WHAT IS ART: INTRODUCTION AND ASSUMPTIONS
Sunday, August 16, 2020 10:21 AM
Ars
• Latin; “craft or specialized form of skill” ( Collingwood, 1938)
• Medieval Latin; “ any special form of book learning; such as grammar or logic, magic or
astrology”
ASSUMPTIONS OF ART
1. Art is universal
○ Timeless; spanning generations and continents through through
“ art is not good because it is old, but old because it is beautiful”
○ Age is not a factor in determining art
○ works of Rizal and Francisco Balagtas are not read because they are old but because
they are beautifully written
○ art, regardless of origin, time and place are like and continuously enjoyed by people
2. Art is not nature
○ art is a man's expression of his reception of nature
○ art is a man's way of interpreting nature
○ art is made by man, whereas nature is all around us
○ what we find in nature should not be expected to be present in art too
○ art, not directed by a representation of reality, but it is a perception of reality
○ art has its reason why the artist made it, what is it that he wants to show?
3. Art involves experience
“ All art depends on experience and if one is to know art he must not know it as a fact or
information but as an experience”
○ Does not divulge in full detail but just an experience
“Actual experience of doing something”
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CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION AND EXPRESSION
Monday, August 17, 2020 09:17 AM
Creativity imagination and expression Visual arts
• it takes an artist to make art • Creations that fall under this category are those that
• When we perceive beauty and a daily basis, however, not appeal to the sense of sight and are mainly visual in
every beautiful thing that can be seen or experienced may nature
truly be called a work of art • artist’s produce visual arts, driven by the desire to
• art is a product of man's creativity imagination and reproduce things that they have seen and the way
expression that they have perceived them
• What everyone can be considered an artist but all are • Other artistic disciplines also involve a visual
spectators of art aspect are; performing arts, theatre and applied
• we are able to distinguish what is fine and beautiful from arts
what is not and what is good quality from poor Example mediums of visual arts
• this gives us a role in the field of art appreciation ○ Paintings
○ Drawings
Art appreciation as a way of life ○ Lettering
“ The role of art as a creative work is to depict the world in a ○ Printing
completely different light and perspective”- jean-paul Sartre ○ Sculpture
• Each art work beholds beauty and its own kind, the kind that ○ digital imaging
the artist sees and once the viewers perceive Film
• more often than not people are blind to this beauty and only • Refers to the art of putting together successions of
those with/ have developed a fine sense of appreciation can still images to create an illusion of movement
experience and see the art the way the artist did • film making focuses on its aesthetic cultural and
• hence refining once ability to appreciate art allows him to social value and is considered both an art and an
deeply understand the purpose of an artwork and recognize industry
the beauty it possesses • Film making stimulates experiences or creates it as
• In cultivating an appreciation of art one should also exercise it aims to deliver ideas feelings or beauty to its
and develop a space for things that are fine and beautiful viewers
• this allows individuals to make intelligent choices and techniques in the film making process
decisions in acquiring necessities and luxuries, knowing what ○ Motion picture camera ( movie camera)
gives better value for time and money while taking and the ○ animation techniques
consideration the aesthetic and practical value ○ Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
• learning to appreciate art no matter what vocation or
Performance art
profession you will have will lead to a fuller and more
• Is a live art and the artist’s medium is mainly the
meaningful life
human body which he/ she uses to perform, but
also employs other kinds of art such as visual art,
The role of creativity in art-making
props, sounds
• Creativity requires thinking outside the box
• Performance art is live, which means it is intangible,
• in art, creativity is what sets apart one artwork from another therefore, it cannot be bought or traded as a
when can we say that something is creative? commodity
○ Not seen anything like it Elements of performance art
○ out of the ordinary ○ Time
○ not just a copy/imitation ○ location/ then you
○ originality ○ Performer’s body
○ relationship between the audience and the
Art as a product of imagination, imagination as a product of performer/s
art Poetry performance
• Imagination is not constrained by walls of the norm, but goes • Poetry is an art form of where the artist expresses
beyond that his emotions by/through words
• Through imagination, one is able to trust something bold, • The words are carefully selected to exhibit clarity
something new, and something better in the hopes of and beauty and to stimulate strong emotions of joy,
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• Imagination is not constrained by walls of the norm, but goes • Poetry is an art form of where the artist expresses
beyond that his emotions by/through words
• Through imagination, one is able to trust something bold, • The words are carefully selected to exhibit clarity
something new, and something better in the hopes of and beauty and to stimulate strong emotions of joy,
creating something that will simulate change anger, love, sorrow.
