PHIL 4327: Great Texts John Dewey's Art As Experience

PHIL 4327: Great TextsJohn Dewey’s Art as ExperienceFall 2020 SyllabusMondays, 7:00-9:45pmProfessor Matthew J. BrownEmail: mattbrown@utdallas.eduPhone: TeamsOffice Location and Hours: Mondays 4-5pm and by appointmentAppointments: https://doodle.com/mm/matthewjbrown/bookCourse Modality and ExpectationsInstructional Mode Remote/Virtual - Synchronous online learning at the dayand time of the class.Course Platform Blackboard Collaborate - Synchronous class discussion eLearning - Prerecorded lectures, assignments, discussion board Microsoft Teams - Office hours, informal discussionExpectations All students are expected to do the weekly readings and turn inall assignments on eLearning, and to participate in class discussion eithersynchronously (Bb Collaborate) or asynchronously (eLearning discussionboard). More details below under “Assignments and Grades.”(But reasonable expectations) The pandemic is causing difficulties for allof us, some of which we have cannot have planned for, and none of whichwe deserve. I promise generosity and flexibility, and I ask it from you inreturn. We’ve had time to prepare, but unanticipated issues are to beexpected. Let’s not treat this as business as usual. If you can, I encourageyou to participate synchronously. Staying in touch that way can help. Iwould like you to use your cameras if possible; it seems to me to make thewhole thing more humane, and I’m fine if you need to show up to class inpajamas and unkempt hair. Of course, some of you will have bandwidthproblems and can turn the camera off when they flare up. If you need tobe asynchronous some or all of the time, I completely understand.Asynchronous Learning Guidelines Asynchronous students will have accessto any lecture materials via written or video recorded versions of the lecture.They will be able to participate in online asynchronous discussions andturn in all materials online.1

DescriptionThis seminar focuses on one of the most important and influential works inaesthetics and philosophy art of the twentieth century: John Dewey’s Art asExperience. We will carefully examine the book chapter by chapter and considerit in relation to both everyday aesthetic experience as well as the practice of art.We will also discuss its connection to Dewey’s larger body of philosophical workand the tradition of American philosophy.TextbooksRequired John Dewey’s Art as Experience (ISBN 978-0809328208)– Note that the collected works of John Dewey are available onlinethrough the library, via Intelex Past Masters. The pagination therematches our textbook.Additional recommended texts: John Dewey, Experience and Nature ISBN 978-0809328116 Thomas M. Alexander, John Dewey’s Theory of Art, Experience, andNature: The Horizons of Feeling ISBN 978-0887064265 Tom Leddy, “Dewey’s Aesthetics”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Larry A Hickman, Reading Dewey: Interpretations for a PostmodernGeneration ISBN 978-0253211798 David Hildebrand, Dewey: A Beginner’s Guide ISBN 978-1851685806 Mary Jane Jacob, Dewey for Artists ISBN 978-0226580449 Jay Martin, The Education of John Dewey ISBN 978-0231116763There will be no assigned readings from these texts, but some of them may helpyou understand the background of the readings, and others may help you applythe work in your presentation or final paper.Student Learning Objectives1. Students will demonstrate close reading skills.2. Students will demonstrate advanced skills in engaging, unpacking, andevaluating philosophical arguments.3. Students will demonstrate an ability to make and defend, as well asrecognize and critique, philosophical claims and arguments.2

4. Students will apply philosophical ideas about art and aesthetic to works ofart.5. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of the philosophical tradition ofAmerican Pragmatism.Assignments and GradesAssignment Categories and Instructions1. Class preparationWhen you read the chapter, I recommend that you start by reading thewhole chapter through quickly. If you come across any passages that areparticularly interesting or confusing, just make a light pencil mark in themargin and move on. Read through a second time, this time attendingcarefully both to passages you find powerful or interesting and passagesyou find difficult to understand. Mark them in your text with marginalia,underlines, or highlights. On this second read through, take copious notesabout your reactions and the structures of ideas and arguments in the text.Each week, by the night before class, you should turn in all of the followingin a post to the weekly discussion board in eLearning:a. Passages you find powerful or interesting - one or more transcribedor copy-pasted from Past Masters.b. Passages you find difficult to understand - one or more transcribedor copy-pasted from Past Masters, and write some notes about whythey are difficult and different possible interpretations.c. Questions you have about the ideas or argument of the chapter as awhole - write at least one.d. Terms and names you do not know - look them up before class andwrite down some notes. (This includes names of artists, artworks, orphilosophers you may have heard of but are not familiar with.)2. ParticipationAsynchronous discussion of each chapter will begin the Wednesday beforethe synchronous class discussion. During this time, besides turning in thecomponents of the class prep assignment, you can discuss the book via thediscussion board or via Microsoft Teams. During class time, we will discussthe week’s readings and presentations live via Blackboard Collaborate.After class, through Tuesday night, you can continue to discuss the textfor credit.3. Presentation3

