Kalinga State University

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

Module 2 - Introductions and WHAT IS ART?

Definitions
How would you define ‘art’? For many people
OVERVIEW art is a specific thing; a painting, sculpture or
This module offers a simple photograph, a dance, a poem, or a play. It is
these things, and more. They are mediums of
understanding of how art well-
artistic expression. Webster’s New Collegiate
defined and the diverse ways it
dictionary defines art as “The conscious use of
purposes in humanities and arts. It
skill and creative imagination
covers the following topics:
especially  the  production of  aesthetic objects.” 
a. What is Art?
b. Form and Content Art is uniquely human and tied directly to
c. Aesthetics culture. It takes the ordinary and makes it
d. Subjective and Objective extraordinary. It asks questions about who we
Perspectives are, what we value, the meaning of beauty, and
e. Artistic Roles the human condition. As an expressive medium,
f. Artistic Categories it allows us to experience sublime joy, deep
g. Artistic Styles sorrow, confusion, and clarity. It tests our
h. Ideas of Perception and Visual strengths, vulnerabilities, and resolve. It gives
voice to ideas and feelings, connects us to the
Awareness
past, reflects the present, and anticipates the
OBJECTIVES future. Along these lines, art history, combined
with anthropology and literature, are three
Upon fruitful completion of this module, main sources in observing, recording, and
you must able to: interpreting our human past. Visual art is a rich
and complex subject whose definition is in flux
a. Define ‘art’ from a social and as the culture around it changes. Because of
cultural viewpoint. this, how we define art as agreement. In this
b. Expound the difference between respect, we can look again to the dictionary’s
‘objective’ and ‘subjective.’ definition for an understanding of exactly what
c. Explain the diverse roles of art plays to look for when we proclaim something as
within different cultures. ‘art’.
d.  Explain the term ‘subject matter.’
e. Briefly define the categories FORM & CONTENT
‘realistic’, ‘abstract,’ and ‘non-
objective.’ Two basic considerations why we need to
f. Know, rate, and recognize artistic be with a form: the physical and visible
styles. characteristics inherent in works of art,
g. Discuss the meaning of ‘aesthetics’ and content: the meaning we derive from
them. Formal distinctions include a work’s
and its connection to cultural
size, medium (painting, drawing, sculpture,
conventions. or other kinds of work) and descriptions of
h. Discuss and identify issues of visual compositional elements such as the lines,
awareness. shapes, and colors involved. Issues of
content include any visual clues that give an

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION
understanding of what the art tells us. FIRST, and "looking" at it later. From this
Sometimes an artwork’s content is vague or perspective, the subjective (knowledge
hidden and needs more information than is residing in the emotions and thoughts of the
present in the work itself. Ultimately these viewer) almost completely dominates our
two terms are together in the climb to way of looking at art. In the arts, it’s
understand what art has to offer us. As we
especially important to begin to develop an
check art from different periods, styles, and
cultures, the issues of form and content will informed or goal opinion not just an
apply to all of them. We’ll explore form & instinctual reaction. A balanced view is one
content further in Modules 3 and 4. that focuses on the object’s physical
characteristics as the main source of
AESTHETICS information. This does not mean that you
will remove or invalidate your subjective
Aesthetics is a philosophical argument feelings about work you will find that the
about the nature of beauty. It’s an idea more informed you become,
central to any exploration of art. Aesthetics the more  artwork will affect you
deals with notions of taste, cultural emotionally and intellectually. It does mean
conventions – ideas of art being ‘good’ and that you will learn alternative ways to
‘bad’ based on specific cultural information approach art, ways that allow you to find
and beliefs, and the judgments we make clues to meaning, and to understand how art
based on our perceptions. reflects and affects our lives.

