FUNCTIONS AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON  mere entertainment for his intended

ART audience

 Every particular substance in the world has an  may not even intend to mean anything
end, or telos with his work
 Every substance, defined as a formed matter,
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
moves according to a fixed path toward its aim.
 For a thing to reach its purpose, it also has to ● when it addresses a particular collective interest
fulfill its function.
 Political art
 Man is bound to achieve a life of fulfillment and
happiness  Photography
 However, happiness, the supposed end of man,
 Performance (plays or satires)
is linked with his function which is being
rational. PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
 The telos and function of a thing are both
related to a thing’s identity. ● easiest to spot and understand

● artworks that are crafted in order to serve some

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
physical purpose
❖ Does art necessarily have an end?  Architecture
❖ When an artist creates a work of art, does he  Jewelry-making
have an end in mind?
 Interior design
❖ What function does an artwork perform?
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF ART
❖ Does it have a purpose?  Music

❖ Do all artworks have a function?  in its original form was principally

functional
❖ Does the function make an object a work of art?
- used for dance and religion (instrument to facilitate
Functions of Art worship and invocation to gods)
An inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry on what - essential to dance (assures synchronicity among
art is for. dancers)
There is no - guarantees that marches, in the case of warriors,
were simultaneous
one-to-one correspondence between an art and its
function.  today, it has expanded its function and
coverage
FUNCTIONS OF ART
- people compose hymns of love to express feelings
● Personal
and emotions
● Social
(e.g. serenade)
● Physical
- wonderful accompaniment to stage plays and
PERSONAL FUNCTIONS OF ART motion pictures
● functions depend on the person – the artist  Sculpture
who created the art
 Then, sculptures have been made by
 need for self-expression man most particularly for religion
 (people erect status for the divine) ● Art is dangerous because it provides a petty
replacement for the real entities that can only
(people erect status for the divine)
be attained through reason.
 made in order to commemorate
Art as a Representation
important figures in history
 Aristotle, Plato’s most important student in
(e.g. Jose Rizal’s monument in
philosophy, considered art as an aid to
Rizal Park, Andres Bonifacio’s philosophy in revealing truth.
 All kinds of art do not aim to be represent
Monumento in Caloocan)
reality as it is, what art endeavors to do is to
 Architecture provide a vision of what might be or the myriad
possibilities in reality.
 most prominent functional art form  Unlike Plato who thought that art is an
 where one can find the intimate imitation of another imitation, Aristotle
connection of function and form conceived of art as representing possible
versions of reality.
Does art always have to be functional?
Art serves two particular purposes (in the Aristotelian
 The value of a work of art does not depend on worldview),
function but on the work itself
 A functional object cannot be claimed to be ● Art allows for the experience of pleasure
beautiful unless it can perform its function ● Art has an ability to be intrusive and teach its
sufficiently audience things about life
 Despite these, efficiency cannot be mistaken
as beauty Art as a Disinterested Judgment
 Art demands so much more than efficiency Judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, can be
Philosophical Perspectives on Art universal despite its subjectivity

 Art as an Imitation Even subjective judgments are based on some universal

 In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the criterion for the said judgment.
things in this world are only copies of the So when the same person says that something is
original, the eternal, and the true entities beautiful, he does not just believe that the thing is
(World of Forms) beautiful for him, but in a sense, expects that the same
 In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the thing should put everyone in awe.
things in this world are only copies of the
original, the eternal, and the true entities Art as a Communication of Emotion
(World of Forms)  Art plays a huge role in communication to its
 When one ascribes beauty to another person, audience’s emotions that the artist previously
he refers to an imperfect beauty that experienced.
participates only in the form of beauty in the  Art is central to man’s existence because it
World of Forms makes accessible feelings and emotions of
 Artists merely reinforce the belief in copies and people from the past and present, from one
discourage mean to reach for the real entities in continent to another.
the World of Forms

Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists

● They appeal to the emotion rather than the

rational faculty of men

● They imitate rather than lead one to reality