EN644
Aesthetics and Simulation
0.5 Credit

This course considers the cosmetic as cultural product, aesthetic ideal, iconographic practice, and wearable technology. We progress from a fundamental framework in aesthetics theory, particularly constructions of "the beautiful" in the visual arts, to a social history of the cosmetic, ranging from the cosmetic use of "natural poisons" (such as lead and arsenic) in the eighteenth century to the advent of a corporate cosmetics industry in the nineteenth century and the trend towards "organics" in the late twentieth century. A focus on DIY aesthetics, domestic/corporate and organic/synthetic dialectics, and the ontological significance of being "made up" informs our readings of the primary course fictions.