Humanities & Art Overview - PRELIM

**WEEK 1: General Overview of Humanities** - **Humanities** came from the Latin word "humanus" meaning refined, cultured and human. - Study of the different cultural aspect of man, his frailties in life and how it can be improved. - Records man's quest for answers to the fundamental...

**WEEK 1: General Overview of Humanities** - **Humanities** came from the Latin word "humanus" meaning refined, cultured and human. - Study of the different cultural aspect of man, his frailties in life and how it can be improved. - Records man's quest for answers to the fundamental questions he asks about himself and about life - **Humanities** are expressions of man's feelings and thoughts - Emphasizes dignity and worthiness of man and recognizes creative expressions - Aimed to shape student's subjective energies (feelings, attitudes and aspirations) **Importance of Humanities** - Man needs an image of himself - Understanding of his natures - Necessary for the development of a complete, social man - Provides man with a measure of his own passion & desire - Regulate man's behavior **Etymology of Art** - **ART** comes from the Aryan root word AR which means to put together - Latin word ARS which means skills/ability - Cover those areas of artistic creativity embraces the visual arts, literature, music and dance - Expresses aesthetics ideas by use of skill & imagination **Division of the Arts** - **Visual:** arts that are primarily seen, occupies space **Example:** paintings, sculptures, and architectures - **Auditory:** heard, timed arts; exist in time **Example:** music and poetry - **Combined/performing arts:** combines visual & auditory elements **Example:** drama & theatre, dancing, cinema & TV, opera **Purposes of the Arts** 1. Create beauty 2. Provide decoration 3. Reveal truth 4. Immortalize 5. Express religious values 6. Record and commemorate experience 7. Create order & harmony **WEEK 2: Basic Assumptions of the Art** Art has been created by all people at all times, in all countries and it lives because its well-liked and enjoyed "Whatever I do today is the whole continuum of my experience. Like John Dewey said in his book 'Art as Experience', you can't separate experience from the work of art. So, if I write for the symphony today, you're listening to everything that's happened to me since I was 18 years old." - **Yusef Lateef** - **Art involves experience**; there can never be appreciation of art without experience. **Art and Nature** - **Art is not nature; Nature is not art.** - Art is not nature. Art is made by human beings. Artists frequently find their inspiration and subject matter in nature, and [artists do use nature as a medium, but art itself not nature.] - Art is made by **human beings** and no matter how close it is to nature, it always shows that it was made by human beings. - **The function of the artist is to help us understand the nature of things to realize the possibilities in the world, to develop insights or enlarge imagination by creating or revealing new subjects.** - **Art is made by man;** - **Art is everywhere.** "Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind" - Louise Nevelson - Art is man's oldest means of expression; - Art as a means of expression & communication. - "The humanities constitute one of the oldest and most important means of expression developed by man". Human history has witnessed how man evolved not just physically but also culturally, from cave painters to men of exquisite paintbrush users of the present. Even if one goes back to the time written records of man's civilization has appeared, he can find cases of man's attempts of not just crafting tools to live and survive but also expressing his feelings and thoughts. The Galloping Wild Boar found in the cave of Altamira, Spain is one such example. In 1879, a Spaniard and his daughter were exploring a cave when they saw pictures of a wild boar, hind, and bison. 512px-bisontes\_de\_la\_covaciella\_espaa.jpg **History of Painting** - **Prehistoric Paintings** - According to experts, these paintings were purported to belong to Upper Paleolithic Age, several thousands of years before the current era. Pre-historic men, with their crude instruments, already showcased and manifested earliest attempts at recording man's innermost interests, preoccupations, and thoughts. - The humanities, then, ironically, have started even before the term has been coined. Human persons have long been exercising what it means to be a human long before he was even aware of his being one. The humanities stand tall in bearing witness to this magnificent phenomenon. Any human person, then, is tasked to participate, if not, totally partake in this long tradition of humanizing himself. **WEEK 3: Functions of Art and Philosophy** **Popular Art Expressions** - **Visual Arts** - Is the kind of art from that the population is most likely more exposed to, but its variations are so diverse they range from sculptures that you see in art galleries to the last movie you saw. Some mediums of visual arts include paintings, drawings, lettering, printing, sculptures, digital imaging, and more. - **Film** - Film refers to the art of putting together successions of [still images in order to create an illusion of movement], Filmmaking focuses on its aesthetic, cultural, and social value and is considered as both an art and an industry. - **Performance Art** - Performance art is a live art and the [artist's medium is mainly the human body] which he or she uses to perform, but also employs other kind of art such visual art, props, or sound - **Poetry Performance** - Poetry is an art form where the artist expresses his emotions not by using paint, charcoal, or camera, but expresses them through **[words]**. - **Architecture** - Architecture -- is the art of [designing and constructing buildings] and other type of structures. It is