The Origin and Meaning of Humanities

The term "humanities" originated from the Renaissance Latin expression studi humanitatis or
study of humanitas which refers to "culture, refinement, education During the Renaissance
period of the early 15th century, the studia humanitatis became a secular study in the
universities at the time. The humanities course primarily consisted of grammar, thetoric, poetry,
history, and moral philosophy, Latin and Greek classics.

The humanities today include literature, language, philosophy, geography, history, religion,
music, and art. These subjects used methods that are primarily critical, speculative, and
historical in elements whereas natural sciences are critical discipline and use of empirical
approaches,

Humanities are academic disciplines that deal on the various aspects of society and the noble in
man. Thus, humanities make man more humane, cultured, dignified, and refined human being.
In short, humanities bring out the best and worthiness of man as a person.

Meaning and Importance of Art

Art is a subject under humanities. There is no one universal definition of art since art is
subjective. It is subjective in the sense that people differ in their perception of an object or thing.
Some people may consider an object as something beautiful and meaningful while others may
consider it as ugly or meaningless. In other words, different authors and writers define art in
various ways as they perceive it. Moreover, the meaning of art has changed throughout history
due to multicultural settings. Thus, every time a new movement in art emerged, the meaning of
what is art, or what is acceptable as art, is being challenged.

Hereunder are some of the definitions of art given by various authors and writers.

1. Art is derived from the Latin word "ars," meaning ability or skill - J.V. Estolas

2. Art is taken from the Italian word "artis," which means craftmanship, skill, mastery of form,
inventiveness, and the associations that exists between form and ideas, between material and
technique. - A. Tan

3. Art is a product of man's need to express himself - F. Zulueta

4. Art is concerned itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of
sensuous medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words and film-C. Sanchez

5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the world. - Plato

6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind - one which demands for its own satisfaction and
fulfilling, a shaping matter to new and more significant form.- John Dewey
7. Art is the skillful arrangement or composition of some common but significant qualities of
nature such as colors, sounds, lines, movements, words, stones, wood, etc., to express human
feelings, emotions, or thoughts in a perfect, meaningful, and enjoyable way. - Panizo and Rustia

8. Art is not what you see but what you make others see - Georgia O'Keeffe

9. Art is a life that helps us to realize the truth - Pablo Picasso

10. Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the action of his personality in the
world he lives in. - Amy Lowell

11. Art is never finished, only abandoned - Leonardo da Vinci

12. Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling, the artist has experienced. - Leo
Nikolaevich Tolstoy

13. Art is the realization in external form of a true idea and is traced back to that natural love of
imitation which characterizes human. - Aristotle

14. Art is the conscious creation of something beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination
- Lisa Morder

15. Art is the discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms
suitable for human use Frank Lloyd Wright

16. Art is not what you see but what you make others see - Edgar Degas

From the above definitions of art, it can be concluded that there are several ays of defining art
as there are many people, authors, and writers in the universe. ch definition is influenced by the
unique perspective of the above authors and riters as well as their own personality and
character.

Nevertheless, a glimpse of the above definitions brings us four (4) common sentials of art.

1. Art is man-made, not God-made

2. Art is creative, not imitative

3. Art benefits and satisfies man - when he uses art in practical life through artistic principles,
taste, and skill

4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist communicates
himself to his fellows.
Art has a particular importance in our lives. All the arts that we see and hear have a purpose as
well as expressions, they occupy some place in our judgment and makes a huge impact in our
lives. Here are the reasons why art is important!

1. Art highlights and heightens the importance of certain events in order to keep them
memorable and pleasurable

a glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the 2. Art enables us to get a glim people in
their time and the faces in their environment that influenced the

3. Art enables us to value and appreciate beautiful things as a consequence of our encounter
with arts.

4. Art may influence us to change our ways and behavior as a result of the aesthetic experience
we derived from the arts.

s and aesthetic delightful experience 5. Arts are valuable sources of inspirations and through
the artist works of art.

Swara Swami (May 31, 2016) list the reasons why art is important. Here is the list:

1. Arts improve your creativity skills.

2. Arts give you joy and satisfaction

3. Arts relieve stress.

4. Arts give you the opportunity to showcase your talent.

5. Arts give you confidence in our performance.

6. Arts help you do well academically.

7. Arts help you learn visually

8. Arts help you to express your emotions

9. Art is a different language because it can express things without words

The Importance of Art to Students

Arts play a valuable role to students.

1. Through participation in arts - music, dance, drama, media arts, and the visual arts-
 ● students can develop their creativity

● students learn about their identity

● students develop self-awareness

● students develop self-confidence

● students develop sense of well-being

2. Through intense involvement in artistic activities-students experience a sense of wonder and

Meaning and Importance of Art Appreciation

Art appreciation can be defined as follows:

1. Art appreciation is the ability to interpret and understand man-made arts and enjoy them
through actual work experience with art tools and materials.

