reading and answer the questions about art

Midterm Exam: 100 points

Respond to 4 of the following questions. Responses must be in essay form, 1-2 pages per

question, double spaced, with 12pt. Times New Roman Font, and 1 inch margins all around.

Answer clearly, with an emphasis not merely on the conclusion of the philosopher you have

selected, but on their reasoning process. E.g. What reasons do they have for their conclusion? A

good essay response will make clear the following: A) The author’s thesis, B) why it matters, C)

the reasoning they offer in support of their conclusion, and D) how their conclusion serves as a

resolution to the problem that they are engaging.

Section 1: You MUST answer the following:

1. Plato on Tragedy: 25 points

In Book X of The Republic, Plato argues that the Tragic Poets should be kicked out of the ideal

republic. Why does he argue this? In what way is his response dependent upon his theory of

the human soul? What is the nature of truth and rationality on Plato’s account? Why does he

think that Tragic Poetry is morally dangerous?

Section 2: You MUST answer at least 1 of the following questions:

2. Aristotle’s Poetics: 25 points

Aristotle’s discussion of Tragedy in the Poetics can be read as a response to Plato’s conclusion in

Book X of The Republic. What is Aristotle’s account of Tragedy, and how can it be read as a

response to Plato? What is the role of Katharsis (clarification or purgation) in Aristotle’s

account? What about fear and pity? How does the structure of the play contribute to the telos

or goal/function of the play? Does Aristotle succeed in defending Tragedy against Plato’s

accusations?

3. Schiller’s On the Sublime: 25 points

In his essay On the Sublime, Schiller discusses the role of the feeling of the sublime in relation to

human freedom. What is this freedom? How does the feeling of the sublime contribute to

freedom? What role does Tragic Poetry play in this process? How does Schiller’s account serve

as a response to Plato’s conclusion regarding Tragedy in Book X of The Republic? Is Schiller’s

account, read as a response to Plato, successful?

Section 3: You MAY answer any of the following questions:

You must answer as many as required to get to 100 points – so for example, if you only

answered one question in section 2, then answer two of the following. If you answered both

questions in section 2, then answer one of the following.

4. Hume’s account of Beauty: 25 points

In his essay “The Standard of Taste,” Hume presents an empiricist account of the sentiment of

beauty. He sets out to make sense of the following two (seemingly contradictory) common-

sense statements: 1. Beauty is a subjective sentiment, and 2. Some works of art are more

beautiful than others. How does he navigate this? What is inter-subjectivity, and how does it

play into his account?

5. Ritual Theory of Art: 25 points

What is the Ritual Theory of Art as discussed by Cynthia Freeland? What problem does it seek

to make sense of, and in what ways is it successful? Why does it fail as a general theory of art,

or does it fail? Consider Freeland’s discussion of The Piss Christ in your response.

6. The Artworld: 25 points

In Arthur Danto’s essay “The Artworld,” he argues for a world that serves as a theoretical basis

for language about art. This world makes intelligible certain discourse about art. Briefly outline

Danto’s position including discussion of theory, language, and worlds. Highlight at least one of

Danto’s examples as a way of clarifying his position. What is the upshot of Danto’s view?