UNIT 2:

Chapters 3 and 4

FUNCTIONS, PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVES, SUBJECT AND
CONTENT OF ART
Why do Artists make Art?
 The FUNCTIONS of Art:

The Agent of Art is Man for Expression is an integral part of being

human. His expression is either an art or a craft.
When his expression is for appreciation sake, it is Art; and
when his expression is geared towards utilization, then it is Craft.
Man oftentimes combined art and craft and this is called
Functional Art.
FUNCTIONAL ART:
FUNCTIONAL ART:
FUNCTIONS OF ART
"Every particular
substance in the world has
an end, or telos in
greek, which translates to
purpose”
ARISTOTLE
AN INQUIRY ON THE FUNCTION OF ART, IS AN
INQUIRY ON WHAT IS FOR.

“what is the Rizal

monument for?”
 DIFFERENT
FUNCTIONS OF ART
 Personal Functions of Art

The personal functions of art are varied

and highly subjective

Functions depends on the artists who

created an art

An artist may create an art out of self

expression, entertainment, or
therapeutic functions
 Social Functions of Art
Art is considered to have a social function if and
when it address a particular collective interest as
opposed to a personal interest
Art may convey message or protest, contestation, or
whatever message the artist intends his work to
carry
Political art is a very common example of an art
with social functions
Art can also depict social conditions such as
photography (pictures of poverty)
Performance art like plays or satires can also rouse
emotions and rally people toward a particular end
Social Functions of Art
Social Functions of Art
 Physical Functions of Art

The physical functions of art can be

found in artworks that are crafted in
order to serve some physical purpose.

Architecture, jewelry- making, interior

design all serves physical functions
 Other Functions of Art
Music was principally used for dance and religion.
The ancient world saw music as an instrument to
facilitate worship and invocations to gods.
Music was essential for synchronity of dancers
Music guarantees that warriors were simultaneous
Today, music has expanded its functions
There is a lot of music that has no connections to
dance or religion
Music is also used as accompaniment to stage plays
and motion pictures
 Other Functions of Art

Sculptures have been made by man most

particularly for religion

In the roman catholic world, the employment

of sculptures for religious purposes has
remained vital, relevant, and symbolic.
 Other Functions of Art

Architecture maybe the most prominent

functional art.

Unlike other forms of art, buildings take so

much time to erect and destroy

One cannot dismiss taking into consideration

the function of a building before construction
DOES ART ALWAYS HAVE TO
BE FUNCTIONAL?
Oscar Wilde, Irish author: " It is life that imitates art"

Henri-Louis Bergson: "It is not reason that enables us to imitate; art is not imitation; art is
made from intuition(immediate sensation and intense feeling)"

G.E. Moore: "Art is both imitation and intuition"

Sigmund Freud: "Art is a wish-fulfillment; an excellent work of art results from frustration"

Jose Ortega Y Gaset: "Art is a form of escape; escape from negative elements"

Benedetto Croce: "Art is merely an expression regardless if it is understood or not"

Albert Camus: "Art is rebellion"

Dewey: "Art is not limited in the gallery and museum"

Dante Leoncini: "When man beautifies himself, he becomes a human art"

Margarette Macdonalds: "Art is esoteric. It is mysterious. It is indefinable. It is

transintelligible. It is only describable."
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST
FORM OF ART?
 HIERARCHY OF ARTS
1.Immanuel Kant: Music is the lowest of all arts because it gives only sensible pleasure

2. Schopenhauer: Music is the greatest because it is capable of freeing man from his
fears and desires, from his anger and despair, and from other passions and anxieties

3. Hegel: Poetry has the best qualities like immediate perception, creative
imagination, development of thoughts and events

4. Leibnitz: The fusion of poetry and music is the highest art

5. Thus, there is no final manner by which a hierarchy of the arts may be established.
Each has his own value.
THREE BASIC COMPONENTS OF A WORK OF ART

SUBJECT CONTENT FORM

“THE WHAT” “THE WHY” “THE HOW”

 SUBJECT

Subject of Art it is what an artist chooses to present in

his/her art. It is the expression of artist’s view of his/her
existence in his her art. It is the theme or topic of the
artist in his/her art. The term subjects in art refers to the
main idea that is represented in the artwork.
The subject in art is basically the essence of the piece.
 TYPES OF SUBJECT