2. Art appreciation is the possession of the works of art for one's admiration and satisfaction.

3. Art appreciation refers to the knowledge and understanding of the general and everlasting
qualities that classify all great arts.

4. Art appreciation is the introduction and exploration of visual and performing art forms.

5. Art appreciation is the analysis of the form of an art work to general audience to enhance
their enjoyment and satisfaction of the works of art.

Art appreciation is important to our lives. However, people differ in their preciation of art. Their
appreciation of art depends on personal preference on: the aesthetics and form of art; (2)
elements and principles of design; and (3) al and cultural acceptance. Thus, appreciation of art
can be subjective.

Art appreciation is important to students. It develops their visual thinking and ytical skills where
they are able to observe closely and describe what they round them in detail, so as to provide
evidence for their observations. Small ts done by the students such as these can lead to a
greater appreciation of art.

Art appreciation is also important to others for the following reasons:

1. can help the person make sense of his world by broadening his experience and
understanding of the things around him.

2. can help the person imagine even the unimaginable.

3. is able to connect a person's life and experience the past, the present, and the future or
sometimes simultaneously.

4. can help transport the individual to different places and culture through literature, films, visual
arts, and other forms of art.

5. allows the individual to see himself, his family dynamics as well as his community through
different lens of great art.

6. enable the individual to better empathize with those who suffered and endured for their lives
through great art forms

7. gives meaning to the data science provides. If science give us empirical facts, tie these facts
together with theories, it's the humanists who tum these facts with moral, emotional, and
spiritual meanings.

Famous personalities say something about art appreciation.

1. "Studying the arts in college prepares the person for a lifetime of pleasure and appreciation of
being open to new experience and of becoming that ideal every liberal arts college strives to
produce-a life- long learner" - Barbara Ernst Prey, artist and member of the National Council in
the Arts

2. "Our nation's future may depend on our creativity and our ability to understand and appreciate
the cultures around the world as much as our proficiency in reading and math - Cornell
University President David Skorton

3. "Art can serve as a symbol for something that is tangible, or for thought, an emotion, a
feeling, or a concept. Through peaceful means it can convey full spectrum of the human
experience. Perhaps that i why appreciating art is so important" - Archeologist Nicholas Conra

Art History refers to the historical development and stylistic context of th objects of arts that
includes the major and minor arts. The major arts incluc painting, sculpture, and architecture as
well as the minor arts like ceramic furniture, and other decorative arts.

As a term, art history or history of art encompasses the different methods studying visual art.
As a discipline, art history is not similar to art criticism. Art criticism determin

the relative artistic values of an individual work in comparison with others comparable style.

Art historians based their studies by scrutinizing objects of arts by answering historically such
questions as the key features of the art style, what does the art convey and how does it function
visually. It also asks questions as to how the artists meet their goal as well as the symbols that
were involved.

Methods Used in Art History

Art history which started in the 19th century but has precedents that date to the ancient time has
a number of methods:

1. Art historians examine the works of art in the context of its time or within which it was created.
The works of art subject to scrutiny are the creator's motivations, desires and prejudices of its
patrons and sponsors. Comparative analysis of themes and approaches of the creator's
colleagues and teachers and the symbolism of the art of works.

2. Art historians analyze the works of arts through the analysis of their forms. The analysis is
focused on the artist's use of line, shape, color, texture, composition and other art elements.

The two-dimensional and three-dimensional picture planes are two approaches in creating art.
The way the elements of arts employed results to either representational or
non-representational art. If the artist copy or imitate an object or image found in nature, this
approach is called representational art. But if the artist creates an art in a realistic manner (not
imitation) rely on symbolism or striving to capture nature's essence, the art is
non-representational which is also called abstract art.

Impressionism as an example of representation style is produced when the artwork was not
directly imitative but an impression of nature.

In expressionism, the work of art is not representational but the expression of the artist's
feelings, longings, aspirations, and ideals of beauty and form.

3. Art historians also use critical theory in analyzing objects of arts when dealing with more
recent objects. Art historians often borrowed from literary scholars when it involves the
application of a non-artistic analytical framework to the study of art objects.

4. Another method in art history is the application of media and digital technology. This is the
recent method in analyzing art history.

Purpose of Art History

to place art in a social and historical context to it has more advantage over art appreciation
when evaluating works of art. The more information an evaluation has on the works of art, the
better an evaluation he can make over the works of art.

when a person has more context when looking at at something such as piece of art work, he
could better understand more the story behind that particular piece of art work, to see how
things like war, religion, politics, technological change have effect not only on the artist but on
the artwork that was produced.