• An artwork does not need to be based on reality, it can be • It uses a word’s emotional, musical, and special
something imaginary, however something imaginary does values that go beyond its literal meaning to narrate,
not mean it cannot be called art emphasize, argue, or convince. It is combined with
• Artists use their imagination that results to reality through movements, tone, volume, and intensity of the
creation delivery added to the artistic value of the poem
“ imagination produces art, art also produces Architecture
imagination” • Art is the pursuit and creation of beautiful things
well architecture is the making of beautiful buildings
Art as an expression • However, not all buildings are beautiful as some
“What an artist does to an emotion is not to induce it, but to only embody the functionality they need, but the
express it. through expression, he is able to explore his own structural, lines, forms and colors are not beautiful
emotion and at the same time, create something beautiful out of expressed
them”-Robin George Collingwood Elements
○ Plan
• Expressing emotions is different from describing them ○ Construction
• this makes people's art not a reflection of what is outside or ○ Design
external to them but a reflection of themselves.
Dance
• Is a series of movements that follows the rhythm of
the music of accompaniment
• is a creative art form that allows people to freely
express themselves
Literary art
• Uses words to express and communicate emotions
with the readers
• writer ≠Literary artist, it goes beyond the usual
professional, academic, journalistic and other
technical forms
• Focuses on writing using a unique style, not
following the norm
• may include fiction and nonfiction
Theater
• Uses live performers to present accounts/
imaginary events before a live audience
• Usually follows a script
• live performance
Elements
○ Acting
○ Gesture
○ Scenery
○ Lighting
○ sound effects
○ Props
○ musical score
Genre
○ Drama
○ Musical
○ Tragedy
○ comedy
improvisation
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○ improvisation
applied arts
• Incorporates elements of styles and design to
everyday items to increase its aesthetic value
• Artists bring beauty, charm, and comfort into
everyday lives
Includes:
○ industrial design
○ interior design
○ fashion design
○ graphic design
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FUNCTIONS AND PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS ON ART
Monday, August 17, 2020 09:25 AM
I. FUNCTIONS II. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART
ARISTOTLE
A. ART AS AN IMITATION
· Aristotle claimed that every particular · In Plato’s The Republic, paints a picture of
substance in the world has an end, or artists as imitators and art as mere imitation. In
telos in Greek, which translates into his description of the ideal republic, Plato advises
“purpose.” against the inclusion of art as a subject in the
· Every substance, defined as formed curriculum and the banning of artists in the
matter, moves according to a fixed path Republic.
towards its aim. · In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality,
· For a thing to reach its purpose, it the things in this world are only copies of
also has to fulfill its function. the original, the eternal, and the true
entities that can only be found in the World
Architecture and Applied Arts of Forms.
· For example, the chair that one sits on is
· The value of the art in question lies in the practical
not a real chair. It is an imperfect copy of
benefits one gains from it the perfect “chair” in the World of Forms.
· Obviously made for a specific purpose
· Plato was convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief
Painting and Literature in copies and discourage men to reach for the real entities in
the World of Forms.
· One can look at the value of the product of art in and for · Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two
itself reasons:
Does it mean that paintings and literary works can never 1. They appeal to the emotion rather to the rational
have any function? faculty of men
2. They imitate rather than lead one to reality
Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibustirismo, the · Poetry rouses emotions and feelings and thus, clouds
novels have accrued value and therefore, have a function. rationality of people.
They are functional in so far as they are designed to · Art is just an imitation of imitation. A painting is just an
accomplish some definite end. imitation of nature, which is also just an imitation of reality in
A. PERSONAL FUNCTION the World of Forms.
· The personal functions of art are varied and highly · Art then is to be banished, alongside the practitioners, so
subjective. that the attitudes and actions as a purveyor of man’s
· Functions depends on the artist who created the art. innermost feelings and thoughts, art is given a unique
· An artist may create an art out of self-expression, opportunity to serve as a mechanism for social unity.
entertainment, or therapeutic purpose. • Art is central to man’s existence because it makes
accessible feelings and emotions of people from the past
B. SOCIAL FUNCTION and present
· Art is considered to have a social function if and when it of the members of the Republic will not be corrupted by the
addresses a particular collective interest as opposed to a influence of the arts.
personal interest. · For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty
· Art may convey message of protest, contestation, or replacement for the real entities than can only be attained
whatever message the artist intends his work to carry. through reason.
