THE BASIC ASSUMPTION AND NATURE OF ARTS

What is Art?

 Art is an expression made visible by a form. The expression in the form to translate the
unnamed and the unknown. Intrinsic to our existence as humans is our quest to create
meaning and art allows that process to take place.
 Art is an expression, an expression of feeling, belief and character. The simplicity of the
sentence is rather deceptive and seems tidier than its implication.

Basic Assumption of ARTS

What is assumption?

 Assumption is a thing that is accepted as true or as a certain to happen, without proof. It is

something that you accept as true without question or proof.

Nature of Arts

The seven nature of art are:

1. Art is a diverse range of human activities

 In creating visual, auditory or performing artworks, expressing the author’s
imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or
emotional power.
2. Art represent reality
 Signs that stand in for and take the place of something else.
3. Art is an expression
 Contained in form is an attempt to translate the unnamed and the unknown.
4. Art serves as a means of communication of emotions
 To be communicate political, spiritual or philosophical ideas, to create a sense of
beauty to explore the nature of perception, for pleasure, or to generate strong
emotions.
5. Art matters
 Allow us to express ourselves and illustrate the world around us in a different light,
helping us to gain understanding of people and society.
 6. Art is universal
 Can be found in every corner of the world.
7. Art is creation
 Combination of already existing material elements into new forms which become
the realization of a preconceived idea.

FUNCTION OF ART

No piece of art can be assigned a function either in essay form or in casual conversation. If it is not
first considered within the proper context. Trying to classify function depends on context.

That said, the functions of art normally fall into the three categories.

1. Personal functions
2. Social functions
3. Physical functions

These categories can, and do, overlap in any given piece of art (Esaak, 2018)

Personal functions

 the artist may create out of a need for self-expression, or gratification

 art may serve the personal functions of control
o Venus De Milo
 The statue of Venus, a roman mythology goddess. One may wonder why the
statue has no arms yet it is considered to be a national treasure.
 Art can also be therapeutic for both the artist and the view
o Therapeutic Art
o Religious Art

Social functions – one cannot conceive of a society without art for art is closely related to every
aspect of social life. Social function of art are those that go beyond personal intrinsic value to art’s
social benefits.

Arts perform a Social Function when:

 Influences social behavior (political function)

 Display and celebration

Physical functions – are often the easiest to understand. Works of art that are created to perform
some service have physical functions.

1. Form and function – generally essential in the basic form that it takes.
2. Architecture – design of the building is determined primarily by its operational function,
3. Community planning – more than just a group of buildings.
 Residential districts – special areas are assigned for residential purposes.
 Industrial & commercial areas – usually located near the source of raw materials.
 Civic centers – community govern itself; provides structures
  Parks, plazas and malls – need for a balance between man-made structures and
natural areas
 Streets and roads – transportation must function with reasonable ease and rapidity
from one area to another.
4. Function and beauty – remain the same in shape throughout the years because their
functional requirements do not allow for greater variations in their form.

THE SUBJECT & SOURCES OF ART

The Subject of Art

 To a majority of people, the appeal of most works of art lies in the representation of familiar
objects. Their enjoyment o painting, sculpture, and literature comes not from their
perception but from the satisfaction they get out of recognizing the subject or
understanding the narrative content.
 The subject of art refers to any person, object, scene, or event described or represented in a
work of art.

1. Representational or Objective
2. Non-representational or Non-objective

Representational or Objective

 Representational art or figurative art represents objects or events in the real world, usually
looking easily recognizable. It uses “form” and is concerned with “what” is to be depicted in
the artwork.
 Example: painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature and theater arts.
 Mona Lisa

Non-representational or Non-objective

 These are those arts without any reference to anything outside itself (without
representation). It is non-objective because it has no recognizable objects. It is abstract in
the sense that it doesn’t represent real objects in our world. It uses “content” and is
concerned with “how” the artwork is depicted.
 TABLEAU I

Sources of Subject Art

1. PRIMARY - Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a

topic under investigation.
2. SECONDARY - routinely include pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources.

Some of these sources of art subject are:

 THE VISUAL ARTS

Art forms that create works that are primarily visual in nature such as:

 Ceramics
 Drawing
 Painting
 Sculpture
 Printmaking
 Design
 Crafts
 Photography
 Video
 Film making
 Architecture

The term “artist” was often restricted to a person working in the fine arts.

“Visual Arts” includes fine art as well as the applied, decorative arts and crafts, but this was not
always the case.

Virtual Arts includes the following:

1. Fine arts – refers to an art form practiced mainly for its aesthetic value and its beauty rather
than its functional value.
- It is rooted in drawing and design-based works such as painting, printmaking, and
sculpture.
- It is often contrasted with “applied art” and “crafts” which are both traditionally seen as
utilitarian activities.
 Seven Fine Arts: Painting, architecture, sculpture, music, poetry, performing arts
and photography
2. Contemporary Arts - Contemporary Art is made today by living artists.
- It is produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century.
- It reflects the complex issues that shape our diverse, global, and rapidly changing world.
3. Decorative Arts & crafts - The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose object is the design
and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional.
- The decorative value of a print depends on the subject matter, what the item looks like
in terms of decorative appeal and color, as well as its physical nature, such as its size,
condition, and whether it is framed or not.

Other Kinds of Visual Arts

 Fashion Design
 Graphic Design
  Interior Design
 Tattoo Art
 Face Painting
 Body Painting

Philosophical Perspective of Arts

MIMESIS

 Mimesis derived from the word “mimos” meaning to imitate.

 According to Plato, all artistic creation is a form of imitation that which really exist is a type
created by God.
 Mimesis in art is the tendency for artists to imitate, or copy the style of another artist’s work

Monalisa Imitation

REPRESENTATION

 Similar to Plato’s writings about mimesis, he also defined mimesis as imitation of nature, and
perfection.
 The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward
significance.

Representational Art

ART’S SAKE

 Taken from the French, the term "l'art pour l'art," (Art for Art's Sake) expresses the idea that
art has an inherent value independent of its subject-matter, or of any social, political, or
ethical significance.
 A woman delicately plays a harp while two angels circle pensively above her head. The rich
velvet of the woman's green dress flows into the luxurious vegetation that surrounds her,
her striking red hair echoed by the garland of flowers and the angels' auburn locks. William
Michael Rossetti, the brother of the artist, translated this work's as "The Garlanded Lady" or
"Lady of the Wreath," with Alexa Wilding, the model depicted in the center of the work,
portrayed as the ideal of love and beauty.