Art Appreciation (PDF)

**Introduction and Assumption** =============================== **What is arts?** - A branch of Humanities - Branches of knowledge focused on human culture and values. They use analytical and critical methods to appreciate the human spirit\'s expression (Britannica). -...

**Introduction and Assumption** =============================== **What is arts?** - A branch of Humanities - Branches of knowledge focused on human culture and values. They use analytical and critical methods to appreciate the human spirit\'s expression (Britannica). - Skill acquired through experience or study, involving creative imagination in producing aesthetic objects (Merriam-Webster). - Comes from the latin word *ars* which means craft - Not nature and made by man - Integral part of human life **In Filipino, Ang sining ay....** 1. Kalidad o ekspresyon ng kagandahan at kahalagahan ayon sa mga prinsipyo ng estetika. 2. Mga bagay na nilikha ayon sa pamantayang estetiko, tulad ng pintura at eskultura. 3. Mga kategorya ng sining (hal. sayaw, eskultura). 4. Anumang larangan na gumagamit ng kasanayan o pagkamalikhain. 5. Mga prinsipyo o pamamaraan na gumagabay sa kasanayan o pag-aaral. 6. Kasanayan o husay sa pagsasagawa ng anumang aktibidad. **Different assumption of arts** 1. **Universal**: always been timeless and universal 2. **Not** **nature**: man-made and way of the man to show nature 3. **Involve** **experience**: expression or conveys reality **5 Function of arts** 1. Aesthetic pleasure. 2. Political and social commentary 3. Help with emotional healing 4. Creates historical artifacts from time or place 5. Enables commerce in advertising products or service **The Role of Humanities and Arts in Self-Realization** - **Creativity and Self-Actualization:** In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, creativity is part of self-actualization, representing the fulfillment of one's potential (Oxford Languages). Maslow emphasizes psychological health and creativity over mere productive achievement, highlighting traits like openness and self-acceptance. - **John Dewey's View:** Art should be integrated with daily life, not isolated as a separate field. Dewey\'s *Art As Experience* (1934) presents aesthetic experience as essential to understanding both art and the human condition. **Art as Expression and Experience** ==================================== **Do We Have to Produce Art to Be an Artist?** - **Creative Living:** Art isn\'t limited to traditional forms; it\'s found in how we live and express ourselves through daily actions. - **Elsa Mora\'s Quote:** "Creativity expresses our unique nature in everything we do." - **Art as Living:** Creativity is about finding meaning in ordinary things and making connections with the world around us. **Difference Between Art and Nature** - **Nature:** Exists without human intervention. - **Art:** Created by humans, often through scientific or industrial processes. - **Science and Art:** Science transforms natural materials into artistic forms. **Expression and Experience in Art** - **Art as More than the Physical**: - Art goes beyond **materials** like **pigments on canvas**; it is about the **emotional experience** it conveys. - **Benedetto Croce** emphasized that art cannot be fully identified by its physical form---there is something **deeper** within it. - **Tolstoy's View**: \"Art is the communication of feelings from the artist to the viewer.\" Art allows artists to **express emotions** through mediums like paint, music, or words, aiming to evoke the same feelings in the audience. - **Art as Both Expression and Experience**: - Art sends a **message** to its audience, allowing the viewer to experience the artist's expression. It is both a **product of experience** and the **experience itself** for the audience. - The true essence of art lies in the **interaction** between the artwork and the emotions it evokes in the observer. **Categories of Art** 1\. **Literary Arts:** - Writing that holds artistic and cultural value. - Focuses on beauty, authenticity, and meaning in language. 2\. **Visual Arts:** - Arts that provoke emotional responses (e.g., painting, sculpture). - Includes applied arts like design, fashion, ceramics, etc. - Beauty is subjective, varying across cultures and time. 3\. **Performance Arts:** - Involves live presentations (scripted or unscripted). - Uses time, space, and audience interaction. - Can be performed anywhere and vary in duration. **Reflection: Art as Expression and Experience** - **Insight:** Art, whether created or experienced, serves as a medium of expression, inspiring creativity and connecting with personal emotions. - **Expression:** How the artist conveys emotions. - **Experience:** How the audience interacts with and interprets the art. **Function and Philosophical Perspective of arts** ================================================== **Functions of Art** Art serves various roles based on context and viewer perception, categorized into **personal**, **social**, and **physical** functions. 1. **Personal Function:** - **Subjective:** Art\'s meaning varies for individuals. - **Artist\'s Expression:** It reflects the artist's emotions or experiences. - **Viewer\'s Experience:** Each person interprets art based on personal perspective. - **Example:** A painting may evoke peace for one person, but a different emotion for another. 2. **Social Function:** - **Collective Experience:** Art reflects societal issues or shared human experiences. - **Political/Symbolic Art:** It can influence or express societal values, like political art in 1930s Germany. - **Cultural Impact:** Art fosters community, identity, and addresses issues like justice and equality. 3. **Physical Function:** - **Practical Application:** Art with practical purposes, such as architecture or industrial design. - **Functional Art:** Created for both utility and aesthetics. - **Example:** Architecture serves as both an artistic and functional discipline. **Other Functions of Art** - **Decorative:** Art purely for visual enjoyment. - **Spiritual:** Represents beliefs or spiritual experiences. - **Educational:** Teaches or conveys knowledge through symbolism. **Does Art Always Have to Be Functional?