LESSON 1

ASSUMPTIONS AND NATURE OF ARTS:

CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION

What is Art?

• Art is something that is

perennially around us.
• Some people may deny having
to do with arts but it is
indisputable that life presents us
with many forms of and
opportunities for communion
with the arts.

The word “art” is derived from arti, which denotes craftsmanship, skill, mastery of form, and
inventiveness. It serves as a technical and creative record of human needs and
achievements.

Other definitions emphasize that

1. Art is subjective and art is more subjective than objective.

( Art for art itself)
2. Art is form and content. ( there is always a concept).
3. There is a connection between beauty and art and beauty
is the measure of quality of art

Why is Art Important?

• Art is very important in the society because it is an essential
ingredient to empowering the hearts of people
• Art communicates feelings and emotions expressively and
forcefully;
• It connects people around the world;
• It stimulates our thoughts when recreating the message of the
artist;
• It is a great tool for learning;
• It reminds us of people's selfless actions and nationalism;
• It serves as a source of inspiration and aesthetic pleasure
• It makes the surrounding look better and complete
• It commemorates certain actions
The Importance of Art in Education

Today, more than ever, the arts are needed

by young people as a forum for safe
expression, communication, exploration,
imagination, and cultural historical
understanding.

Brain research confirms that Arts education

strengthens student problem-solving and
critical thinking skills, adding to overall
academic achievement, school success,
and preparation for the work world.

Art classes provide students a chance to

develop cognitive and creative skills, and to
develop their imaginations.

For some students Art is their motivation for coming to school and an area where they have
success or excel, providing an important balance in their total educational experience.

Living with Art

the role of art in human life is to transform man's widest metaphysical

ideas, by selective reproduction of reality, into a physical form—a work
of art—that he can comprehend and to which he can respond
emotionally.

Form & Meaning

Order & Structure
Exploring Aesthetic Possibilities

Functions of an artist
• Create places for human purpose
• Create extraordinary version of ordinary objects
• Record & commemorate
• Tangible form to the unknown
• Form to feeling and ideas
• See the world in new ways
 Why Study Art?

o Expression
o Social Values
o Human Intelligence

You might even say "Art is subjective, and means something different to every
single person on earth.

Assumptions of Art

ART IS UNIVERSAL
• Literature has provided key words of art.
• lliad and the Odyssey are the two Greek Epics that one’s being taught in school.
• The Sanskrit pieces Mahabharata and Ramanaya are also staples in this fields.

In every country and in every generation, there is always art. Often times, people feel that what
is considered artistic are only those which have been made long time ago.
This is a misconception. Age is not a factor in determining art. “An art is not
good because it is old, but old because it is good” (Dudley et al., 1960)

In the Philippines, the works of Jose Rizal and Francisco Balagtas are not
being read because they are old.

Florante at Laura never fails to teach high school students the beauty of love,
one that is universal and pure.

Ibong Adarna, another Filipino masterpiece, has always captured the imagination of the young
with its timeless lessons.

When we recite the Psalms, we feel in communion with King David as we feel one with him in
his conversation with God.

When we listen to a Kundiman or perform folk dances, we still enjoy the way our Filipino
ancestors while away their time in the past.
ART IS NOT NATURE

In the Philippines, it is not entirely novel to hear some consumers of local movies
remark that these movies produced locally are unrealistic. They contend that local movies
work around certain formula to the detriment of substance and faithfulness to reality of
movies.

Paul Cezanne, a French painted a scene from reality entitled Well and Grinding
Wheel in the Forest of the Chateau Noir.

ART INVOLVES EXPERIENCE

Getting this far without a satisfactory definition of
art can be quite weird for some. For most people,
art does not require a full definition. Art is just
experience. By experience, we mean the “actual
doing of something”(Dudley et al., 1960) and it also
affirmed that art depends on experience, and if one
is to know art, he must know it not as fact or
information but as an experience.
A work of an art then cannot be abstracted from
actual doing. In order to know what an artworks,
we have to sense it, see and hear it.

An important aspect of experiencing art is its being highly personal, individual, and
subjective. In philosophical terms, perception of art is always a value judgment. It depends
on who perceives, his tastes, his biases, and what he has inside.
Scope of Arts

There are different forms of art. We consider these two classes: visual art and performing
art.

- Visual art includes paintings, sculpture, literature, calligraphy, photography and

architecture.
- Performing arts are all forms of dance, music, theater and films. Art can also be
classified as fine art, commercial art, and applied art.

Visual Arts
Visual art can be explained as a form of art that uses any medium to represent the
artist's idea, emotion and imagination.

They are those creations we can look at. Visual arts can be further classified as:

• Drawing –It is a representation of any form or

object by hand.

• Painting - Paintings are classified according to

the style in which they are made as well as the
genre and main object of the painting. Still life,
landscapes, seascapes, abstract and pop are
the different types of painting genres that are
popular among artists.

• Sculpture - Sculptures are also among the

different forms of art that falls under visual art
that are made in two ways: either chiselled or
carved.

• Architecture - Architecture is a form of

applied art that is concerned with designing
and building any construction.
 • Calligraphy - The art of writing letters in a
manner that it looks visually appealing. It is a
form of visual art that has great commercial
value and is much sought after.

• Photography - Photography is the art of

producing an image of an object on a
photographic film. The way the image is
captured with the use of light differs from
photographer to photographer.

Performing Arts

There are many forms of arts but the performing art is much appreciated and enjoyed by
us such as dance, music, films, theatre and drama. Artists that perform these are known
as dancers for those who perform dance, musicians for music, actors for films,
theatres and drama etc.

Performing arts may be classified as:

• Dance – It is a form of non-verbal

communication where the movement of the
body along with the accompaniment of music
which is delightful and harmonious conveys
the artist’s

• Singing – This is an act of producing sound

with the voice in a rhythmic manner that is
pleasing to the ear. It is often accompanied by
the use of musical instruments.
 • Films and Theater – These are forms of art
that use stories that capture our imagination.
They are performed by artists in front of an
audience.

• Music – It is one of the most admired form of art

and is difficult to define. It is any harmonious
sound from human voice or musical instrument. It
has the power to change our mood, and lift our
spirits and move our emotion.

Art is a multifaceted and dynamic expression of human creativity, emotion, and intellect.
The assumptions underlying art—whether as a reflection of reality, a means of
communication, or a vehicle for cultural identity—shape our understanding of its nature.

Art transcends mere aesthetics, embodying a profound capacity to evoke thought,

challenge norms, and inspire innovation.
At its core, art reflects the complexity of human existence, capturing both the tangible
and intangible aspects of life. It bridges diverse cultures and eras, offering a shared
language that unites people across boundaries. Recognizing the assumptions about art
helps us appreciate its role not only as a form of personal expression but also as a
powerful medium for societal dialogue and transformation.

Ultimately, art’s nature lies in its ability to adapt, evolve, and remain relevant, ensuring
its significance in both historical and contemporary contexts. It invites us to continuously
question, interpret, and redefine its purpose, reminding us that art is not confined to rigid
definitions but thrives in the limitless realm of human imagination and experience.