Chapter 1 4.

Art is concerned itself with the communication of

certain ideas and feelings by means of sensuous
The Study of Humanities medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words and
But WHY Is Art Important? film - C. Sanchez
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the
The Origin and Meaning of Humanities world. – Plato
6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind - one
The term "humanities" originated from the which demands for its own satisfaction and fulfilling,
Renaissance Latin expression studia humanitatis or a
study of humanitas which refers to “culture, shaping matter to new and more significant form. -
refinement, education". During the Renaissance John Dewey
period of the early 15th century, the studia 7. Art is the skillful arrangement or composition of
humanitatis became a secular study in the some common but significant qualities of nature
universities at the time. The humanities course such
primarily consisted of grammar, rhetoric, poetry, as colors, sounds, lines, movements, words,
history, and moral philosophy, Latin and Greek stones, wood, etc., to express human feelings,
classics. emotions,
or thoughts in a perfect, meaningful, and
The humanities today include literature,
enjoyable way. - Panizo and Rustia
language, philosophy, geography, history, religion,
8. Art is not what you see but what you make others
music, and art. These subjects used methods that
see - Georgia O'Keeffe 9. Art is a life that helps us
are primarily critical, speculative, and historical in
to realize the truth - Pablo Picasso
elements whereas natural sciences are critical
10. Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to
discipline and use of empirical approaches.
record the action of his personality in the world he
Humanities are academic disciplines that deal lives in. - Amy Lowell
on the various aspects of society and the noble in 11. Art is never finished, only abandoned -
man. Thus, humanities make man more humane, Leornardo da Vinci
cultured, dignified, and refined human being. In 12. Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of
short, humanities bring out the best and worthiness feeling, the artist has experienced. – - Leo
of man as a person. Nikolaevich
Tolstoy
Meaning and Importance of Art 13. Art is the realization in external form of a true
idea and is traced back to that natural love of
Art is a subject under humanities. There is no
imitation which characterizes human. – Aristotle
one universal definition of art since art is subjective.
14. Art is the conscious creation of something
It is subjective in the sense that people differ in their
beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination –
perception of an object or thing. Some people may
Lisa
consider an object as something beautiful and
Morder
meaningful while others may consider it as ugly or
15. Art is the discovery and development of
meaningless. In other words, different authors and
elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms
writers define art in various ways as they perceive it.
suitable
Moreover, the meaning of art has changed
for human use - Frank Lloyd Wright
throughout history due to multicultural settings.
16. Art is not what you see but what you make
Thus, every time a new movement in art emerged,
others see - Edgar Degas
the meaning of what is art, or what is acceptable as
art, is being challenged.
From the above definitions of art, it can be
Hereunder are some of the DEFINITIONS OF ART concluded that there are several ways of defining art
GIVEN BY VARIOUS AUTHORS AND WRITERS. as there are many people, authors, and writers in
the universe. Each definition is influenced by the
1. Art is derived from the Latin word "ars," meaning unique perspective of the above authors and writers
ability or skill - J.V. Estolas as well as their own personality and character.
2. Art is taken from the Italian word "artis," which
Nevertheless, a glimpse of the above definitions
means craftmanship, skill, mastery of form,
brings us four (4) common essentials of art.
inventiveness, and the associations that exists
between form and ideas, between material and
1. Art is man-made, not God-made
technique. - A. Tan
2. Art is creative, not imitative
3. Art is a product of man's need to express himself -
F. Zulueta
3. Art benefits and satisfies man - when he uses art
● students can be motivated to participate
in practical life through artistic principles, taste, and
skill more fully in cultural life students are able to
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or gain educational opportunities which they
material by which the artist communicates himself can use later in their career life.
to his fellows.
Meaning and Importance of Art Appreciation
Art has a particular importance in our lives.
All the arts that we see and hear have a purpose as Art appreciation can be defined as follows:
well as expressions; they occupy some place in our
judgment and makes a huge impact in our lives. Here 1. Art appreciation is the ability to interpret and
are the reasons why art is important. understand man-made arts and enjoy them through
actual work experience with art tools and
1. Art highlights and heightens the importance of materials.
certain events in order to keep them memorable and 2. Art appreciation is the possession of the works of
pleasurable art for one's admiration
2. Art enables us to get a glimpse of the thoughts, and satisfaction.
feelings, and beliefs of the people in their time and 3. Art appreciation refers to the knowledge and
the faces in their environment that influenced the understanding of the general and everlasting
3. Art enables us to value and appreciate beautiful qualities
things as a consequence of our encounter with arts. that classify all great arts.
4. Art may influence us to change our ways and 4. Art appreciation is the introduction and
behavior as a result of the aesthetic experience we exploration of visual and performing art forms.
derived from the arts. 5. Art appreciation is the analysis of the form of an
5. Arts are valuable sources of inspirations and art work to general audience to enhance their