As deep as visual art in the fabric of our Its complex, but the satisfaction of looking
lives, it still is the source of controversy and at art comes from exploring the work to find
irony. It thrives on common experience yet meaning, not shying away from it simply
contradicts ideas of ourselves. Art is part of because we may not understand it.
the culture it’s created in, but can show
ARTISTIC ROLES
many cultures at once. From where you and
I stand today art has become probably more Visual artists and the works they produce
complex than ever in its use imagery, perform specific roles. These roles vary
mediums, and meanings. We need a way to between cultures. We can look at some
reach the visual information of our society, general areas to see the diversity they offer
of past cultures, & cultures not known to us – and perhaps come up with some new
to have a way to understand what we are ones of our own.
looking at.
Description
SUBJECTIVE & OBJECTIVE
PERSPECTIVES A traditional role of visual art is
to describe ourselves and our surroundings.
The first level in approaching art is learning Some of the earliest artworks discovered
to LOOK at it. In future discussions, we will are drawings and paintings of humans and
spend more time in pure observation than wild animals on walls deep within
you probably have done before. Generally, prehistoric caves. One particular image is a
we tend to look at art in terms of "liking" it

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

handprints: a universal symbol of human human-made surroundings; things

communication. like place, architecture, time of day, year or
season plus other physical information such
Portraits as geological elements and the plants and
animals within a particular region.
Portraits, landscapes, and still life are
common examples of description. Portraits In many western cultures, the more realistic
capture the accuracy of physical the rendering of a scene the closer to our
characteristics but the very best also transfer idea of the ‘truth’ it becomes. In the 15th
a sense of an individual’s unique century German artist
personality. For thousands of years, this role Albrecht Durer creates vivid works that
was reserved for images of those in show a keen sense of observation.
positions of power, influence, and authority. His Young Hare from 1495 is uncanny in its
The portrait not only signifies who they are realism and sense of animation.
but also solidifies class structure by
presenting only the highest-ranking
members of society. The portrait bust of
Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, dated to around
1300 BCE, exemplifies beauty and royalty.

The full-length Imperial Portrait of Chinese

Emperor Kaifeng below not only shows
realism in the likeness of the emperor, but it
also exalts in the patterns and colors of his
robe and the throne behind him. Albrecht Durer, Young Hare, c. 1505,
gouache and watercolor on paper. Albertina
Museum, Vienna.
Scientific Illustration
Out of this striving for accuracy and
documentation developed the art
of scientific illustration. The traditional
mediums of painting and drawing are
still used to record much of the world
around us. Linda Berkley’s Merino
Ram uses a layered approach to record
Imperial Portrait of Emperor Xian Feng,
in great detail the physical anatomy of
China, c. 1855. Palace Museum, the head of the great sheep.
Beijing.

Landscapes

Landscapes – by themselves – give us

detailed information about our natural and

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

communicate the realities of the African-

American experience in their struggle to
escape the South and overcome the
difficulties of adjusting to the big cities in
the North.
In contrast, photographers used the
camera lens to document examples of
segregation in the United States. Here
the image on the film tells its poignant
Merino Ram, composite drawing, story about inequalities based on race.
colored pencil, acrylic on Canson paper,
2009. Linda Berkley, Illustrator. Spirit, Myth, and Fantasy
Tied to the idea of narrative, another
Enhancing our World artistic role is to discover other worlds
beyond our physical one. This world is
Enhancing the world of our everyday lives is in many ways richer than our own and
another role art plays. This role is includes the world of spirit, myth,
more utilitarian than others. It includes fantasy, and the imagination; areas
textiles and product design, decorative particularly suited for the visual artist.
embellishments to the items we use every We can see how art gives a rich and
day, and all the aesthetic considerations that varied treatment to these ideas. Artist
create a more comfortable, expressive Michael Spafford has spent his career
environment. presenting classical Greek myths
through painting, drawing, and
Narratives: How Artists Tell Their Stories printmaking. His spare, abstract style
Artists can combine representation with uses high contrast images to strong
more complex elements and situational dramatic effect. A Smiling figure from
compositions to bring a narrative part ancient Mexico portrays a god of dance,
into art. Using subject matter – the music, and joy. A third example,
objects and figures that inhabit a work of Hieronymus Bosch’s painting
art -- as a vehicle for communicating The Temptation of Saint Anthony, gives
stories and other cultural expressions is the subject both spiritual and bizarre
another traditional function of visual art. significance in the way they are
The narrative tradition is strong in many presented.  His creative imagination
cultures throughout the world. They takes the subject of temptation and
become a means to perpetuate raises it to the realm of the fantastic.
knowledge, morals, and ethics and can There is an entire module devoted to the
signify historical contexts within specific idea of the other world later in this
cultures. The narrative takes many course.
forms; the spoken or written word,
music, dance and visual art are the ARTISTIC CATEGORIES
mediums most often used. In Visual arts are generally divided into
his Migration Series, Jacob Lawrence categories that make distinctions based
paints stark, direct images that on the context of the work. For example,