· Political art is a very common example of an art with a
social function. B. ART AS A REPRESENTATION
· Art can also depict social conditions such as photography · Aristotle, agreed with Plato that art is a form of
(pictures of poverty) · imitation. However, Aristotle considered art as an aid to
· Performance art like plays or satires can also rouse philosophy in revealing the truth.
emotions and rally people toward a particular end. · The kind of imitation that art does is not antithetical to the
reaching of fundamental truths in the world.
C. PHYSICAL FUNCTION · Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of another
· The physical functions of art can be found in artworks that imitation, Aristotle conceived of art as representing possible
are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose. versions of reality.
· Architecture, jewelry-making, interior design all serves · For Aristotle, all kinds of art do not aim to represent reality
physical functions. as it is, it endeavors to provide a version of what might be or
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· The physical functions of art can be found in artworks that imitation, Aristotle conceived of art as representing possible
are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose. versions of reality.
· Architecture, jewelry-making, interior design all serves · For Aristotle, all kinds of art do not aim to represent reality
physical functions. as it is, it endeavors to provide a version of what might be or
the myriad possibilities of reality.
D. OTHER FUNCTIONS In Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes:
· Music was principally used for dance and religion. • Art allows for the experience of pleasure
· The ancient world saw music as an instrument to facilitate (horrible experience can be made an object of
worship and invocation to gods. humor)
· Music was essential for synchronicity of dancers. • Art also has an ability to be instructive and
· Music guarantees that warriors were simultaneous. teach its audience things about life (cognitive)
· Today, music has expanded its functions and C. ART AS A DISINTERESTED JUDGMENT
· coverage. There is a lot of music that has no connection to · Immanuel Kant, in his Critique of Judgment, considered the
dance or religion. judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something
· Music is also used as accompaniment to stage plays and that can be universal despite its subjectivity.
motion pictures · Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
However, even subjective judgments are based on some
Example: Serenade – People compose hymns universal criterion for the said judgment.
to express feelings and emotions. D. ART AS A COMMUNICATION OF
EMOTION
• Sculptures have been made by man most particularly · According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge
for religion. role in communication to its audience’s
• In the Roman Catholic world, the employment of emotions that the artist previously
sculptures for religious purposes has remained vital, experienced.
relevant, and symbolic · In the same that language communicates
• Rizal and Bonifacio’s monument and information to other people, art
o commemorative coins (Pope Francis) communicates emotions.
• Architecture may be the most prominent functional
art.
• Unlike other forms of art, buildings take so much time
to erect and destroy.
• One cannot dismiss taking into consideration the
function of a building before construction.
• It is also in architecture where one can find the
intimate connection of function and form.
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SUBJECT AND CONTENT
Monday, August 17, 2020 09:25 AM
BASIC COMPONENTS OF A WORK OF ART
1. Subject – the visual focus or the image that may be extracted from examining the artwork; the “what”
2. Content – the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the “why”
3. Form – the development and configuration of the artwork – how the elements and the medium or material
are put together; the “how”
TYPES OF SUBJECTS
1. REPRESENTATIONAL ART
○ These types of art have subjects that refer to objects that refer to objects or
events occurring in the real world.
○ Also termed figurative art because
the figures depicted are easy to make
out and decipher
○ it is easier to infer the subject matter because from the figures depicted in the artwork, there is already
a suggestion as to its implication.
2. NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART
○ Art forms that do not make a reference to the real world, whether it is a person, place, thing, or even a
particular event.
○ It is stripped down to visual elements, such as shapes, lines, and colors that are employed to translate
a particular feeling, emotion, and even concept.
○ a higher, level of perceptiveness and insight might be required to fully grasped the feeling, emotion, or
concept behind the work.
CONTENT IN ART
• The meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork.
• In understanding the content of art, it
is important to note that there are various levels of meaning:
1. Factual meaning
• The most rudimentary level of meaning for
it may be extracted from the identifiable or
recognizable forms in the artwork and
understanding how these elements relate
to one another.
2. Conventional meaning
• Pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, and symbols and other cyphers
as bases of its meaning.
• These conventions are established through time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide acceptance by its
viewers or audience and scholars who study them
3. Subjective meaning
• When subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meanings may arise when a particular work of art is read.
• These meanings stem from the viewer’s or audience’s circumstances that come into play when engaging with
art (what we know, what we learned, what we experienced; what values we stand for)
• Meaning may not be singular, rather, multiple and varied
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