ENG 102: Art Appreciation

Module 5: Elements and Principles of Visual Arts

Week 6: October 10-16, 2022 |1st Semester, S.Y. 2022-2023

Introduction

Behind an artist’s craft is an interweave of elements and principles. The artist may
manipulate the elements and apply the principles of art to produce a unique
expression of his thoughts and feelings. On the other hand, the elements and
principles may be observed and analyzed by the viewers so they could understand
the artist’s perspective.
COURSE MODULE

In this module, you will identify the various elements and principles of visual arts
so you will know how to comprehend art based on the artist’s decisions of the
elements s/he incorporated, and how s/he has portrayed the elements and
principles to express effectively his/her artwork’s meaning and context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Define elements and principles of art;

• Identify the elements of visual arts;
• Recognize the principles of visual arts, and
• Exhibit the elements and principles of visual arts.

Elements vs. Principles

Before we talk about the core concepts of this module, it is important that we know the
differences between an element and a principle in relation to arts.

When we talk about elements, we are talking of the basic components that make up the
artwork. Elements are observable parts of the artwork, particularly with visual arts, which are
directly seen by the eyes or directly felt by the sense of touch.

On the other hand, the principles are the rules that the artist follow or defy from. Principles
cannot be seen immediately, rather have to be reflected upon, because these are decisions
that the artist has made so s/he could achieve what is ought to be exhibited or portrayed in
the work.

Take the artwork above as an example—The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika

Hokusai. One element we could pick out from this whole image is the lines that make the
wave. However, the lines are curved, in which, by principle, means change and fluidity. This
is the reason why the artist incorporated the line element and at the same time chose to
have the lines curved so he could portray rightfully the nature of the wave.
 In the world of arts, elements and principles go hand in hand, in fact, they cannot be
separated because most often than we know, principles drive the artist to manipulate the
elements s/he incorporates in his/her creative process however he/she may choose to. The
elements serve as the tangible and concrete expressions of artistic choices.

The Visual Art Elements and their Underlying Principles

.
Element #1: Line
Lines are used to control where they eyes will lead and focus or are used to delineate
shapes and indicate texture whether it is rough, smooth, thin, or thick. Lines are important
because they indicate movements and directions.

• Horizontal line- expresses serenity, rest, stability in general

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• Vertical line- implies growth, authority, confidence, and poise

• Diagonal line- growth, pursuit, persistence, dynamism
• Curved line- connotes change, direction, movement, femininity, uncertainty, grace
• Jagged line- expresses erraticism, anxiety, turmoil, inconsistency

Let us observe the line element on this painting of a ballerina by Kovalenko.

Element #2: Shape

Shapes are two-dimensional, flat elements that are generally enclosed spaces. Shapes
in art can be used to control how the viewer perceives a piece. There are two major
classifications of shape which are the organic and the geometric shapes.

Organic shapes are those with a natural look and a flowing and curving appearance.
They are typically irregular or asymmetrical and are associated with things from the natural
world, like plants and animals. On the other hand, geometric shapes are circles, rectangles,
squares, triangles and so on, that have the clear edges one achieves when using tools to
create them. Most geometric shapes are easily measurable.

Shapes actually tell us which belongs to nature and what is man-made because we
recognize them from what is around us.
 Element #3: Form
Form connotes something that is three-dimensional and encloses volume, having length,
width, and height, versus shape, which is two-dimensional, or flat. A form is a shape in three
dimensions, and, like shapes, can be geometric or organic.

Element #4: Color

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Color is the element of art that involves light. It is produced when light waves strike an
object and are reflected into our eyes. It consists of three properties: hue, intensity, and value.

Hue simply refers to the name that is given to a color, such as red, yellow, blue, purple,
green, orange, etc. On the other hand, intensity (or saturation) refers to the purity or
dullness of a color. Purity is determined by whether or not a color has been mixed with
another color and if so, to what degree. Colors straight from the tube are considered the
most intense. Those mixed with other colors are considered less intense. There are two
methods that can be used to dull the intensity of a color: 1) Mix the color with gray, and 2)
Mix the color with its complement. Lastly, value is the lightness or darkness of a color. A color’s
value changes when white or black is added. Adding white creates a “tint” of that color and
adding black creates a “shade”.