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ would Naturalistic Style

not fall into the same group as, say, a The naturalistic style uses
graphic poster for a rock concert. Some recognizable images with a high level of
artworks placed in more than one group. accuracy in their depiction. Naturalism
Here are the main categories: also includes the idealized object: one is
modified to make a kind of perfection
Fine Art within the bounds of aesthetics and
This group includes drawings, paintings, form.  William Sydney Mount’s
sculptures, photographs, and, in the last painting The Bone Player gives
decade, new media that are in museum accuracy in its representation and a
collections and sold through commercial art sense of character to the figure, from his
galleries. Fine art of being some of the ragged-edged hat to the button missing
finest examples of our human artistic from his vest. Mount treats the
heritage. Here is where you will find musician’s portrait with a sensitive hand,
more idealized by his handsome
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (below), also
features and a soft smile.
ancient sculpture, such as the Gandhara
figure from India (also below), and Abstract Style
stunning ceramics from different cultures
and time periods. Abstract style on a recognizable object but
which is then manipulated by distortion,
scale issues, or other artistic devices.
Abstraction created by exaggerating forms,
simplifying shapes, or the use of strong
colors. Let’s look at three landscapes below
with varying degrees of abstraction in them
to see how this style so effective. In the first
one, Marsden Hartley uses abstraction to
give the spare “Landscape, New Mexico” a
sense of energy. Through the rounded forms
ARTISTIC STYLES and gesture in treatment, we can discern
Style: The search for truth is not hills, clouds, a road, and some trees or
exclusive to representational art. From bushes.
viewing many of the examples so far
you can see how each artist use
different styles to communicate their
ideas. Style refers to a particular kind of
appearance in works of art. It’s a
characteristic of an individual artist or a
collective relationship based on an idea,
culture, or artistic movement. Following
is a list and description of the most
common styles in art:

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

Landscape, New Mexico, Marsden Roman bust of Sappho.

Hartley, about 1916. Pastel on paper. The Capitoline Museum, Rome.
Brooklyn Museum, New York.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Birch and Pine

Trees employs abstraction to turn the
painting into a tree-filled landscape
dominated by a spray of orange paint
suggesting a branch of birch leaves at
the top left. Vasily Kandinsky’s goes
further into abstraction, releasing color
from its descriptive function and vastly
simplifying forms. The rendering of a
town at the lower left to blocky areas of
paint and a black triangular shape of a African mask photo by Cezary.
hill in the background. In all three of
these, the artists manipulate and distort Yet to the African culture that produced the
the ‘real’ landscape as a vehicle for mask it would appear more realistic.
emotion. Besides, the African mask shares some
It’s important ‘abstract’ is on a cultural formal attributes with the Tlingit
perspective. That is, different cultures ‘Groundhog Mask’ (below under ‘Cultural
develop traditional forms and styles of styles’) from Canada’s west coast. These
art they understand within the context of two cultures may see the Roman bust as the
their own culture (see ‘Cultural Styles’ ‘abstract’ one. So we must understand
below), and which are difficult for other artworks from cultures other than our own in
cultures to understand. So the context in which were created.
what ‘abstract’ to one could be more
‘realistic’ in style to another. For Questions of abstraction can also emerge
example, the Roman bust of Sappho from something as simple as our distance
below looks very real from a western from an artwork. View and read about
European aesthetic perspective. Under Fanny/Finger-painting by the artist Chuck
the same perspective, the African mask Close. At first glance, it is a highly realistic
would be called ‘abstract’. portrait of the artist’s grandmother-in-law.
You can zoom it in to see how the painting
dissolves into a grid of each fingerprint, a
process that renders the surface very
abstract. With this in mind, we can see how
any work of art is essentially made of
smaller abstract parts that, when seen
together, make up a coherent whole.