often referred to as the "**mother of the arts**" because it houses, serves as background for, or occurs in relation to other fields of art. Materials used include stone, concrete, brick, wood, steel, glass, and plaster. - **Dance** - Dance is series of movements that [follows the rhythm of the music accompaniment.] - **Dance (French dancier,)** generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. - **Choreography** is the [art of making dances], and the person who does this is called a choreographer. - **Literary Art** - Literary art goes beyond the usual professional, academic, journalistic, and other technical form of writing. [It focuses on writing using a unique style, not following a specific form or norm]. It may include both fiction and non-fiction such as novels, biographies, and poems. - **Theater** - Theater uses live performers [to present accounts or imaginary events] before a live audience. Theater art performance usually [follows a script], though they should not be confused with a literary arts. - **Applied Arts** - Applied arts [incorporate elements of style and design] to everyday items with the aim of increasing their aesthetical value. Artists in this field bring beauty, charm, and comfort into many things that are useful in everyday life. **The Functions of Art** A. **As a therapy** - In its therapeutic function, art can be and is used as therapy for individuals with a variety of illnesses, both physical and mental. B. **Art as Artifact** - Art also functions as artifact[: A product of a particular time and place], an artwork represents the ideas and technology of that specific time and place. As we look back over history, we find in art striking, and in some cases, the only, tangible records of some people. The insights we gain into cultures, including our own are enhanced tremendously by such artifacts as paintings, sculptures, poems, plays, and buildings. C. **Personal Function of Art** - **The personal functions of art are varied and highly subjective.** This means that its function depends on the person- the artist who created the art. D. **Social Function of Art** - Art is considered to have a social function [if and when it addresses a particular collective interest as opposed to a personal interest.] Political art is a very common example of an art with a social function. Art may convey message of protest, contestation, or whatever message the artist intends his work to carry. E. **Physical Function of Art** - The physical functions of art are [the easiest to spot and understand]. The physical functions of art [can be found in artworks that are crafted] in order to serve some physical purpose. F. **Other Functions of Art** - Music as an art is also interesting to talk about in relation to function. Music in its original form was principally functional. Music was used for dance and religion. Unlike today, when one can just listen to music for the sake of music's sake, the ancient world saw music only as an instrument to facilities worship and invocation to gods. Music also was essential to dance because music assures synchronicity among dancers. **Other Functions of Art** - Art as a Representation - Art as a Disinterested Judgment - Art as a Communication of Emotion **Subject and Content** **[Subject]** refers to the [visual focus or the image] that may be extracted from examining the artwork. - **[Content]** is the [meaning] that is communicated by the artist or the artwork. **Types of Subject** - **Representational art** - These types of art have subjects that refer to **[object or events occurring in the real world]**. Often, it is also termed figurative art, because as the name suggest, the figures depicted are easy to makes out and decipher. - **Non-Representational art** - This art **[does 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, emotion, and even concept. **Sources of Subject** - Nature - History - Greek and Roman Mythology - Sacred Oriental - Other works of art - Judeo- Christian Tradition **Kinds of Subject** - History - Still Life - Landscape - Animals - Nature - Fantasies - Myth - Dreams - Figures - Seascape - Cityscape - Landscape **Content in art** **Levels of meaning** - Factual - Conventional - Subjective - **[Factual]** pertains to 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 - **[Conventional]** meaning, on the other hand, pertains to acknowledged interpretation of the artwork [using motifs, signs, 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 then. - When **[subjectivities]** are consulted[, a variety of meaning 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. **WEEK 4: Artist and Artisan** **Some of the greatest artist in the world:** 1. **"Monaliza" by Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) -** Known for painting, drawing, sculpting, science, engineering, architecture, anatomy, 2. **"The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh --** Dutch post-impressionist 1853-1890 3. **"The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo,** in full Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, (1475-1564), Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. **"Dalagang Bukid"** -- Fernando Amorsolo, who was touted as the "Grand Old Man of the Philippine Art." **Who is an Artist?** - An artist is a person who performs any of the creative arts. This captures all forms of art. - Is an art practitioner such as painter, sculptor, choreographer, dancer, musician. etc. who produces or creates indirectly functional arts with aesthetic value using imagination. - **The specialty of an artist is that he is able to create art for the sake of art itself without needing any ulterior motives.** **What is an Artisan?** - An artisan is a **skilled worker** who makes things by hand. This includes various objects ranging from jewelry to furniture. - **An artisan should not be confused with an artist because there is a clear difference in the things that they create. An artisan is able to produce something that has a functional value; although it should not be limited to its use value alone.