FUNCTION AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES

ON ART

OBJECTIVES OUTCOMES
• Explain and discuss the basic • Discussed the basic
philosophical perspectives on philosophical perspectives on
the art; the art;
• Realize the function of some • Realized that the function of
art forms in daily life; and some art forms has impact in
• Apply concepts and theories daily life; and
on beauty and aesthetics in • Applied concepts and theories
real life scenarios. on beauty and aesthetics in
real life scenarios.
•
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 INTRODUCTION
In life, we need the achievement in life of fulfillment and happiness. However,
happiness, the supposed end of man, is linked his function, which is being rational. One
can only be happy when he is rational.

What makes human being a human being, according to some schools of thought, is his
capacity for thinking, his supposed function. Without this function, the human being
ceases to be a human being. Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the
world has an end, or telos in Greek, which translates into “purpose”.

DISCUSSION

Functions of Art

When one speaks of function, one is practically talking about the use of the
object whose function is in question. An inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry on
what art is for. Alternatively, the answer to the question “what is it for” is the function of
whatever “it” in the question refers to.

When it comes to function, different art forms come with distinctive functions.
There is no one-to-one correspondence between an art and its function. Some art forms
are more functional than others. Architecture, for example, as an art is highly functional
just like most applied arts. A building as a work of art is obviously made for a specific
purpose. Other examples are paintings, poems, and statues. The name of the art
basically points toward the direction of the product or its function.

Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are classified into three: personal
(public display or expression), social (celebration or to affect collective behavior), and
physical (utilitarian).

Personal Functions of Art

The personal functions of art are varied and highly subjective. This means that
its functions depend on the person – the artist who created the art. An artist may create
an art out of the need for self-expression. This is the case for an artist who needs to
communicate an idea to his audience. It can also be mere entertainment for his
intended audience. Often, the artist may not even intend to mean anything with his
work. An art may also be therapeutic.

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Social Functions of Art

Art is considered to have a social function if and when it addresses a particular

collective interest as opposed to a personal interest. Political art is a very common
example of an art with a social function. Photography, as an art form, delivers kind of
function by taking photos of subjects in conditions that people do not normally take a
look at or give attention to. Pictures of poverty may carry emotional overtones that may
solicit action or awareness from their audience. Moreover, performance art like plays
or satires can also rouse emotions and rally people toward a particular end. In these
and more, the social function of art is apparent.

Physical Functions of Art

The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot and understand. The
physical functions of art can be found in artworks that are crafted in order to serve some
physical purpose. Architecture, jewelry-making, and even interior design are all forms
of arts that have physical function.

Other Functions of Art

Music as an art is also interesting to talk about in

relation to function. Music in its original form was principally
functional. Music was used for dance and religion. Today
music has expanded its function and coverage. Music is
listened to and made by people for reasons that were foreign
to early civilizations. There is now a lot of music that has no
connection whatsoever to dance or religion. Serenade is one Serenade
example. People compose hymns of love to express feelings
and emotions. Music is also used as a wonderful accompaniment to stage plays and
motion pictures. Interestingly, a piece of music can mean a multitude of meanings to
different people, a proof that as an art, music has gone a long way.

Sculpture, on the other hand, is another functional art form that has long existed
for various purposes. Just like music, from the early days of humanity, sculptures have
been made by man most particularly for religion.

Another art form that readily lends itself to multiple functions

is architecture. In fact, architecture might be the most prominent
functional art form. Buildings are huge, expensive, and are not easily
constructed and replaced. Unlike other forms of art like pots,
furniture, poetry, or even paintings, buildings take so much time to
erect and destroy. It is also in architecture where one can find the
intimate connection of function and form. In planning out an
architectural structure, one has to seriously consider the natural
Monument

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conditions like topography and climate of the place of erection and the social conditions
such as the purpose of the building itself.