Non-objective imagery has no relation to

the ‘real’ world – that is – the work of

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

art solely upon itself. In this way, the non-

objective style is completely different from
abstract, and it’s important to the distinction
between the two. This style arose from the
modern art movement in Europe, Russia,
and the United States during the first half of
the 20th century.

Cultural Styles

Cultural styles refer to distinctive  Ground Hog Mask, Tlingit, c. 19th century.

characteristics in artworks throughout a Carved and painted wood, animal hair.
particular society or culture. Some main  Collection the Burke Museum, University
elements of cultural styles are of Washington, Seattle.
recurring  motifs, created in the same way by Celtic art from Great Britain and Ireland
many artists. Cultural styles are formed over shows a cultural style that’s been
hundreds or even thousands of years and identified for thousands of years. It's
help define cultural identity. We can find highly refined organic motifs include
evidence of this by comparing two masks; spirals, plant forms, and zoomorphic.
one from Alaska and the other from Canada. Intricate and decorative, the Celtic style
The Yup'ik dance mask from Alaska is quite adapted to include early book
stylized with oval and rounded forms illustration. 
divided by wide bands in strong relief. The
painted areas outline or follow shapes.
Carved objects to the mask and give an
upward movement to the artwork while the
face itself carries an animated expression.

By comparison, a ‘Groundhog Mask’ from

the Tlingit culture in coastal northwestern
Canada exhibits similar forms and many of
the same motifs. The mouths of each mask
are particularly similar to each other.
Page from the Book of Kells, around 800
Groundhog’s visage takes on human-like
CE. Trinity College, Dublin.
characteristics just as the Yup’ik mask takes
IDEAS OF PERCEPTION & VISUAL
the form of a bird. This cultural style ranges
AWARENESS
from western Alaska to northern Canada.
Images from media and the environment
around us – dominate our perception. Our
eyes navigate us through a visual landscape
all our lives, and we all make decisions
based on how and what we see. Separating
the subjective ways we see helps us
become more visually aware of our

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

surroundings. Scientifically, the process of

seeing is the result of light passing through
the lens in our eye, then concentrating it on
the retina at the back of the eye. The retina
has nerve cells that act like sponges,
soaking up the information, and sending it
to the visual cortex of our brain. Here the
light is converted to an image that we can Touchdown Jesus, Monroe, Ohio
perceive – the ‘truth’ – as we understand Photo by Flickr User: Danieljohnsonjr
it to be. We are exposed to so much visual
information every day, especially with the Art is a resource for questioning our
advent of media, that it’s hard to process all perceptions about how objects and ideas
of it into specific meaning. Being visually present themselves. The Belgian artist
aware is more complicated than just the Rene Magritte used his easel as a soapbox to
physical act of seeing because our meet the viewer with confounding visual
perceptions are influenced by exterior information. Click the hyperlink to watch a
factors, including our prejudices, desires, short video where Magritte considers
and ideas about what the ‘truth’ really is. language and perception.
Moreover, cultural ties to perception are
many. For example, let’s look at two images As mentioned at the beginning of this
that share one particular element; that of module, there is a difference
between looking and seeing. To look is to
raised arms, and see how we perceive each
glance back and forth, aware of surface
one according to what we know about
qualities in the things that come into our line
them. of sight. To see is more about
comprehending. After all, when we say “I
see” we mean that we understand. Seeing
goes beyond appearances. So, as
we confront the huge amounts of visual
information coming at us we start to make
choices about what we keep and what we
edit out. We concentrate on that which has
the most meaning for us: a street sign that
Standing Bather with Raised Arms, 1930, helps us get home, a view of the mountains
Aristide Maillol, Marble that lets us enjoy a part of nature’s spectacle
Photo by Flickr User: Zebrawatcher or the computer screen that allows us to
gather information. Our gaze becomes more
specific, and with that comes specific
meaning. At this point what we see becomes
part of what we know. It’s when we stop to
contemplate what we see – the view of the
mountain mentioned above, a portrait or
simple visual composition that catches our

