READING

VISUAL ARTS
RONAL AIVAN I. LUMUKSO
Unit 1 INTRODUCTION TO ARTS
Lesson 1 Arts throughout History
Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Arts
• Art, like love, is difficult to define - Sanchez,
Abad, and Jao (2011)
– because art concerns itself with “the
communication of certain ideas and feelings by
means of a sensuous medium.”
Philosophy of Arts
• The study of the nature of art, including concepts
such as interpretation, representation and
expression, and form
• closely related to aesthetics, the philosophical
study of beauty and taste
According to Plato
• Arts are representational or mimetic in nature –
meaning, they imitate physical objects (beautiful or
meaningful) that exist in the world
– Art as an expression is a belief that art is created
to reflect the inner state of the artist – the
subjective experiences and the emotions
Merriam-Webster defined
• Art is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination
especially in the production of aesthetic objects
ART
• came from the word “ars” which means
skill.
– means that art is a skill resulting
from learning and practice
– synonymous with craft, cunning, and
workmanship
– art will always related to human
condition
How art is viewed from a particular period/era
Period/era How Art was Viewed
Pre-modern/pre-aesth The Greek word for “art” is techne, whose Latin equivalent is ars,
etic: Ancient Greece both of which mean skill. Art was equated with craft or the
and Rome sciences
Modern/Aesthetic: During the Enlightenment, the natural sciences were
1700s to mid 1900s, in emancipated from the arts. A system of fine arts was established.
particular, Germany Aesthetics became a separate discipline in philosophy. The
and England aesthetic experience was seen as the proper way to approach art
and beauty. Art was to be appreciated for art’s sake.
Postmodern/Post- Various modern theories were rejected, such as aesthetic
aesthetic: Mid 1900s universalism, the aesthetic attitude, aestheticism, innovation and
up to present creativity (“genius”) and the canon of art.
Fine arts
• objects made by humans to be enjoyed
aesthetically
• may be in the form of painting, sculpture,
architecture, music, or even poetry
Other arts were eventually added by aestheticians;
gardening, engraving, the decorative arts, dance and
theatre, the opera, eloquence and prose literature,
film and photography.
What Does Art Do?
• primary purpose essential to most artistic
disciplines is the underlying intention to
connect with or appeal to human emotion.
Key Points:
• Art can arouse aesthetic and moral feelings, and
can be understood as a way of communicating
these feelings.
• An everyday object, such as a glass or a chair, is
transformed with aesthetic and design values
through decorative arts. Art can function on a
therapeutic level as well, with art therapy.
• An artist is a person involved in activities related
to art.
How Does Art Look?
• There is no single standard of visual values
that define what art looks like.
Key Points:
• The word art is usually associated with creative art
or fine art.
– This means the skill is being used to express the
artist’s creativity to engage an audience’s
aesthetic sensibilities, or to draw the audience
towards consideration of more beautiful things
What Makes Art Beautiful?
• beauty refers to anything that pleases the
senses - the interaction between line, color,
texture, shape, motion, and size.
Key Points:
• It is difficult to express what is beautiful
about art because of a lack of language
• It is human instinct to appreciate harmony,
balance, and rhythm- forms our concept of
beauty.
Functions of Arts
• Arts also serve several functions which are item
outcome to its purpose (Menoy, 2009), namely:
1.Individual Function
2.Social Function
3.Economic Functions
4.Political Functions
5.Historical Functions
6.Cultural Functions
Individual Function
• The artists perform arts because of the passion of
their respective art forms. A singer presents a concert
for free because of his advocacy and the love of
singing.
– For example, Regine Velaquez (Asia’s Songbird) is
well-known for possessing extensive vocal range.
Social Function
• Man associates with others through his art
performance that arouses social consciousness.
– Examples of this association are the choral singing,
group dancing, public art exhibits and other
practices.
Economic Functions
• Arts are emerging as a potent force in the economic
life of people assumes an essential role as a direct
and indirect contributor to state economies.
– Example of this is by generating economic vitality
in under-performing regions through crafts,
tourism, and cultural attractions.
Political Functions
• Art provides a forum for ideas that will lead to
employment, prestige, status, and power.
– During election period, for example, the
candidates created their artworks (poster) which
expresses their propaganda, agendas and political
views about making a stable society.
Historical Functions
• Art is an essential technique for information to be recorded
and preserved. It serves to document or reconstruct historical
figure and events.
– Most arts that are in Museums, for example, are filled with
amazing stories about the world most excellent and most
creative people who brought us the treasures.
• By looking at a work of art’s colors, materials, and symbolism,
we can learn about the story and culture that produced it in
the past.
Cultural Functions
• Art is an articulation and transmission of new
information and values.
– Example, when you think of Manila, you probably
think of Fort Santiago, Luneta Park, and its
world-renowned churches, or the famous
Intramuros.
Physical Functions
• Buildings are artistically designed and constructed to
protect their occupants and make their life inside
more meaningful.
• Architects, Industrial and Graphic Designers, and
Interior Decorators share responsibility in building
environment that balance forms and functions.
Aesthetic Functions
• Any artwork means beauty.
• It is visual spice for gracefully adorned interiors and
can bring out the most elegant features of different
décor elements.
• It reasonably reproduced visual images which
communicate through fantastic persuasions and
meaningful words.
Defining Visual Arts
Arts are generally classified into three:
1. Visual Arts - those forms that create works
which are primarily visual (forms perceived by
the eyes)
2. Performing arts - those forms in which the
artists used his/her own body, face, and
presence as a medium.
3. Literary arts - centered on creative writing and
other composition processes which intended to
read.
• This course focuses on visual arts. The
man can take the beauty of nature
through a piece of paper so that other
people may take time appreciating the
captured image.
Examples of these arts include painting,
sculpture, architecture, drawing and
photography.
LEARNING TASK
1. Complete the thought bubble below:

For me, “art” is

2. As a thought experiment, imagine