Philosophy
of Art
GE 3 – Art Appreciation
It refers to the study of the
nature of arts, its concept,
Definition
interpretation, representation,
expression and form.
It is also closely related to
aesthetics, which is the study
of beauty and taste.
Art is Mimesis
Philosophical Art as Representation
Perspective
of Art Art for Art’s Sake
Art as an Escape
Art as Functional
Art is Mimesis
Mimesis
The word mimesis
is a Greek which
means “imitation”
or “copying”,
although it may
also means
representation.
Plato
He spoke of
mimesis as
the
representation
of nature.
Plato
Art as Representation
(Aristotle)
Art represents something.
When an artist uses signs
and symbols to take place
of something else, he is
using art as a
representation of such signs
and symbols.
Aristotle
Art for Art’s Sake
Immanuel Kant
(Kant)
A slogan translated from the
French l’art pour l’art, which was
coined in the early 19th century by
the French philosopher Victor Cousin.
Artists associated with aestheticism
believes that art needs no
justification.
Art does not serve political, didactic
or other end.
Art as an Escape
Allen Seneres,
Weinstein et al.
Without mental escape, (2008) The artists works of art
we build up a lot of reveal the emotional
anxiety within ourselves. outburst that has been
kept for many years in
Artists have to get rid of their mind.
this anxiety and pressure The only way to take
because if we keep these out such tension is
worries and anxieties through painting,
within our mind, they will dancing, music, and
come out in the form of other art forms.
anger and even hatred.
Art as Functional
Whether it’s curvy chair
The artist intent in
made of cardboard, a
creating a functional
banca made of paper,
piece of art is to
functional art makes us
bring creativity,
rethink and re-assess the
beauty, and
way we look at ordinary
usefulness into
things, sometimes by
people’s everyday
using unusual materials
lives.
in their construction.
There are five (5) philosophical
perspectives of art. These are:
a. Art is mimesis
Summary b. Art as representation
c. Art for art’s sake
Let us see if you can d. Art as an escape
remember the main points e. Art as functional
raised in this lesson. On the
side is a summary of these
points:
Reference Ariola, M.M. (2018). Art
appreciation: new general
education curriculum compliant.
Manila: Unlimited Books Library
Services & Pub., Inc.