Using color effectively in the creation of art involves understanding three basic areas:
the color wheel, color value, and color schemes or as it is also referred to, color harmony.
The Color Wheel

Basic Color Wheel

The color wheel (sometimes called a color circle) is a handy tool often used by artists and
interior decorators as a visual aid in understanding the relationship between colors. It was
developed in 1666 by Sir Isaac Newton when he took the color spectrum and bent it into a
circle. The color wheel is a circular chart divided into 12 sections with each sector showing a
different color. It is made up of three different types of colors – primary, secondary, and
tertiary. The term “tertiary” means third, by the way.

Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These colors are equally distanced apart on the
color wheel. There only three primary colors and they are the most basic colors on the wheel.
They cannot be created by mixing any other colors together and can only be derived
through natural pigments. All other colors found on the color wheel can be mixed from these
three basic colors.
 Secondary colors are orange, green and purple (or violet). These colors are created from
mixing equal parts of any two primary colors together.

Red + yellow = orange

Yellow + blue = green
Blue + red = violet (purple)
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Tertiary colors are red-purple, red-orange, blue-green, blue-purple, yellow-green, and

yellow-orange. There are six tertiary colors and they are the result from mixing equal parts of
a primary color with a secondary color. The proper way to refer to tertiary colors is by listing
the primary color first and then the secondary color. That’s why tertiary colors are referred to
by a two word name.

Red + violet (purple) = red-violet (red-purple)

Red + orange = red-orange
Blue + green = blue-green
Blue + violet (purple) = blue-violet (blue-purple)
Yellow + orange = yellow-orange
Yellow + green = yellow-green

Element #5: Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of art. We associate textures with the way
that things look or feel. Everything has some type of texture. We describe things as being
rough, smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and so on.

Texture is experienced in two ways — with touch (tactile) and with our eyes (visually). Fine
artists often use texture in the following ways to:

• create a focal point

• add interest
• provide contrast
• visually balance their compositions

Texture is essential in paintings to make objects appear to be real. Even in abstract

paintings texture can serve to enhance the viewers experience by suggesting certain feelings
or mood regarding the artwork. Texture can also serve to organize and unify various areas of
a composition.
 Texture can either add to or take away from the overall effect of the composition. When
it is used haphazardly or in the wrong way, it can confuse or clutter the painting. However,
when used with deliberate skill, texture will bring a composition together creating the illusion
of realism and adding unity.

Element #6: Space

Space refers to the distance between or the area around and within shapes, forms, colors
and lines. Space can be positive or negative. It includes the background, foreground and
middle ground. Both positive and negative space can play important roles in the overall
success of a work of art. By understanding the difference between the two, you will:

• Become better at designing unified compositions.

• Be more successful in visually communicating your story.
• Gain important clues about the meaning of an art piece.
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There are two types of space that exist within art — positive space and negative space.
Positive space is the actual objects or shapes within an artwork and negative space is the
space around and between those objects. A good way to demonstrate positive and
negative space is by utilizing Rubin’s vase. (Refer to illustration.) As you can see the vase
occupies what would be referred to as positive space and the space surrounding the vase
is negative space. Notice how the negative space is forming silhouettes of two faces in
profile.

Positive Space

Positive space is the area or part of the composition that an object or subject occupies.
It is usually the main focus of the painting, such as a vase of flowers, fruit, or candle in a still
life, a person’s face in a portrait, or an animal in a wild life painting, or a building, trees and
hills in a landscape. When used skillfully, positive space will add interest by enhancing and
balancing the negative space in a composition.

Negative Space

Negative space is that empty or open space that surrounds an object. It helps to define
the object, gives it some breathing room to prevent the painting from being too crowded
and has a huge impact on how the art piece is perceived.

An interesting thing about negative space is it can be used to prompt viewers to seek
out subtle hidden images within the negative space causing your design to get more
attention and to be remembered while other less interesting works aren’t.

