Art Appreciation - Introduction & Assumptions

**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** - **Art as Creation:** Art involves creating new combinations from existing elements, distinct from nature. - **Art as Subjective:** Opinions on art's beauty vary; \"beauty is in the eye of the beholder\" (Cambridge Dictionary). - **Art as Expression of Reality:** Art reflects the artist's and viewer's experience, shifting from depicting the external world to expressing inner states. **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.