Representational Art
THESE TYPES OF ART HAVE SUBJECTS THAT
REFER TO OBJECTS OR EVENTS OCCURRING
IN THE REAL WORLD

ALSO TERMED FIGURATIVE ART BECAUSE OF

THE FIGURES DEPICTED ARE EASY TO MAKE
OUT AND DECIPHER
 TYPES OF SUBJECT

Non-Representational Art
ART FORMS THAT DO NOT MAKE A REFERENCE TO
THE REAL WORLD, WHETHER IT IS A PERSON, PLACE,
THING, OR EVEN A PARTICULAR EVENT

IT IS STRIPPED DOWN TO VISUAL ELEMENTS , SUCH

AS SHAPES, LINES AND COLORS THAT ARE
EMPLOYED TO TRANSLATE A PARTICULAR FEELING,
EMOTION AND CONCEPT
 TYPES OF SUBJECT

Non-Representational Art
and Abstract Art
LOOKING AT THE COMBINATION OF LINES, SHAPES
AND COLORS OF THE SCULPTURE WILL POINT TO A
HEAD OF A WOMAN.

EVEN WITH THE ABSTRACTION OF THE IMAGE, THIS

WORK IS ARGUABLY REPRESENTATION ART
SOURCES AND KINDS OF
SUBJECTS
 SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT

Physical Environment GREEK AND ROMAN RELIGION

Artists have always been fascinated MYTHOLOGY Religion has played an enormous role in
inspiring works of virtual arts, music,
with the beauty of their physical The Greek and Roman Mythology are
architecture, and literature trough ages.
environment. They would observe also rich source of art subject. Stories
During the prehistoric era, the medieval
nature on its beautiful and restful from Greek and Roman Mythology
and the present time, there was no
mood, and apply pigments on canvass centers on the gods, goddess and
difference between religion and art
on varying textures and colors. heroes.
 SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT

PORTRAITURE ABSTRACT NATURE

An image of a particular person A non-representational work of A focused view of interpretation
or animal, or group thereof. art of specific natural element
SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT

STILL-LIFE LANDSCAPE
A collection of inanimate Natural scenery such as mountain,
objects arranged together in a cliffs, rivers, etc.
specific way
WAYS OF PRESENTING
SUBJECT
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

REALISM ABSTRACTION DISTORTION

It concerns with the depiction of It is the alteration of the original
subjects as they appear in It refers to art unconcerned with shape of an object, image or
everyday life. The artist main the literal depiction of things from other form of representation. The
function is to describe accurately the visible world. subject is in misshaped condition.
what is observed through the
senses.
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

ELONGATION MANGLING CUBISM

Subjects are shown in basic
It shows subjects or objects
The subject or painting is being geometrical shapes. Uses cones,
which are cut, mutilated,
lengthened or extended. cylinder, sphere or other
lacerated, or hacked.
pictorial elements.
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

ABSTRACT
EXPRESSIONISM FUTURISM
EXPRESSIONISM
Uses large canvasses It presents the world solely from a It emphasizes and glories themes
Lack of refinement in the subjective perspective, distorting it associated with contemporary
application of paint, strong color radically for emotional effect in concepts of the future, including
uneven brush and rough texture. order to evoke moods or ideas. speed and technology.
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

SURREALISM FAUVISM DADAISM

It tries to reveal a new and higher Themes are either ethical,
Came from the french word "Dada"
reality than that of life. They try to philosophical, or psychological.
meaning hobby horse. Dadaist
claim to create a magical world It uses extreme bright color.
reacted to what they believe were
more beautiful than the real one Most of the fauves tried to paint
outworn traditions in art and the evils
through art. It came from the slang pictures of comfort, joy and they saw in the society.
of super realism. pleasure.
CONTENT IN ART
 CONTENT IN ART

FACTUAL CONVENTIONAL SUBJECTIVE

MEANING MEANING MEANING
The most rudimentary level of
meaning for it may be extracted Pertains to the acknowledged
When subjectivities are consulted, a
from the identifiable for interpretation of the artwork using
variety of meanings may arise when
recognizable forms in the artwork motifs, signs and symbols and other
a particular work of art is read
and understanding how these cyphers as bases of its meanings.
elements relate to one another
THE END