Why is negative space so important?

• It can add interest and is an excellent way to draw attention to your works of art. A
good balance between great negative space and intrigue will cause the viewer to
desire more time looking at your work of art.
 • It can draw the viewer in giving them a sense of inclusion because they discovered
a subtle hidden message or image in the composition. Even though it may be a
simple composition, great negative space reveals there is more to the piece than
first meets the eye making it a more rewarding experience for the viewer.
• It gives the eye a “place to rest,” thereby adding to the subtle appeal of the
composition. The equal amounts of both negative and positive is considered by
many to be good design.

Element #7: Value

Value is a basic element of art that refers to the gradual change of lightness or darkness
of a color. It is created when a light source shines upon an object creating highlights, form
shadows and cast shadows.
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Value is most evident on the gray scale where black is represented as lowest or darkest
and white is represented as the highest or lightest value. Or more simply said, they are the
various shades of grey between white and black. Artists us them to create highlights and
shadows (shading) in objects and create depth in their paintings or drawings.

Colors can have value too. In painting, value changes can be achieved by adding either
black or white to the chosen color. Some colors, like yellow and orange, are naturally light in
value.

For your Activity, Quiz, and PIT, kindly ask your Art Appreciation instructor.

• Sonsona, et al. (n.d.) Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression. PanAsia

Book Exchange Inc. Philippines.
 ENG 102: Art Appreciation
Modules 6B: Mediums and Techniques: Music; Auditory Arts; and
Combined (Auditory and Performing) Arts

Weeks 7: October 10-15, 2022 |1st Semester, S.Y. 2022-2023

Introduction
After our successful live virtual tour at Singapore witnessing its majestic sculptures,
infrastructures and architectures, we are moving on in appreciating music, auditory
and combined (auditory and performing) arts. For these two weeks, we will explore
and re-discover our God-given talents and potentials and sharing them with our
peers our gift of music and performing arts.
COURSE MODULE

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Identify and differentiate the various mediums in music, auditory and
performing arts
• Showcase one’s gift and talent in music, auditory and performing arts
through a recorded presentation

The Medium of Music

There is a saying which says, “The language of the soul is music.” It is music that we
are able to express how we feel and experience in music. Its material is imbedded
with sound. Music produces sound while tones are produced by man-made
instruments and by the human voice.

There are three mediums produced by music: (1) produced by instruments by

vibrators like piano and guitars wherein strings produce the sound or music (i.e.
musical instrument objects that are made to produce sound and resonators (i.e.
sound produced by any instrument that amplifies the vibrators or reinforcing the
sound like the “belly” of a stringed instrument; (2) produced by groups of musical
instruments; and (3) music or sound produced by human voices.

These are the FOUR GROUPS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:

1. Stringed. It is made of string and produces a hollow sound box across which
nylon, wire or guts strings are stretched. Stringed musical instruments are
composed of the smallest (e.g. violin, viola, etc.) to the biggest (e.g. cello,
double bass). The smaller instruments produce the higher tone; the bigger ones
produce the lower tone. The stringed instruments are considered as important
pieces of the orchestra.

The harp is optional in an orchestra. On the other hand, it is one of the oldest
stringed instruments.

The guitar is the most popular stringed instrument. However, it is seldom used in
the orchestra but always part of the jazz band. It is always used to accompany
the singing of the folksongs. It could also be used as a solo instrument. A classical
 guitar is used to accompany a solo player while the electric guitar is used to
play with amplifiers.

2. Woodwind Instruments. These are found behind the stringed instruments in an

orchestra. It is played by blowing into them. Examples of wood wind instruments
are the following:

2.1 Flute is a slender pipe made of

wood and metal. It is a melody Bamboo and Metal
Flutes
instrument. It is often played a solo
part in the orchestral composition. Source: Google Images

2.2 Piccolo is replica of the flute and

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woodwind with reed at the Source: Google Images

mouthpieces.