** - **Craftsmen,** such as carpenters, carvers, plumbers, blacksmiths, weavers, embroiders, and the like who produce directly functional and/or decorative arts. **What is the difference between Artist and Artisan** Definitions of Artist and Artisan: - Artist: An artist is a person who performs any of the creative arts. - Artisan: An artisan is a skilled worker who makes things by hand **Characteristics of Artist and Artisan:** **Artistic Value:** - Artist: The object has a [clear] artistic value - Artisan: The object has an artistic value **Functional Value:** - Artist: The object has [no functional] value - Artisan: The object has a functional value **Object** - Artist: The object has a lot of aesthetic value and is appreciated for this quality as it [pleases] the individual. - Artisan: The object though [utilitarian] has certain aesthetic attributes to it **Three Stages of Creative Process** 1. **Germination --** The [initial] moment when you conceive the next project in your life; the moment with [a lot of energy coming out] of the future envision. - It is also important to choose what you want to do instead of avoiding what you do not want to do. You will have to take in your own power and not to give it circumstances. 2. **Assimilation --** A [crucial step] in the creative process. During this phase you will [internalize and assimilate or incorporate] the idea you want to create. Plan, analyze it, and cultivate it with all available resources. - [You need to be critical] in this process and do not adapt it to your convenience. Otherwise, you will be unsuccessful and put the whole project in danger. 3. **Completion --** It is [difficult time] because your [energy will be small and likely dispersed] with a new vision. Put a deadline to your projects and do not entangled in small and never ending details **Individuals and Groups that are part of the Art World:** - **Artist and Artist Group** - Producers of artwork - Social fellowships that enable collaborations and exchange of knowledge, skill and technique - **Art Academy** - The academe is the formal institution for instruction about art practice and production - The first academy of the arts in the Philippines was the **Academia Dibujo y Pintura**, established by Damian Domingo. - **Art Writer** - Art historians and art critics write about art - The main aim of the art historians is to contextualize artworks in their place and time in history - Art critics write about art to help the public understand and appreciate art - **Art Collectors** - Art collectors are the patron of art - They buy finished artworks or commission artist to create specific artworks for their desired purposes - **Art Curators** - They are responsible for coordinating with artist - **Public** - The public is the general audience of the art world - Today, the art scene is continuously opening itself to the public from small shows to the independent group to grand exhibitions by big names in the industry **Medium and Technique of the Arts** **Medium** - It refers to the [materials] that are used by an artist to create a work of art. The plural of medium is **media**. **Examples:** **Painting:** Oil paints, canvas, silk, watercolor, acrylic **Architecture** Glass, cement, metal, wood **Drawing:** Pencil, crayon, ink, charcoal, chalk **Technique** - It refers to the artist's ability and knowledge or technical know-how in manipulating the medium. Examples: Spray painting Fingerpainting Burnishing Sketching Pointillism, etc **Cologne Cathedral in Germany** - An examples of early **Gothic architecture** - This is also a collaboration between the artist who made the design and the Artisan who help in the construction of the whole building. **Artisan and Guilds** - These guilds where towns had formalized groups of artisans or craftsmen who took on a particular specialization or trade; shoemakers, textile, and glass workers, carpenters, carvers, masons, armorers, and weapon-makers, among others. Here, the practice of artist was not grounded on the idea of individual capacities or success; rather, in the commitment to work together as a collective - Guilds were a type of social fellowship, an association structure with rules, customs, rights, and responsibilities. With a lifetime commitment to a particular trade, an artisans develops immense skill and expertise in his craft. **Philippine Artisans** - Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Loay, Bohol - Spanish friars commissioned a lot of artisans to carve, paint, and engrave images for churches and public sites. **What is an Art Curator?** - Art curators are employed by museums and art galleries to design, develop and manage installations and exhibits. This requires them to acquire works of art, ensure proper storage and help maintain museum collections. - Art curators typically specialize in specific areas of art, like Western, Asian or contemporary art. The job duties of a curator are vast. They may put on public events like lectures and workshops, write grants and conduct fundraising activities. In addition, they conduct research projects and write papers for publication. - They are responsible for coordinating with artist **Role of an Art Curator?** The role of curator is more of the interpretation and development of the artwork(s) or the collection (s) through establishing the significance, relationship, and relevance of these materials\-\-- in isolation and/or as part of a wider narrative. Some of the roles expected of curators are the ability to research and write, as an arbiter of design and layout, and deciding for the display hanging of materials for exhibition.  **AWARDS AND CITATION** **The two major awards given to artist in the Philippines are the Order ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Order of national Artist) and Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures Award).** - The conferment of the Order of National Artist is the "highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine Arts; namely, music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film, broadcast art, and architecture and allied arts. The order is jointly administered by the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions" (NCCA, 2015). **The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or The National Living Treasures Award was created in 1992** - a "Manlilikha ng Bayan" who is a "citizen engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generation in his/ her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence" (NCCA,2015). This artists' practice may fall under the following categories: folk, architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic art, ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery and other artistic expressions of traditional culture. **WEEK 5: Elements of Art** **Visual Elements** **The Elements of Visual Arts** 1. Lines 2. Colors 3. Texture 4. Perspective 5. Space 6. Form 7. Volume **The Elements of Visual Arts** - The elements of art are the visual components which are required to create a work of art. - Knowing the basics of the elements of visual art can help any artist to create a well-balanced and beautiful designs. - To develop a more thorough understanding of artistic composition, one must learn how to examine and utilize the various art elements. **Line** - Line is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline. It can create a texture and can be thick and thin. Types of line can include actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal and contour line. - Is an important element at the disposal of every artist. - Always has direction, always moving. - As used in any work of art, may either be straight or curved. - Lines are the [first element of art] and are continuous marks that are made on any surface with a moving point. - Lines can be used in various ways to create different compositions. - A line can be used to express various things or feelings; it can be used to show various moods or anything abstract. - Line serve as **an essential building block of art**, but it can also serve as **the content itself** of a work of art, or be manipulated to evoke an emotional or intellectual response from a viewer (Fichner-Rathus, 2010). **What do these lines suggest?** - Vertical Lines - Horizontal Lines - Diagonal Lines - Curved Lines **Vertical Lines** - Vertical lines are [poised] for action. They are poised, balanced, forceful, and dynamic. They express an impression of [dignity.] - Only vertical lines can be used to express an [orderly feeling] **Horizontal Lines** - Horizontal lines are lines of [repose and serenity]. They express ideas of [calmness] and quiescence. - Only **horizontal lines** can give a feeling of [peacefulness] and stillness. **Diagonal lines** are used to create feelings of [movement or action] Example: Siargao: The Surfing Capital of the Philippines **Curved lines**, sometimes referred as S curves, suggest gracefulness or sexiness. If you want to photograph S curves, the human body makes for a wonderful subject. From the arch of a foot to the curve of a neck, you can find many ways to capture curved leading lines by photographing the human form. It is up to the artist how he conveys his message, in the best way possible through the use of lines. There are various ways to integrate lines into a photograph to help strengthen the overall composition and draw attention to a specific focal point. **Activity: Leading Lines in Photography** - When using **vertical lines** within a photo, it's a good idea to follow the **rule of thirds**, failure to do so can result in a photo looking as though it's been cut in half. It is also important to try keep the **vertical line** as straight as possible. **Vertical leading lines** can help to illustrate growth, authority, strength, or dominance. Some examples of vertical leading lines in photography include photographs of trees or tall buildings.  - When composing your photo to include **horizontal leading lines**, make sure they're as straight as possible and consider following **the rule of thirds.** This photo, for example, places the land and horizon along the bottom third of the image, while the sky fills the top two-thirds of the shot. Further, the photo was composed so the bride and groom are along the left-third of the image.  This photo uses **both horizontal and vertical lines.** Although the **bulrushes are the obvious use of** **vertical lines,** the **horizontal line of the horizon more subtle.** Note, too, that the photo has been composed so the landscape follows the **rule of thirds.** **Curved lines,** sometimes referred as **S curves**, can help lead the eye through a photo and can suggest gracefulness, sexiness, or sensuality. Despite the name, S curves don't need to be shaped exactly like an "s." Any strong leading that winds or curves can be considered an S curve. Some curved leading lines often used in photography include paths and rivers.  When including **diagonal leading** lines within a photo, it's best if you can position them so that they start and finish just above or below the corner of a photo, like the railroad tracks shown here. This will prevent the image from looking like it has been split in half. Because our eyes naturally scan photos from left to right, composing an image to include diagonal leading lines that flow from the bottom left to the top right of a photo is also a great way to compose a shot. The body of this acoustic guitar is a great example of S curves. Note the use of other leading lines in this photo too -- the diagonal lines of the guitar strings, and the horizontal lines of the sheet of music in the background. **Three Main Type of Lines** - **Repetition** occurs when two or more lines are drawn within a [corner] following the lines of the corner. - Lines that are in [opposition] to each other form a **contrast.