aesthetic delightful experience through the artist enjoyment and satisfaction of the works of
works of art. art.
Swara Swami (May 31, 2016) list the reasons why Art appreciation is important to our lives.
art is important. Here is the list: However, people differ in their appreciation of art.
Their appreciation of art depends on personal
1. Arts improve your creativity skills. preference on: (1) the aesthetics and form of art; (2)
2. Arts give you joy and satisfaction elements and principles of design, and (3) social and
3. Arts relieve stress. cultural acceptance. Thus, appreciation of art can be
4. Arts give you the opportunity to showcase your subjective.
talent. Art appreciation is important to students. It
5. Arts give you confidence in our performance. develops their visual thinking and analytical skills
6. Arts help you do well academically. where they are able to observe closely and describe
7. Arts help you learn visually what they see around them in detail, so as to
8. Arts help you to express your emotions provide evidence for their observations. Small efforts
9. Art is a different language because it can express done by the students such as these can lead to a
things without words greater appreciation of art.
The Importance of Art to Students
Arts play a valuable role to students. Art appreciation is also important to others for the
1. Through participation in arts - music, dance, following reasons:
drama. media arts, and the visual arts - Art appreciation
1. can help the person make sense of his world by
● students can develop their creativity broadening his experience and understanding of the
● students learn about their identity things around him.
2. can help the person imagine even the
● students develop self-awareness unimaginable.
3. is able to connect a person's life and experience
● students develop self-confidence the past, the present, and the future or sometimes
● students develop sense of well-being simultaneously.
4. can help transport the individual to different
2. Through intense involvement in artistic activities places and culture through literature, films, visual
● students experience a sense of wonder and arts,
joy when learning through the 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 Methods Used in Art History
better empathize with those who suffered and Art history which started in the 19th century
endured for their lives through great art but has precedents that date to the ancient time has
forms a number of methods:
7. gives meaning to the data science provides. If
science give us empirical facts, tie these facts 1. Art historians examine the works of art in the
together context of its time or within which it was created.
with theories, it's the humanists who turn these The
facts with moral, emotional, and spiritual meanings. works of art subject to scrutiny are the creator's
motivations, desires and prejudices of its patrons
Famous personalities say something about art and
appreciation. sponsors. Comparative analysis of themes and
approaches of the creator's colleagues and teachers
1. "Studying the arts in college prepares the person and the symbolism of the art of works.
for a lifetime of pleasure and appreciation of being
open to new experience and of becoming that 2. Art historians analyze the works of arts through
ideal every liberal arts college strives to produce - a the analysis of their forms. The analysis is focused on
life the artist's use of line, shape, color, texture,
long learner" - Barbara Ernst Prey, artist and composition and other art elements.
member of the National Council in the Arts
2. "Our nation's future may depend on our creativity The two-dimensional and three-dimensional
and our ability to understand and appreciate the picture planes are two approaches in creating art.
cultures around the world as much as our The way the elements of arts employed
proficiency in reading and math Cornell University results to either representational or non-
President representational art. If the artist copy or
David Skorton 3. "Art can serve as a symbol for imitate an object or image found in nature, this
something that is tangible, or for a thought, an approach is called representational art. But if
emotion, a feeling, or a concept. Through peaceful the artist creates an art in a realistic manner (not
means, it can convey full spectrum of the human imitation) rely on symbolism or striving to
experience. Perhaps that is why appreciating art is capture nature's essence, the art is non-
so important" Archeologist Nicholas Conrad representational which is also called abstract
art.
Art History refers to the historical
development and stylistic context of the objects of Impressionism as an example of representation style
arts that includes the major and minor arts. The is produced when the artwork was not directly
major arts include painting, sculpture, and imitative but an impression of nature.
architecture as well as the minor arts like ceramics,
furniture, and other decorative arts. In expressionism, the work of art is not
representational but the expression of the artist's
As a term, art history or history of art feelings, longings, aspirations, and ideals of beauty
encompasses the different methods of studying and form.
visual art.
As a discipline, art history is not similar to art 3. Art historians also use critical theory in analyzing
criticism. Art criticism determines the relative artistic objects of arts when dealing with more recent
values of an individual work in comparison with objects. Art historians often borrowed from
others of comparable style. literary scholars when it involves the application of a
non-
Art historians based their studies by scrutinizing artistic analytical framework to the study of art
objects of arts by answering historically such objects.
questions as the key features of the art style, what 4. Another method in art history is the application of
does the art convey and how does it function media and digital technology. This is the recent
visually. It also asks questions as to how the artists method in analyzing art history.
meet their goal as well as the symbols that were
involved. Purpose of Art History