Philosophical Perspectives on Art

Art as an Imitation

In Plato's metaphysics or view of reality, the things in this

world are only copies of the original, the eternal, and the true
entities that can only be found in the World of Forms. Human
beings endeavor to reach the Forms all throughout this life,
starting with formal education in school. From looking at
"shadows in the cave," men slowly crawl outside to behold the
real entities in the world. Much is true for "beauty" in this world.
When one ascribes beauty to another person, he refers to an
imperfect beauty that participates only in the form of beauty in
the World of Forms. Likewise, Socrates is worried that art
objects represent only the things in this world, copies
themselves of reality. Socrates claimed that art is just an Plato

imitation of imitation. A painting is just an imitation of nature,

which is also just an imitation of reality in the World of Forms.

Art as a Representation

Aristotle, Plato's most important student in

philosophy, agreed with his teacher that art is a form of
imitation. However, in contrast to the disgust that his master
holds for art, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy
in revealing truth. The kind of imitation that art does is not
antithetical to the reaching of fundamental truths in the
world. Akin to other art forms, poetry only admits of an
attempt to represent what things might be. For Aristotle, all
kinds of art, including poetry, music, dance, painting, and
sculpture, do not aim to represent reality as it is. What art
endeavors to do is to provide a vision of what might be or
the myriad possibilities in reality. Unlike Plato who thought
Aristotle that art is an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle
conceived of art as representing possible versions of reality.

In the Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes. First, art allows
for the experience of pleasure. Experiences that are otherwise repugnant can become
entertaining in art. Secondly, art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its
audience things about life; thus, it is cognitive as well. Greek plays are usually of this
nature.

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Art as a Disinterested Judgment

In the third critique that Immanuel Kant wrote, the

“Critique of Judgement”, Kant considered the judgment
of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can
be universal despite its subjectivity. Kant mentioned
that judgment of beauty, and therefore, art, is innately
autonomous from specific interests. It is the form of art
that is adjudged by one who perceives art to be
beautiful or more so, sublime. Therefore, even aesthetic
judgment for Kant is a cognitive activity. Kant
recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
However, Kant advanced the proposition that even
subjective judgments are based on some universal
criterion for the said judgment.
Immanuel Kant

So, when the same person says that something is beautiful, he does not just
believe that the thing is beautiful for him, but in a sense, expects that the same thing
should put everyone in awe.

Art as a Communication of Emotion

For Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge role in

communication to its audience's emotions that the artist
previously experienced. Art then serves as a language, a
communication device that articulates feelings and
emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the audience. In
the same way that language communicates information to
other people, art communicates emotions. In listening to
music, in watching an opera, and in reading poems, the
audience is at the receiving end of the artist communicating
his feelings and emotions.

Art is central to man's existence because it makes

accessible feelings and emotions of people from the past
and present, from one continent to another. In making
these possibly latent feelings and emotions accessible to
Leo Tolstoy anyone in varied time and location, art serves as a
mechanism of cohesion for everyone.

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 SUMMARY

Art has remained relevant in our daily lives because most of it has played some
form of function for man. Since the dawn of the civilization, art has been at the forefront
of giving color to man's existence. The different functions of art may be classified as
either personal, social, or physical. An art's function is personal if it depends on the
artist herself or sometimes still, the audience of the art. There is a social function in art
if and when it has a particular social function, when it addresses a collective need of a
group of people. Physical function, finally, has something to do with direct, tangible
uses of art. Not all products of art have function. This should not disqualify them as art
though. As mentioned, and elucidated by some of the most important thinkers in history
art may serve either as imitation, representation, a disinterested judgment, or simply a
communication of emotion.

REFERENCES

Caslib, B.N., Garing, D.C., & Casaul, J.A.R. (2018). Art appreciation first edition. Rex
Book Store, Inc. Sampaloc, Manila. ISBN: 978-971-23-8669-5. pp. 25-34.
Collins, M.R., & Riley, O. (1931). Art appreciation for junior and senior high schools.
New York: Harcort, Brace & World, Inc.

--- End of Module 1 Lesson 3 ---

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