Course detail

The Aesthetics of Everyday Life

FaVU-1AELAcad. year: 2026/2027

The main topic will be the question of what can be considered phenomena of everyday aesthetics and for what reason, based on the polemics of Thomas Leddy, Kevin Melchionne and Ossi Naukkarinen, whose texts we will study and discuss in the course. This topic will be explicated within the broader framework of other issues of everyday aesthetics. 

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Basic orientation in the methodology and history of aesthetics and philosophy. 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Active participation in class discussions and regular preparation – 50% of the final grade.

Presentation of selected topics in pairs (homework assignment) – 50% of the final grade.

 

Aims

Upon graduation of the course, students will be able to:

    Describe in detail the phenomenon of everyday aesthetics and its theoretical definitions.

    Identify and critically discuss which everyday phenomena belong to this sub-field and for what reasons.

    Summarize and analyse the core academic polemics between Thomas Leddy, Ossi Naukkarinen, and Kevin Melchionne.

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BERLEANT, Arnold. Aesthetic Field: A Phenomenology of Aesthetic Experience. 1970. (EN)
MANDOKI, Katya. Everyday aesthetics: Prosaics, the play of culture and social identities. Burlington: Ashgate, 2007. (EN)
SAITO, Yuriko. Everyday Aesthetics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the aesthetics of everyday life – discussion of the concepts of "aesthetics" and "everyday".

2. Yuriko Saito – Key concepts in "Everyday Aesthetics" and their theoretical foundation.

3. Kevin Melchionne – Defining the scope and boundaries of everyday aesthetic experiences.

4. Ossi Naukkarinen – What is "Everyday" in Everyday Aesthetics? Theoretical analysis (Part I).

5. Ossi Naukkarinen – What is "Everyday" in Everyday Aesthetics? Theoretical analysis (Part II).

6. Thomas Leddy – The experience of awe: An expansive approach to everyday aesthetic experiences.

7. Thomas Leddy – Defending Everyday Aesthetics and the concept of "pretty".

8. Student presentations in pairs on selected everyday aesthetics phenomena and group discussion (Session 1).

9. Student presentations in pairs on selected everyday aesthetics phenomena and group discussion (Session 2).

10. Student presentations in pairs on selected everyday aesthetics phenomena and group discussion (Session 3).

11. Concluding discussion and critical synthesis of the theories analyzed.

 

Seminar

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Individual preparation - study of technical texts

52 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Individual preparation - working on the assigned tasks

24 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer