Introduction to Art: Representations, Performances and Interactions

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The traditional term for the many ways in which art works represent reality is mimesis. The mimetic talent for imitation and representation has been the subject of admiration, study and debate throughout the history of Western art. The notion of mimesis has been employed to describe painting, literature, music, theater, dance, and more; it is still often used to characterize the domain of the arts in general.

In engaging with the concept of mimesis, this course focuses on three central themes and approaches. The first part of the course is concerned with representations of reality in nineteenth and early twentieth century literature, painting, and music. The second part deals with modern and contemporary performance art. In an attempt at dealing with the blurring of genres, cultures and conventions that are typical for contemporary art shaped by mass media and globalization the academic field of Performance Studies is introduced. The third and last part of the course discusses sociological perspectives on art as collective activity and social practice. Through its emphasis on representations, performances and interactions, this course constitutes a basis for courses on the arts in all their diversity, as well as courses on culture in general.