** - A **transition line** is a line that [connects two workflow] elements. Transition lines allow you to define what the next step in a workflow will be. **To summarize, including leading lines within a photograph is a composition technique that can strongly influence the overall result of an image.** **Leading lines can direct a person's eye to a main focal point or, if used incorrectly, can draw the eye away from the subject or appear to cut a photo in half.** **The Art Element of Color** - **Color** refers to the [visual perception of light] being reflected from a surface of an artwork. - In the most basic classification, colors can be divided into three groups: primary, secondary, and tertiary.  **Attributes of Color** - **Hue** is the term for the pure spectrum colors commonly referred to by the "color names" -- red, orange, yellow, blue, green violet -- which appear in the hue circle or rainbow. Theoretically all hues can be mixed from three basic hues, known as **primaries.** - **Value** refers to the [lightness] or darkness of a color. It is the quality which depends on the amount of light and dark in color. - **Intensity** refers to the [brightness] or darkness of color. It [gives color strength]. When a hue is vivid form, it is said to be in full intensity. When it is dulled, it is said to be partly neutralized. - **Tints** are values [above] the normal - **Shades** are values [below] the normal **Color Wheel** - A **color wheel** is an abstract illustrative organization of color hues around a circle, that shows relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, etc. **Psychology of Colors** - Colors have varied psychological and emotional connotations. - **Black** is associated with death and gloom - White stands for purity and innocence - **Red** is associated with blood, anger, and fear - **Green** implies happiness and abundance - Is the element that deals more directly with the [sense of touch.] - Applies to how an [object feels] or appears to feel. - Can be either implied or actual. - **Texture** is the element that deals more directly with the sense of touch. - It has to do with the [characteristics of surfaces] which can be rough or smooth, fine, or coarse, shiny or dull, plain or irregular. - **Implied texture** expresses the idea of [how a surface might feel]. For example, a painting of a blanket might convey the idea that the blanket is soft. - **Actual texture,** on the other hand, is texture that can [actually be felt]. For example, a ceramic bowl might feature a carved texture that could be felt when holding that bowl. **Perspective** - **Perspective** deals with the [effect of distance] upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the [eye judges spatial relationships.] **Kinds of Perspective** 1. **Linear Perspective** - **Linear perspective** is the representation of an appearance of [distance] by means if converging lines. - It has to do with the [direction] of lines and with the [size] of objects. - Painters usually show the effect of space and distance by using converging lines and diminishing size. - Parallel lines below the eye seem to rise to a vanishing point in the horizon, while those above the eye level seem to descend to the vanishing point. - ***Foreshortening* is the representation of objects or parts of the body as smaller from the point of view of the observer** 2. **Aerial Perspective** - **Aerial perspective** is the representation of relative distances of objects by [gradations of tone or color]. - Objects become fainter in the distance due to the effect of the atmosphere. Objects appear to be lighter in color as they recede into the distance or atmosphere. **The Art Element of Space** - **Space** refers to how the artist [fills the surface] on which a work of art is created. It can also refer to the [expression of] [depth] within a work of art. - When talking about a three-dimensional object, [space is the actual volume] that is taken up by the artwork. - **Space** as an element of art, refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. - Space can be positive (white or light) or negative (black or dark), open or closed, shallow or deep and two-dimensional or three-dimensional. - Sometimes space isn't actually within a piece, but the illusion of it is. **Kinds of Space** - **Positive space --** the areas in a work of art that are the subjects or areas of interest. - **Negative space --** areas around the subjects, or areas of interest. **Shape, Form,** and **Volume** are words that are used to describe **distinct areas** or parts of works of art or architecture. **Form** - **Form** applies to the [over-all] design of a work of art. - It describes the [structure] or shape of an object. **The Art Element of Form** - Form refers to a [three-dimensional object]. As such, form is an art term that is only applied to those artworks that are three-dimensional, such as sculpture and pottery. - Forms, much like shapes, can be geometric or organic. Geometric forms have [hard lines and edges]. Organic forms are [curvy] and more free-form. **Types of Form** - Form and shape can also be described as either **organic** or **geometric.** - **Organic forms** such as these snow-covered boulders typically are [irregular in outline], and often [asymmetrical.] Organic forms are most often thought of as [naturally occurring.] - **Geometric forms** are those which correspond to [named regular shapes], such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, cones, and other regular forms. **Volume** - **Volume** refers to the [amount of space occupied] in three dimensions. - It refers to solidity or thickness.