Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (MA)

Course details

The MA Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts gives you an excellent entry into the multidisciplinary field of aesthetics across different cultural contexts East and West. It advances your career prospects in a broad range of professions related to culture and the arts. You will develop your analytical and professional skills and get together with likeminded students of different related backgrounds. The course has been designed, with the help of academics and professionals in the arts, humanities and social sciences, to enable you to deal with a broad range of aesthetic concepts and models across different disciplines at postgraduate level. During your studies, you will learn to integrate aesthetic theory from different disciplines with your own interests and with practice-led concerns. The course culminates in your own research project, about which you will complete a minor dissertation under the supervision of an international expert in the relevant area of aesthetics.

Course Details

The course is based on intensive small-group class work and on independent research with one-to-one supervision by an expert in the field.

You are strongly encouraged to attend optional events in the participating disciplines (talks, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, performances etc.).

You are taught in a multidisciplinary environment with other students from varied backgrounds (theory/practice, academic/professional).

You are expected to be familiar with basic aesthetic issues and concepts in your respective field, or to acquire basic familiarity, with the help of your course leaders, early in the course.

On successful completion of this course, you can expect to know how to:

• identify, formulate, analyse and critique a broad range of aesthetic models in theoretical (academic) as well as applied contexts (professional and practice based) identify and negotiate cultural contexts and differences between different aesthetic paradigms East and West
• effectively perform visual, literary or other non-theoretical analysis
• perform problem-solving in academic and other professional settings
• work effectively as an inpidual, in teams and in multidisciplinary settings with the capacity to undertake lifelong learning
• prepare and present research reports to a professional standard
• conceptualise and execute a substantial independent project and deliver a minor thesis to a professional standard

 You will take a total of 90 credits as follows:

• PH6023 Western Aesthetics and
• PH6021 East Asian Aesthetics (10 credits each)

And three of the following (10 credits each):

• EN6000 Modern Aesthetics in English Literature and Culture
• FR6204 Theories of Vision
• FR6601 Philosophies of Noise, Sound and Music
• GE6003 Ut pictura poiesis. Literature and the Visual Arts
• HA6006 Theory for Art History
• LL6011 Parallel Worlds. Dystopian Fiction and Digital Realities
• SC6624 Civilisation and Globalisation

A Literature Review in one of the participating disciplines (10 credits)

A minor dissertation in one of the participating disciplines (30 credits)

For full information on the programme content and module descriptions, see the Postgraduate Academic Calendar

Postgraduate Certificate in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Minor award)

Students who pass taught modules to the value of at least 30 credits (but less than 60 credits) may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts.

Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Major award)

Students who pass taught modules to the value of at least 60 credits may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts.

Entry Requirements

To apply for this course you will:

• have a 2.1 degree (or equivalent) in philosophy, history of art, literature, sociology, or other relevant subject (including, for example, fine art, music, architecture, design, social science, psychology, and others), or equivalent professional qualifications
• demonstrate evidence of having taken undergraduate or post-graduate modules in art history and/or philosophy and/or practical/professional expertise or qualification in an area that involves aesthetics

Course Practicalities

• Modules are small-group, student-centred seminars, giving you the opportunity to bring in your own interests, questions and expertise in class discussion.
• You will be guided and encouraged to attend a variety of optional extracurricular events relevant to the course, such as talks, conferences, exhibitions, performances.
• You are required to read and review the relevant material in advance of each session. Expect to prepare for two to four hours per two hours in class.
• From January until the submission of your thesis in October, you will work on your own research project under the supervision of an expert in your chosen area. 

Assessment

Assessment of coursework is by means of essays as well as attendance and participation. There are no exams. The assessment of the Literature Review may include an oral presentation. The dissertation is submitted at the beginning of October.