As you well-know, art history is the historical

development of visual arts. Hence, the purpose of
art history is:
 According to Jeff Lee (2016), art is a form of
● to place art in a social and historical context
expression of the deepest emotion of the minds.
● it has more advantage over art appreciation According to him, the egoic mind (conscious mind)
when evaluating works of art. The more and the echoic mind (unconscious mind) together
information an evaluation has on the works making up the totality of thinking.
of art, the better an evaluation he can make
over the works of art. Artistic expression may be expressed 100% in
conscious mind but those who are extremely artistic
● when a person has more context when or right-brained individuals, they may be more
looking at something such as piece of art creative and are able to recognize the value of
work, he could better understand more the linking seemingly unrelated thoughts or ideas,
story behind that particular piece of art work, methods, and concepts because of their frequent
practice.
● to see how things like war, religion, politics,
technological change have effect not only on Art is a form of creativity
the artist but on the artwork that was Art is a product of the imagination that
produced. entertains, pleases and inspire people The various
artworks of artists reflect the artist's power of
creativity.
Chapter 2 Artists create artwork about anything they
want, imagine or see around them. The artists use
Assumptions of Art
their imagination to create any artwork using
Art is universal strange shape and different kinds of links and colors.
In every country of the world, art exist Color expresses the artist's personal feelings
because it is important to people's lives. It is the and moods. Colors symbolize ideas. It brings art a
oldest and most important means of expression particular meaning, mood, and feeling in an artwork.
developed by man in any culture. In fact, man The artist's choice of color expresses the beauty and
learned to draw before he could even start to talk as elegance of the artist's work and also feeling the
evidenced by some early paintings in caves and artist has at that moment. He does all this as a
trunks of trees - shown in prehistoric times. Art has consequence of his creative mind and imagination.
been created by all people of the world at all times; Therefore, we can say that art is creative, not
it has lived because it is liked and enjoyed. The imitative; artworks are produced by human creative
elements and forms of art apply to all arts skill and imagination.
everywhere.
Art involves experience
Art is cultural When a work is finished in a satisfactory
Art contributes to the understanding of past manner, an experience occurs. Likewise, when a
and present cultures. Through art, people learn problem is solved or a game is played, or a
about their culture's values and strengthen their conversation is rounded out satisfactorily;
culture's identity. Through art, the people feel proud experience do occur. Fulfillment and consummation
of their customs, traditions, and beliefs because they of an act conclude the experience.
give a sense of belonging. In all experiences, every successively part
The artists' work such as painting, sculpture, flows freely. Artists use their experiences to ventilate
music, dances, ceramics, prints and others are their feelings through the works that they make.
records of their society's culture. They create within Some artists focus on societal problems, issues, and
the person's sensitivities toward their community, concerns. Some of them use expressionism to
their country and the world around them. communicate strong and intense feelings. They
reflect in their works on the brink of socio-cultural
Art is not nature problems because of their experiences. For example,
Art is not nature because it is man-made. Art Ang Kiukok, a famous Filipino-Chinese painter likes
is man's interpretation of what he perceives as art. to dwell on subject matters showing the "harsh,
Nature, such as the mountains, the volcano, lakes, disturbing, morbid” realities happening in the
rivers, land terrain are made by God and not by man. Philippines. Due to his experiences, he likes to
Thus, art, and not nature, is made by man by all express anger as well as frustration in his paintings.
times. Emotion is the moving and cementing force of his
artwork.
Art is an expression of the mind

