INTENTIONALITY: AN INQUIRY INTO MIKEL DUFRENNE'S PHENOMENOLOGY OF AESTHETICS

The topic of this Dissertation is Mikel Dufrenne's Phenomenology of Aesthetics. In particular, it will focus on Dufrenne's claim that art is intersubjective, and will necessarily entail an inquiry into the basic components of phenomenology and aesthetics which influenced Dufrenne. This study will be divided into five component parts. Chapter One offers a brief investigation into the historical background of phenomenological and aesthetic theories relevant to Dufrenne's thesis. It will provide the reader with a basic understanding of the theories which encouraged Dufrenne to postulate his provocative claim that art is a phenomenological event. The notion of intentionality as regards Dufrenne will be the focus of Chapter Two. It particularly will establish Dufrenne's epistemological foundation of phenomenology in terms of three of his major works: The Notion of the A Priori, The Phenomenology of Aesthetic Experience, and Main Trends in Aesthetics and the Sciences of Art. Herein, Dufrenne's claim that the world is intersubjective due to the primordial rootedness of the a priori will be presented in the light of his aesthetic theory. Chapter Three will serve as an analysis of the positions stated in Chapter Two. It will evaluate and summarize Dufrenne's positions insofar as he has systematically presented them to the reader, in support of his final claims regarding the nature of contemporary art. The focus of Chapter Four will be those criticisms of Dufrenne's theory which have been presented to Dufrenne as well as extended criticisms offered by the author. It will evaluate those criticisms in terms of their own significance and with respect to a general phenomenology of aesthetics. Chapter Five will offer a summary of Dufrenne's position and the criticisms which have been made regarding it. It will also discuss some possible consequences for a phenomenology of art, particularly with respect to contemporary art. This Dissertation serves as a unique analysis of Mikel Dufrenne's Phenomenology of Aesthetics. It intends to evaluate his position in the light of its consistency, epistemology and final contentions. Through this study, aesthetic theory will be presented a new and perhaps revolutionary theory in keeping with the position of art in modern society.