Connect some idea or argument in the chapter for the day to an artwork ofyour choice that exemplifies it. You must exhibit the artwork in some way,with appropriate A/V aids. This presentation will be turned in online, andformat is up to you. You can do a written presentation or record a video.Your presentation should include several prompts for further discussion.Ordinarily this course would involve in-class presentations where you communicate your application of the reading material to the artwork to the classduring the class period. Because we are meeting virtual and some studentsare participating asynchronously, “presentations” will have a flexible formatand will be made available for all students to view asynchronously. Thismight consist of a blog post with embedded audio/visual components. Itmight involve a pre-recorded video using PowerPoint or any video platformof your choice. These “presentations” will be required viewing.4. Term paper2500-4000 words, on some topic within philosophy of art or the historyof philosophy related to Art as Experience. Includes a required one-onone consultation and 500-word formal proposal with a bibliography of 5 sources.Grades1.2.3.4.Class preparation - 65 points (5 per week)Participation - 70 pointsPresentation - 100 pointsTerm paper - 200 points Consultation - 20 points Formal Proposal - 20 points Final Paper - 160 pointsTotal points available: 435.Final grade is your point total 100, converted to a 4.0 grade scale (4.0 A,2.67 B-, etc.).Rubrics for these assignments will be provided in advance.ScheduleWe have 14 weeks of class, and Art as Experience has 14 chapters. We’ll workthrough one chapter a week. There will be no assigned readings from secondarysources, though you are welcome and encouraged to consult them.1. The Live Creature Su 8/16: No assignment4

2.3.4.5.6.7.8. M 8/17: In-class and asynchronous discussions Continue asynchronous discussion through next weekThe Live Creature and “Etherial Things” Asynchronous discussion of Ch 1 continues into this discussion W 8/19: Asynchronous discussion begins of Ch 2 Su 8/23: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 8/24 7pm: In-class discussion T 8/25: Final asynchronous participation dueHaving an Experience W 8/26: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 8/30: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 8/31 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) F 9/4: Final asynchronous participation due S 9/5 - M 9/7: Labor Day Holiday, No ClassThe Act of Expression T 9/8: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 9/13: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 9/14 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 9/15: Final asynchronous participation dueThe Expressive Object W 9/16: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 9/20: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 9/21 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 9/22: Final asynchronous participation dueSubstance and Form W 9/23: Asynchronous discussion begins F 9/25: Last day for One-on-one Term Paper Consultation Su 9/27: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 9/28 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 9/29: Final asynchronous participation dueNatural History of Form W 9/30: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 10/4: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 10/5 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 10/6: Final asynchronous participation dueOrganization of Energies W 10/7: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 10/11: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 10/12 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 10/13: Final asynchronous participation due5

9. The 10.11.12.13.14.Common Substance of the ArtsW 10/14: Asynchronous discussion beginsSu 10/18: Class preparation assignment & presentations dueM 10/19 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 10/20: Final asynchronous participation dueThe Varied Substance of the Arts W 10/21: Asynchronous discussion begins F 10/23: Term Paper - Formal Proposal Due Su 10/25: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 10/26 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 10/27: Final asynchronous participation dueThe Human Contribution W 10/28: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 11/1: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 11/2 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 11/3: Final asynchronous participation dueThe Challenge to Philosophy W 11/4: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 11/8: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 11/9 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 11/10: Final asynchronous participation dueCriticism and Perception W 11/11: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 11/15: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 11/16 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 11/17: Final asynchronous participation dueArt and Civilization W 11/18: Asynchronous discussion begins Su 11/22: Class preparation assignment & presentations due M 11/23 7pm: In-class discussion (view student presentations beforehand) T 11/24: Final asynchronous participation dueFinal Exam Week: Term Paper Due6