Description

Temple University Rome offers a four-week graduate seminar designed to bring together the disciplines of aesthetics and cultural studies. In its interdisciplinary thrust, the six-credit seminar is intended to serve as a foundation for advanced study in the human sciences and to reflect the most current trends of thought in post-modern culture. The seminar convenes at Temple University's campus in Rome.

Advanced undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students in fields such as literature, film studies, philosophy, art and social theory are welcome to apply. The seminar entails an intensive program of class work, field trips and guest lectures, and the city of Rome is used extensively as a resource. All classes are taught in English.

The topic of the seminar focuses on the troubled relation between perception and cognition in three historical moments of Western culture: the Renaissance and the birth of single point perspective; the Baroque and Counter-Reformation; and the postmodern critique of Enlightenment rationality. We speculate about how our culture has been shaped by collaboration and conflict among visual, visionary, ideological and rational ways of knowing the world. The scope of our inquiry embraces literary, philosophical, painterly and cinematic texts.

Among the questions to be raised are: What is the relation between visual and verbal representation? Is the perceptual realm of sight necessarily subordinated to rationality? What is the place of visual representation in the tug-of-war between imaginary and real spheres of being? What historical and ideological exchanges between vision and rationality continue to affect our social and political orders? What role does aesthetics play in the making of a public sphere?

Highlights

In past years we have invited guest lecturers and artists to conduct a one-day workshop in relation to the issues of the seminar, and we hope to continue this practice. Previous guests include: Rodolphe Gasche (theorist, philosopher), Juliet Mitchell (psychoanalyst), Jacqueline Rose (literary critic), Anthony Giddens (political theorist), Jean-Marie Straub (filmmaker), Marco Bellocchio (filmmaker), Enzo Cucchi (painter), Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel (installation artists), Peter Greenaway (filmmaker), Bernardo Bertolucci (filmmaker), Michael Fried (art historian), Peter Flaccus, (painter), the Brothers Quay (filmmakers), Mieke Bal (theorist and art critic), Stefano di Stasio (painter), Jannis Kounellis (sculptor) and Sandro Chia (painter and sculptor).

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Approximately 5,100 - 6,700, depending on residency

Program Fees Include:

Tuition, housing, program fee.

Experience Required

no

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Independent living

Temple University's Mission Statement

The Temple University Education Abroad office offers semester, academic year and summer study abroad programs around the world. In addition to providing study abroad opportunities for Temple students, we welcome the participation of students from other U.S. colleges and universities.