to masterpieces) to especially develop an eye necessary to decode the aesthetics of global as well as Bangladeshi cultures. The terminal competency earned from this course would make the students knowledgeable in art and aesthetics. In general, the course includes discussion on different theories and approaches, which are projected to understand the world of art.

Course content

Introduction, a fundamental concept in Art and Aesthetics, key concepts of meaning interpretation, structural orientation of signs, philosophy of Art, a brief history of Global Art: Ancient and near Eastern Art; Greek and Roman ideas and Byzantine style; Medieval and Renaissance Art; Baroque, Classicalism, and Classical Art; Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism; Post Impressionism, Cubism, and Abstract Expressionism; form and meaning: line, plane, color, texture, and composition; meaning interpreting theories, Indian Art: Vedic and Buddhist styles, Hindu styles, secular and Muslim Art; Origin and development of Bangla visual Art: miniature and pata painting; westernization in Indian Art, Modernization in Indian and Bangladeshi Art, Modern Art in Bangladesh: focusing Zainul Abedin and S.M. Sultan, Quamrul Hasan, Safiuddin Ahmed, Murtaza Bashir, and Shahabuddin

Course objectives

  1. Learn how ideologies/theories are embedded in different forms of media representations in the field of art
    and aesthetics.
  2. Learn specific ways of detecting and analyzing art forms, literary texts messages in relation to the
    portrayal of art-culture-society.
  3. Develop a clear and context-based understanding of art and aesthetics of Bangladesh and its impact on
    and through the media and cultural formations.

References

  1.  Adams, Laurie Schneider. (2012). Art: Beginners guide. Oxford: one world publications
  2. Carroll, Noel. (1999). Philosophy of Art. Rutledge: London
  3. Chandler, Daniel. (2002). Semiotics: the basics. Rutledge: NY
  4. Islam, Nazrul. (2010). Contemporary art and artists: Bangladesh and beyond. Dhaka: Academic
  5.  press and publishes.
  6.  Mitter, Partha. (2001). Indian Art. NY: oxford university press.
  7. Peter, Brooker. (2003). A glossary of cultural theories. Arnold: London
  8. Posner, Roland. (1989). what is culture. The nature of culture. P-240-295
  9. Rynck, Patrick de. (2004). How to read a painting. Leuven: Thames and Hudson
  10. Sirajul Islam. (1992). History of Bangladesh (Vol-3). Dhaka: Asiatic society of Bangladesh