Entry requirements

Eligible is the person who fulfils the requirements for a bachelor's degree in the humanities or hasc a corresponding foreign degree.

Learning outcomes

The object of this course is to study the philosophical issues raised by pictorial representation, as used both in the arts and in everyday visual culture. After completing the course, the student will be expected to:

• have a working knowledge of key concepts in the philosophy of depiction
• be able to think critically about issues related to the pictorial representation

Content

We use pictures for communication, advertisement, and enjoyment. But do we really know what pictures are? There are many different philosophical questions we can ask about depiction. For instance, do pictures refer, like words or names? Or do they show things, like a mirror does? What exactly determines what a painting or a drawing represents? Is it the paint on the canvas, or the thought behind it? Is this different for photography? And what makes depictions so valuable or useful to us? This course will review the most influential answers philosophers have given to these and other questions. The course aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the philosophical debate about depiction, and to enable them to engage critically with some of the positions in this debate.

Instruction

Teaching activities include lectures and seminars. Attendance is obligatory. English is the language of instruction.

Assessment

Students will be expected to give an oral presentation (25% overall mark) and submit a written assignment (75%).