Chapter 3
 Functions and Philosophy of Art connection to specific political views, political
parties and politicians
The Functions of Art 6. Educational function - There are art symbols
and signs to illustrate knowledge and
Every art form has a definite function since it
attitudes that are not expressed in words. 7.
satisfies a particular need. To the layman, art may
Spiritual function - Some art works express
have little function. Some find meaning in art in its
spiritual beliefs, customs, ceremonies and
ability to serve the purpose for which it was
rituals about the meaning and destiny of life.
designed. Obviously, architecture is directly and
These artworks may have religious
almost entirely functional because buildings and
significance.
other structures are always built for some special
purpose. Music and dance were used in ancient Philosophy of Art
rituals and worship of the gods, for social and folk
entertainment, as well as in the military. Paintings Philosophy of art refers to the study of the
and sculpture may be used to narrate events, to nature of arts, its concept, interpretation,
portray people or events, to instruct (as in the case representation, expression and form. Philosophy of
of Christian art), to commemorate individuals or art is closely related to aesthetics, which is the study
historical events, and to serve as vehicles of personal of beauty and taste.
expression. Metal works such as gates, grills, lamps,
Christian religious objects, armor, weapons, and
tools, ceramics, glassware, stained glass, mosaic, There are five (5) philosophical perspectives of art.
tilework, textile, and furniture are among the many These are:
types of arts or crafts. Each of these examples is
made for some definite and specific use. 1. Art as Mimesis

The seven (7) functions of art are: The word mimesis is a Greek word which
means "imitation" or "copying", although it may
1. Aesthetic function - Through art, man also mean representation. The philosophers Plato
becomes conscious of the beauty of nature. and Aristotle spoke of mimesis as the representation
he benefits from his own work and from of nature.
those done by his fellowmen. He learns to
use, love, and preserve them for his Plato believed that all artistic creation is a
enjoyment and appreciation. mimesis. It exists in the "world of ideas" and is
2. Utilitarian function - With the creation of the created by God. The concrete things that man
various forms of art, man now lives in created are just shadows created by man's mind. All
comfort and happiness. Through art, man is artists are imitators of nature.
provided with shelter, clothing, food, light,
Aristotle speaks of tragedy as an "imitation of
medicine, beautiful surroundings, personal
an action" - that of a man falling from a higher to a
ornamentals, entertainment, language,
lower estate. Thus, when an artist skillfully select
transportation, and other necessities and
and present a material, that artist is purposely
conveniences of life. Art does not only enrich
seeking to imitate or copy the action of life.
man's life. It also improves nature through
landscape gardening, creation of super 2. Art as Representation (Aristotle)
highways, and through propagation and
conservation - of natural resources. Art represents something. When an artist
3. Cultural function - Through the printed uses signs and symbols to take the place of
matter, art transmits and preserves skills and something else, he is using art as a representation of
knowledge from one generation to another. such signs and symbols. It is through representation
It makes man aware of his cultural that people organize the world and reality through
background, making him more the act of naming its elements. Signs and symbols
knowledgeable making his life more enduring are arranged in order to form semantic constructions
and satisfying. and express relations with the other things.
4. Social function - Through civic and graphic
arts, man learns to love and help each other. 3. Art for Art's Sake (Kant)
International understanding and cooperation It was Victor Cousin, a French philosopher
are fostered and nations become more who translated this slogan which means "T'art pour
unified, friendly, cooperative, helpful, and l'art". Artists associated with aestheticism believes
sympathetic. that art needs no justification. Art does not serve
5. Political function - Art reinforces and political didactic or other hand.
enhance a sense of identity and ideological
 Immanuel Kant's main interest was not in art Sources of Subjects
per se, but in Beauty in the Sublime. Kant being an
Enlightenment writer thought that beauty or Subjects of art may be found in primary sources such
sublimity were not really properties of objects, but as:
ways in which we respond to objects. Kant pointed
out that what he meant by Beauty is not the Form of ● artwork ● documents
the Beautiful but about Taste. Kant's concern is not
on the subjective aesthetic response but on the ● autobiographie ● nature
function of individual or personal taste. He claimed
s
that judgment of taste are both subjective and
universal.
● film of the ● history
He said that aesthetic universals are artist
subjective because they are responses of pleasure
and do not essentially involve any claim about the ● interviews ● mythology
properties of the object itself. On the other hand,
aesthetic judgment is universal because it is not
merely personal but also, it is disinterested. ● diaries ● Christian tradition

