Philosophy and Art in Southeast Asia

A Novel Approach to Aesthetics

Melvin Chen (Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore)

$39.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Bloomsbury Academic
05 September 2024

Philosophy: aesthetics

Guiding you through the topics that shape aesthetics and the philosophy of art, this introduction explores the truth, meaning, taste, aesthetic merit and judgement, creativity and the possibility of machine art, and morality and the possibility of immoral art. Each chapter offers a wealth of examples from Southeast Asia, including the Nanyang style of painting, the mooi indie genre and its postcolonial legacy, groundbreaking works of poetry and literature, dragon kiln pottery, the art of making ang ku kueh, contemporary conceptual art, the dikir barat and the balitaw.

Selected for their merit, boldness and connection to the Southeast Asian region, these artworks traverse art and craft, visual art and music, perceptual and conceptual art, real-life and hypothetical examples and folk and fine art. As case studies, these artworks allow us to deal with controversies and address central questions including:

- When are artworks considered dangerous?

- Why does Socrates recommend the banishment of the poets?

- What are the problems and challenges posed by forgery?

- How do we resolve ambiguity when interpreting and making sense of works of art?

- Can there be such a thing as immoral art?

A sense of awareness of context and situatedness runs throughout Philosophy and Art in Southeast Asia. The texture, fabric and flavour of each example is woven into a rigorous philosophical analysis of aesthetic and artistic matters.

Making art and aesthetics more relatable, here is a creative and accessible introduction that inspires a love for art and aesthetics. For anyone interested in understanding the cultural underpinnings of aesthetics outside of the traditional canon, it is essential reading.

By: Melvin Chen (Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 320g
ISBN: 9781350414174
ISBN 10: 1350414174
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 05 September 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Melvin Chen is Lecturer in Philosophy and Assistant Chair of Communications & Outreach in the School of Humanities at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Reviews for Philosophy and Art in Southeast Asia: A Novel Approach to Aesthetics

Philosophy and Art in Southeast Asia is an exciting introduction to philosophical aesthetics—indeed, with its emphasis on logic, to philosophy in general. Presenting scintillating aesthetics problems, and informative about Southeast Asian culture and the complications of breaking away from colonialism, it also offers fascinating examples of Southeast Asian arts. It provides a powerful introduction for courses in aesthetics, philosophy, Asian Studies, and art history. * Mara Miller, Independent Scholar in Philosophy, Art History, and Japanese Studies and Research Associate, Center for Biographical Analysis, University of Hawaii-Manoa, USA *