PP3GPA: Global Philosophy of the Arts

Module code: PP3GPA

Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Michela Bariselli, email: michela.bariselli@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module encourages students to investigate the philosophy of the arts from a global perspective. It introduces questions in the philosophy of the arts that are generated by a global context. This might include: 

• How does the racism and sexism of a work of art affect its aesthetic value? 
• Is cultural appropriation in the arts wrong, and if so, what makes it so? 
• Do we have aesthetic reasons to protect the environment? 

The module also introduces students to philosophical investigations of the arts from a range of different traditions, which could include Buddhism, Confucianism, Rasa theory of art, and African Aboriginal philosophies.

By the end of this module, students will have a strong understanding of different approaches to a range of issues in the philosophy of the arts, and will appreciate the complexity raised by a global perspective.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that you will be able to:

1. Read and understand texts from different philosophical perspectives.
2. Identify key differences in the philosophical positions discussed.
3. Summarise and explain arguments by identifying premises and conclusions.
4. Understand objections and responses to philosophical positions.
5. Evaluate philosophical positions and arguments by indicating their relevant merits and weaknesses.
6. Form an argument in favour of your position in support of a philosophical claim.

Module content

This module will cover a range of topics in the philosophy of the arts from a global perspective. The topics might include: racism and sexism in the arts, cultural appropriation in the arts, environmental aesthetics, Buddhist aesthetics, Confucian aesthetics, Rasa theory of art, and African aboriginal aesthetics.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching will be delivered with a mixture of frontal lectures and seminar teaching. Students will be expected to read essential material in advance of classes and engage in seminar discussions.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs