LFU:online

After completion of the lecture, students will have acquired knowledge about different subfields of empirical aesthetics. Students will be able to describe how the different subfields of empirical aesthetics have influenced each other regarding their methods and theories. They will be able to discuss about different topics related to empirical aesthetics based on current research results. The students will have gained insights into other academic fields.

Aesthetic experiences are common in our daily lives. For example, a landscape, painting or musical piece can induce positive or negative emotions and lead to different aesthetic judgements. What is happening during these experiences in the human body? What are the affective and cognitive processes that lead to aesthetic experiences? What are the characteristics of aesthetic experiences in comparison to other experiences of our daily lives? What makes aesthetic experiences so special? The field of empirical aesthetics is among the oldest research fields in psychology and currently comprises the study of aesthetic experiences with a wide range of research methods. The following topics are covered in this course: historical overview of the research field, models of aesthetic experiences, methods in empirical aesthetics, visual aesthetics (art, architecture, design and body), musical and literary aesthetics, as well as the latest developments in neuroaesthetics.

Lectures on specific topics an discussions

written exam

Allesch, C.G. (2006). Einführung in die psychologische Ästhetik. Wien: Facultas. Kebeck, G. & Schroll, H. (2011). Experimentelle Ästhetik. Wien: Facultas. Tinio, P.P., & Smith, J.K. (Eds.). (2014). The Cambridge handbook of the psychology of aesthetics and the arts. Cambridge University Press.