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

eye – which we refer to aesthetic perception. Journal Prompt 1: Expose Yourself to

That is when something is considered for its Art!
visual properties alone, and their relation to
our ideas of what is beautiful, as a vehicle 1. What has been your exposure to visual
for meaning. art? Has it been primarily from your family?
School? Social activities? Personal
No matter how visually aware we are, visual explorations? 
clues alone hinder our ability to fully
comprehend what we see. Words, either 2. Do you make art? If so, what kind? What
spoken or read as text, help fill in the blanks is the medium you use? What kind of style
to understanding. They give a context; a is it? Look under "style" in module 1 to get a
historical background, religious function, or better idea of what it might be. Who is your
other cultural significance to the art we are audience? 
looking at. We ask others for information
about it or find it ourselves, to help 3. If you haven’t made any art, have you
understand the meaning. ever wanted to? What kind?

Now that we have a basic understanding of 2. Journal Prompt: A Definition of Art

what art is, the cultural roles it plays and the
different categories and styles it can belong Do you agree with ‘art’ as it’s explained
to we can begin to explore more specific in module 1? Why or why not? Can you
physical and conceptual issues surrounding add to the definition? Is your definition
it. Let’s start with the next module. coming from objective perspective?

3. Journal Prompt: Investigating Art

Student Activity
Using Google or any website as a
INSTRUCTIONS resource, find a work of art to answer
Read carefully to each question. You the following questions. The
may take the quiz multiple times and artwork from any culture or time.
there is no time limit. Late submission is a. Provide the title, date, and artist’s
not prohibited. name. Make sure your source
has all this information.
JOURNAL PROMPTS b. What medium is use (painting,
  drawing, printmaking, sculpture,
Directions: Choose 2 of the following photograph or digital image,
prompts and update your class journal video, installation, or
by responding to the questions in the performance)?
prompt. Try to write roughly a page on c. Give a short description of the
each prompt you select. Refer back to work: Is it realistic, abstract, or
your journal as the course progresses to non-objective?
see if you are experiencing progress in d. What does it depict? What colors
meeting your goals. is used?
e. What group does it fall under?

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11
 Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences

ART APPRECIATION

f. What artistic role does it play?

Does it take on more than one
role? Review the different roles
discussed in Module 1 to help
you decide.

4. Journal Prompt: Style, Form &

Content
Artistic styles change over time and
throughout cultures, yet some forms
continue to repeat despite the changes.
Examining these forms helps in finding
meaning. From the Totem Pole,  Giotto
Crucifix and Minoan Snake Goddess, they
are all from different periods and
cultures. Notice how each one has a
repeated formal element similar to the
others.
a. What style and class do each
work belong to?
b. Do these similarities have ties to
a common meaning between all
of them, or do you think the
meaning for each work is
separate from the others? Why or
why not?
c. What cultural, religious, or other
considerations do you take into
account in defining your
answers?

MODULE 1 OF HUM 11