Description
In the era of “fake news,” distinguishing between truth and lies, facts and fiction, has taken on a greater sense of urgency. However, the line between fact and fiction is often difficult to negotiate, even when it is not being deliberately obscured. And art, in particular, frequently operates in the gray zone between the two theoretical opposites. Can such art still be considered honest? Is it ethical? This course will begin by examining the basic ontological question “What is truth?” Though it seems simple, truth is a complex philosophical concept that intertwines with realism, objectivity, fact, belief, representation, and rationality. Is there any difference between something that’s true and something that’s real? Are all facts true? Are all truths factual? Do some domains of knowledge—such as science or history—have a monopoly on facts? Is art inextricably linked with fiction? As we consider these questions, we will simultaneously look at how artistic “fictions” can engage, reflec