** - **Art for Art's Sake:** Art doesn\'t need a specific purpose; it can exist simply for enjoyment. - **Argument:** some artist believe art is simple to be enjoyed without needing fulfill any role. - **Debate:** This idea influences ongoing discussions about censorship and art's role in society. **Philosophical Perspectives on Art** There are various philosophical views on what defines **good art** and how art should be understood. These perspectives differ in their emphasis on **form**, **representation**, **expression**, or **function**. **A. Objectivist-Idealist Aesthetics (Form -- Type I)** - **Plato's View**: Art is seen as an **imitation** or **mimicry** of reality but is inferior to the **ideal form** or **truth**. - **Art as Imitation**: According to Plato, poets, painters, and dramatists create **appearances** that are three steps removed from **actual truth**. They do not reveal true knowledge but merely mimic reality. **B. Objectivist-Realist Aesthetics (Representation -- Type II)** - **Aristotle's View**: Art, particularly **beauty**, is found in the **systematic arrangement** of parts to form a **harmonious whole**. - **Realism and Naturalism**: These movements emphasize art's ability to **represent reality**. Realism shows things as they are, while **Naturalism** depicts **human behavior** in its raw and unembellished form, often influenced by **social and biological factors**. **C. Subjectivist-Realist Aesthetics (Expression -- Type III)** - **Emotional Expression:** This view values art's power to convey emotions and human experiences. - **Engagement with Emotion:** Expressionism focuses on how art feels rather than its visual realism, emphasizing the artist\'s emotional journey. - **Example:** Van Gogh's *Starry Night* uses swirling colors and dynamic brushstrokes to convey intense emotions over realistic representation. **D. Subjectivist-Idealist Aesthetics (Type IV -- Function)** - **Ideological Art:** Art is considered valuable if it fulfills a social, political, or cultural purpose. - **Marxist Theory:** Art can promote social justice, challenge societal norms, and inspire socio-economic reform. - **Art and Culture:** Art serves as a tool to reflect and challenge societal norms, highlight social injustices, and promote cultural reform. **Subject and Content** ======================= **Subject** - The topic or object depicted in art, representing the literal, physical portrayal chosen by the artist. - Refers to the visual image or what the artwork shows. **Content** - Goes beyond the subject to convey deeper meaning, ideas, emotions, and themes. - Communicates stories or complex ideas and reflects the artist\'s intent. **Representational Art** - Depicts recognizable subjects, whether realistic or stylized. - Creates identifiable images, even if not always true to life (e.g., a purple plant). **Nonrepresentational Art** - Does not depict recognizable objects; focuses on form, color, and shape to express emotions or concepts. - Abstract and open to interpretation based on the viewer's perspective. **Sources of Subject in Art** - **Primary Sources:** Direct evidence or first-hand testimony. - **Secondary Sources:** Interpretations or analyses of primary sources. **Arts and Artisan** ==================== - **Artists**: Create art for beauty, political expression, or intellectual statements. - **Artisans**: Use traditional skills to craft functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. **History of Artists and Artisans** - **Ancient World:** - **Artists** were seen as laborers (painters, sculptors, craftsmen), typically inheriting their craft from family. - Art careers were not chosen; creative expression was discouraged. - **Middle Ages:** - **Apprenticeship** systems trained artists. - Art was largely **anonymous**, with the artist viewed as a **craftsman**. - **Renaissance (14th-17th centuries):** - Marked the **end of anonymity** for artists; recognition of artistic work began. - Artists gained **fame** and **respect**. They began exploring complex subjects like **Platonic ideals** and **scientific concepts**. - Art became a way to express **emotional**, **intellectual**, and **political** themes. - **Baroque Period (17th-18th centuries):** - Art was used as a **marketing tool** (e.g., promoting fashion or behavior). - **Court artists** were tasked with creating positive, idealized portrayals of society. - **Modern-Day Artists:** - Artists now balance multiple roles, from **aesthetic commissions** to **political or emotional expression**. - The line between **art** and **craft** has blurred, with **illustrators, graphic designers,** and **industrial designers** replacing many traditional artisans. **Medium and Techniques of Artists** - **Medium**: Material used to express ideas (2D like paintings, 3D like sculptures, visual and auditory forms). - **Technique**: How an artist manipulates the medium to achieve the desired outcome. **State Sponsorship in Art** - **National Artists Award**: Honors significant contributions by Filipino artists. - **Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)**: Recognizes outstanding Filipino artisans preserving traditional crafts. **Elements and Principle of Art** ================================= **Elements of Art** - **Line**: A moving point in space, creating shape, form, and movement. - **Shape**: Two-dimensional, can be geometric, organic, or abstract. - **Form**: Three-dimensional, adding depth to shape. - **Value**: Lightness or darkness of colors, from white to black. - **Space**: Area around objects; positive (occupied) and negative (empty). - **Color**: Properties include hue, value, and intensity; affects mood. - **Texture**: How an artwork feels or appears to feel. **Principles of Art** - **Balance**: Stability in composition, symmetrical or asymmetrical. - **Contrast**: Emphasizing differences to make elements stand out. - **Emphasis**: Creating a focal point through contrast. - **Movement**: Leading the viewer's eye through the artwork. - **Pattern**: Repetition of elements in grids, spirals, or weaves. - **Rhythm**: Organized repetition creating a visual beat. - **Unity/Variety**: Balance between uniformity and diversity. **Elements of Music** - **Tempo**: Speed of music (e.g., adagio, allegro). - **Rhythm**: Flow of beats, arranging sound like poetry. - **Beat**: Regular pulsations forming the foundation. - **Tone**: Pitch, determining highness or lowness. - **Timbre**: Quality of sound, making it distinct. - **Dynamics**: Loudness or softness (e.g., crescendo). - **Melody**: Succession of musical tones forming a pattern. - **Harmony**: Combination of different tones or chords. **Hybrid Art** - Combines multiple art forms or media. - Integrates diverse cultures, interdisciplinary approaches, and technology. - Encourages experimentation and cross-disciplinary convergence. **Relevance of Art Elements & Principles** - Helps in analyzing and creating art. - Provides a framework for interpreting and appreciating art.