Art appreciation
College Department
S.Y: 2022-2023
Lesson 2
Functions of Art and Philosophy
• Functions of art is an inquiry on what art
is for. When it comes to functions,
different art forms come with distinctive
functions, some may be functional more
than others. The value of the art lies in the
practical benefits from it. One may look at
the value based on its specific purpose or
for personal.
Personal Functions of Art
• The personal functions of art are highly
subjective and depend on the artist who created
the art. Art may be created for expressing self,
for entertainment, or for other purposes.
Social Functions of Art
• If art as opposed to personal interest and for the collective
interest it is considered to have a social function. Art may
convey, a message such as to support, protest, contestation,
and other messages an artist intends to carry at his work.
• Political Art is a very common example of art with a social
function.
• Art can depict social conditions such as photography of
industrialization and poverty.
• Performance art like plays serves social functions as it rouses
emotions for a common situation society has.
Physical functions of Art
• These are artworks that are crafted in order
to serve physical purposes such as jars,
plates, and jewelry.
• Architecture, jewelry-making, interior design
all serve physical functions
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON ART
Art as an imitation
Plato’s The Republic, paints a picture of artists
as imitators and art is mere imitations. In his
metaphysics or view of reality, the things in this
world are only copies of the original, the eternal,
and the true entities can be found in the World
of Forms.
Art is just an imitation of imitation. A painting is
just an imitation of nature, which is also an
imitation of realty in the World of Forms.
Art as a representation
Aristotle, agreed with Plato, however, he
considered art as an aid to philosophy in
revealing the truth.
Art represents the version of reality. In the
Aristotelian worldview, art serves two
particular purposes: art allows for the
experience of pleasure and art has an ability
to be instructive and teach its audience things
about life.
Art as a disinterested judgment
Emmanuel Kant, in his Critique of Judgement,
considered the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of
art, as something universal despite its subjectivity. He
recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
Art as communication of emotion
• According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge
role in communication to its audience’s
emotions that the artist previously
experienced Art communicates emotions.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Directions: Browse the internet and cite for functions of Statue and
Paintings and decide which is more functional.
Which is more functional? Explain.
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Functions of Statues Functions of Paintings
