Theories of authorship continue to generate heated debates. What is at stake in these debates and for whom? This course will consider both the historical and contemporary debates around the controversial notion of authorship as it relates to signature and style. Drawing on film and media theory, literary theory, and philosophy, we will examine how artists explore and challenge the romantic conflation of the author as a stylistic innovator, site of influence, collaborator, and iconoclast. Throughout the semester we will ask: What is an author? What is the impact of stylistic innovation in media culture? And, why does authorship matter?
Art, Art History & Visual Studies