2012-13 Master, sem II Prof. Dr. Sonja Hildebrand, Thomas Hnsli, dipl. arch. ETH

Concepts of Creativity

Program

Creativity seems to be the eternal foundation of any artistic production. Nevertheless ideas of what it

is, of its causes, means, effects and objectives vary in many respects. Whereas ancient philosophy

developed the idea of the artist perfectly imitating nature, in the Middle Ages artistic production was

meant to visualize the harmony of the divine order. Only in the Renaissance did the artist become a

creator of his own right, imitating divine creation on a human level. Modern historization of art,

society and nature transformed the fundamentals of those conceptions. Art was endowed with

history of which the artist could become the driving force. Around 1900 psychology introduced a

new dimension to creative processes. Today the computer provokes anew established conceptions.

The course discusses these aspects with focus on their theoretical, aesthetic, cultural and social

implications, taking its main examples from architecture.

20.2.

Introduction

27.2.

Repertory: themes for students papers

6.3.

Students presentations: Experiencing creativity

13.3.

Regola Abuso

Lecture TH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

20.3.

Rhetoric and Baroque Art

Lecture TH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

27.3.

Ingenio Genius

Lecture TH and SH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

10.4.

Guest lecture

Irina Davidovici, The producion of character: John Soanes Bank of England

17.4.

The human power to invent

Lecture SH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

24.4.

Psychologizing of the artistic production

Lecture TH and SH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

8.5.

The artist in the field of culture

Lecture SH, students presentations (first ideas for written paper)

15.5.

Summary

How to write a scientific paper?

Contact: Thomas Hnsli, dipl. arch. ETH, thomas.haensli@usi.ch