Art

What does art mean?what does it do?
By 'art' I mean things that you might not think of as art. Pop music, rap, rock, alternative music, but also film, tv shows, video games, graphic novels, anime, comic books, body art, fashion, etc. are all forms of art. And these forms influence all of us, in one way or another.

During the next four class sessions we will inquire into art - what exactly is it, why do people make it, and why do the rest of us love it?

We will also ask about the status of figures who appear in art - Spiderman and Spongebob and The Little Princess. Are these beings real, and if so, in what sense?

Finally we will discuss the most compelling popular narratives of the 21st century -- Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Avatar, Harry Potter, Twilight. What makes these stories so appealing? What values do they represent?