4. Art as an Escape
● Speeches ● Sacred oriental text
According to Allen Weinstein, without mental
escape, we build up a lot of anxiety within ourselves. ● Letters ● Others not
Artists have to get rid of this anxiety and pressure mentioned above
because if we keep these worries and anxieties
within our mind, they will come out in the form of
anger and even hatred. Unfortunately, such anger
and hatred are often taken out on the wrong people.

According to Señeres and others (2008), the

artists works of art reveal the emotional outburst
that has been kept for many years in their mind. The
only way to take out such tension is through Where to Find the Primary Sources:
painting, dancing, music, and other art forms. They
are a cathartic solutions to one's anxiety and life's ● Archives ● sketchbooks
difficulties. Likewise, the awareness that these works
of art created among the viewers may also lead to a
positive or negative emotional reaction. ● catalogues ● art galleries

5. Art as Functional ● exhibits ● art museums

The artist intent in creating a functional piece
of art is to bring creativity, beauty, and usefulness ● notebooks ● art and cultural centers
into people's everyday lives. Whether it's a curvy
chair made of cardboard, a banca made of paper, TYPES of SUBJECTS
functional art makes us rethink and re-assess the
way we look at ordinary things, sometimes by using 1. Representational or Objective Arts
unusual materials in their construction. There are artworks that depict something
easily recognized by most people. Painting,
Chapter 4 sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theatre arts
Subject of Art are generally classified as representational arts,
Meaning of Subject of Art although some paintings and sculptures are without
subjects. Music and dance may or may not have
In any art from - painting, music, sculpture, subjects.
architecture, or dance - there is always a subject that
serves as the foundation of the creation of the work Traditional sculptures and paintings have
of art. A subject of art is usually anything that is subjects. When looking at a traditional painting or a
represented in the artwork. It is varied it may be a statue, one expects to recognize the subject - a man
person, object, scene, or event. animals, a landscape, a waterfall, figures, dreams,
fantasies, seascape, still life,
2. Non-Representational or Non-Objective Arts

There are artworks that have no resemblance

to any real subject. they do not represent anything
and they are what they are they rather appeal
directly to the senses primarily because of the
satisfying organization of their elements.

Some contemporary painters have shifted

their interest to the work of art as an object in itself,
an exciting combination of shapes and colors that
fulfil the aesthetic need without having to represent
image or tell a story. Many modern paintings have a
purely visual appeal, so difficult that literal-oriented
spectators cannot appreciate them.

Content in Art

Content in art refers to the meaning or

significance, and/or feeling imparted by a work of
art. This is not the same thing as the subject matter
the work depicts. Content of art is inextricably linked
with form, Form refers to the pictorial aspects of art
such as word, design, and choice, about shapes,
sizes, colors, contrast, medium, soft, or hard edges,
and many other decisions.

Content in art may be classified as factual,

conventional, and subjective.