Master Esthetique

Aesthetics (Esthétique) is a branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty, art and taste, and this master's program at Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne in Paris, France, is built around that field of inquiry. Students in an aesthetics program typically study the history of art theory, philosophy of art, criticism and the analysis of specific art forms such as painting, cinema, literature, music or contemporary art practices. Coursework generally involves close reading of philosophical texts from antiquity to the present, essay writing, and engagement with debates on what counts as art, how aesthetic judgment works, and how art relates to culture, politics and perception. Graduates of aesthetics programs commonly move into roles in cultural institutions, publishing, art criticism, curatorial work, teaching, or continue toward doctoral research in philosophy or art theory. The program is a master's degree, spans two years, and is taught entirely in French, so a strong command of academic French is necessary given the discipline's reliance on textual analysis and argumentation. It begins in September, with yearly tuition set at 250 euros. Applicants should come prepared for a reading- and writing-intensive course of study, since assessment in aesthetics degrees relies heavily on essays and oral presentation of arguments developed in seminar discussion. Because the program is grounded in philosophical method rather than practical art-making, students with an interest in critical and historical analysis of art are typically better suited to it than those seeking a studio-based or applied arts education.