UNIT 2: Functions and Philosophy of Arts

 Aristotle claimed that every and from those done by his

particular substance in the world fellowmen. He learns to use, love,
has an end, or telos in Greek, and preserve them for his
which translates into “purpose.” enjoyment and appreciation.
 This telos according to Aristotle is
complexly linked with function. 2. Utilitarian function
 Man, in Aristotle's view of reality,
 With the creation of the various
is bound to achieve a life of
forms of art, man now lives in
fulfillment and happiness, or in
comfort and happiness. Through
Greek, eudaimonia. All men move
art, man is provided with shelter,
toward this final end.
clothing, food, light, medicine,
FUNCTIONS OF ART beautiful surroundings, personal
ornamentals, entertainment,
Every art form has a definite language, transportation, and
function since it satisfies a particular other necessities and
need. To the layman, art may have little conveniences of life.
function. Some find meaning in art in its
ability to serve the purpose for which it 3. Cultural function
was designed.
 Art serves as an aperture towards
ARCHITECTURE AND APPLIED ARTS skills, knowledge, attitudes,
customs, and traditions of
 The value of the art in questions different groups of people. The Art
lies in the practical benefits one helps, preserves, shares and
gains from it. It obviously made transmits culture of people from
for a specific purpose. one generation to another.

PAINTING AND LITERATURE 4. Social function

 One can look at the value of the  Through civic and graphic arts,
product of art in and for itself. man learns to love and help each
other. International understanding
Two types of Function Art and cooperation are fostered and
nations become more unified,
Functional Art
friendly, cooperative, helpful, and
 refers to art that we use in our sympathetic.
daily lives such as tools,  Art is considered to have a social
architectural structures, roads, function if and when it addresses
bridges, buildings, furniture. a particular collective interest as
Kitchen utensils, coins, bills, opposed to a personal interest.
dress, weapons, etc.  Art may convey message of
protest , contestation, or
Indirectly Functional Art whatever message that artist
intends his work to carry.
 refers to the arts that are
“perceived through the senses” 5. Political function
such as fine arts, painting, music,
sculpture, dance, literary piece,  Art reinforces and enhance a
theatrical performances and the sense of identity and ideological
like. connection to specific political
views, political parties and
The Seven (7) Functions of Art politicians.
1. Aesthetic function 6. Educational function
 Through art, man becomes  There are art symbols and signs
conscious of the beauty of nature. to illustrate knowledge and
He benefits from his own work
 attitudes that are not expressed else, he is using art as a
in words. representation of such signs and
symbols.
7. Spiritual function  Aristotle, Plato’s most important
student in philosophy, agreed
 Some art works express spiritual
with his teacher that art is a form
beliefs, customs, ceremonies and
of imitation.
rituals about the meaning and
 However, in contrast to his
destiny of life. These artworks
mentor’s disgust, Aristotle
may have religious significance.
conceived of art as representing
PHILOSOPHY OF ARTS possible versions of reality.
 In Aristotelian worldview, Art
 It refers to the study of the nature serves two particular purposes:
of arts, its concept. interpretation,  Art allows for the experience of
representation, expression and pleasure (horrible experience can
form. Philosophy of art is closely be made an object of humor)
related to aesthetics, which is the  Art also has an ability to be
study of beauty and taste. instructive and teach its audience
things about life (cognitive).
Five (5) Philosophical Perspectives
3. Art for Art's Sake (Kant)
1. Art as Mimesis
 Immanuel Kant considered the
 According to Plato, artist are
judgment of beauty the
imitators and art is just a mere
cornerstone of art, as something
imitations.
that can be universal despite its
 The things in this world are only
subjectivity: and therefore, art is
copies of the original, the eternal
innately autonomous from
and the true entities that can only
specific interest.
be found in the world of forms.
 For Kant, every human being,
 Aristotle speaks of tragedy as an
after perception and the free play
"imitation of an action" - that of a
of his faculties, should recognize
man falling from a higher to a
the beauty that is inherent in a
lower estate. Thus, when an artist
work of art.
skillfully select and present a
material, that artist is purposely 4. Art as an Escape
seeking to imitate or copy the
action of life.  According to Allen Weinstein,
 Plato was deeply suspicious of without mental escape, we build
arts and artist for 2 reasons: up a lot of anxiety within
ourselves.
1. They appeal to the emotions rather  According to Señeres and others
than to the rational faculty of men. (2008), the artists works of art
reveal the emotional outburst that
2. They imitate rather than lead one
has been kept for many years in
to reality.
their mind.
 Socrates just like Plato claimed
5. Art as Functional
that art is just an imitation of
imitation.  The artist intent in creating a
 For Plato art is dangerous functional piece of art is to bring
because it provides a petty creativity, beauty, and usefulness
replacement for the real entities into people's everyday lives.
that can be only attained through Whether it's a curvy chair made
reason. of cardboard, a banca made of
paper, functional art makes us
2. Art as Representation (Aristotle)
rethink and re-assess the way we
 Art represents something. When look at ordinary things,
an artist uses signs and symbols sometimes by using unusual
to take the place of something materials in their construction.
In summary, Art serves several functions.
In terms of functions it is differentiated by
the degree of exposure towards these
arts. We utilized Art for personal
purposes. We utilize art to go beyond
from that comfort space and to affect and
persuade other individuals. We utilize art
for physical purposes such us tools -
these tools define man. Thus, Art is
utilized to improve our way of life.