ATS2339 Philosophy of Art
Faculty of Arts
ATS2339 Philosophy of Art is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2339
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2339
No unit lists ATS2339 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Twelve credit points of first-year Arts or Fine Arts units
Overview
In this unit, you will explore contemporary debates in the philosophy of art. You will look at philosophical discussions on specific art forms such as painting, music, and fiction. You will also delve into philosophical conundrums about art. Some of the questions may include: What exactly is art? Why do we enjoy certain artforms that cause discomfort? How should we evaluate great artworks by immoral artists? You will approach these questions using philosophical tools as well as through the lens of art history and/or the psychology of art.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- In-Class Participation ActivityExercise15%
- Analytic ExerciseExercise25%
- QuizzesQuiz / Test10%
- Research ProjectProject50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify and explain key ideas in the philosophy of art;
- 2
critically apply relevant philosophical concepts to a range of artistic examples;
- 3
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of theories in the philosophy of art;
- 4
communicate philosophical analysis in written form through individual research tasks;
- 5
collaborate and communicate effectively in oral form through group activities and projects.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures10 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit will provide students with opportunities to work with peers in groups and pairs in class. They will have interactive discussions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the topic, and reinforce your learning.,
This unit engages students in actively applying their knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where students engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit engages students in enquiry-based learning, where they will be encouraged to use their own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit allows students to develop their research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
Where it fits
ATS2339 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Michelle Liu
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Timothy Bayne
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2339?
ATS2339 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2339 offered?
In 2026, ATS2339 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2339?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2339 have an exam?
No. ATS2339 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2339?
ATS2339 is part of Philosophy.