2.3 Clarinet is a flat piece of cane

Clarinet Family
place against a flat surface. It is a
cylindrical, and it plays alto when Source: Google Images

the flute places the melody.

2.4 Oboe is a slender instrument about

the same length as the flute. The Source: Google Images

tone is nasal.

2.5 Cor-Anglais is known as English

horn. It usually plays solo passage
expressing sadness and mystery. Source: Google Images

2.6 Bassoon is longer and larger than

the others. It looks like two wooden
tubes fastened together. When it
plays solo, it often suggests the
humorous or the grotesque.
Source: Google Images

2.7 Double Bassoon is longer than the

bassoon. Its ends point upward
instead or downward like the
others. It produces the lowest tones
among the woodwinds.

2.8 Saxophone is not a regular

member of the orchestra. Although
made of brass, it is classified as
woodwind, equipped with a reed.

Source: Google Images

3. Brass Instruments. These are made of cylindrical brass metal of varying length. It
is either doubled on itself or coiled for ease in handling and expands into a bell-
shaped end. In the orchestra, it is positioned at the back of the woodwind.
These are the brass instruments:

The trumpet produces a piercing tone. It is associated with martial pomp.

The French Horn is the most expressive member of the brass choir.
 The Sliding Trombone has sliding u-shaped tubes that change the length of the
vibrating column of air inside the tube.

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Other brass instruments are Cornet, and the Tuba is the biggest of all the brass
instruments that produce a low tone.

4. Percussion Instruments. These are instruments played by means of sharp striking

of one body against another. It is composed of all instruments played by striking.
It is used to emphasize the rhythm, generate excitement and enliven the
orchestral sound. It also highlights the program when it is about to end. Examples
of the percussion instruments are the following:

4.1 Chimes are instruments consist of a

set of tuned metal tubes of
different lengths, suspended from a
frame and struck with a hammer. It
is frequently used to imitate church
bells. Chimes

Source: Google Images

4.2 Glockenspiel is a series of tuned
steel plate, variously arranged on a
table like frame.
Glockenspiel
4.3 Bell-lyre is a lyre shaped form
attached when used in the Source: Google Images

marching bands.
Bell-lyre
4.4 Xylophone is made of tuned
Source: Google Images
wooden blocks which produce
clicking sounds when struck. It is
associated with exotic dance
music.

Other percussion instruments are tambourine, maracas, triangle, cymbals and

castanets (i.e. an instrument used to accompany the Mexican dance
“flamingo”.

Source: Google Images

 5. Keyboard Instruments. These are equipped with keyboards which occasionally
play with the symphony orchestra.

5.1 Piano is the most familiar keyboard

instrument. It is also a stringed
instrument because it produces
sound with the striking of the string
when the keyboard is also struck. It
is used to accompany solo or
choral singing. It is indispensable to
musician in studying their scores.

5.2 Organ is once regarded as the

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“King of the Instrument” because it

has all the sound of the different
instruments used to accompany
the organ.

5.3 Celesta is a keyboard that consists

of series of small steel bars placed
over resonators. It sounds like soft
chimes. It is the keyboard mostly
used by old churches.

6. Musical Group. These are the following musical groups:

The Orchestra is a big gathering of instrumentalists with the string instruments as

its nucleus. It is headed and controlled by a Conductor, the person entrusted
with the tremendous task of controlling some one hundred players at a time in
an orchestra.

The responsibilities of a conductor are the following: (a) Selecting the program
for each concert; (b) Studies the score – a written record of the composer’s
work and contains every single note; and (c) It determines how he or she wants
the piece to be played. Rehearsing is the conductor’s most important job.

The Orchestra

Source: Google Images

The Chamber Music is a music performed before small audiences in private

rooms.
 The Band is smaller and mostly composed of wind and percussion instruments. It
is a musical group that performs in town fiestas.

7. Philippine Instrumental Group. These are the musical groups formed in the
country:

7.1 Philippine Rondalla is the best

known Philippine instrumental
grouping today. It is a band made
up mostly of stringed instruments.

7.2 Pangkat Kawayan is a Philippine

musical ensemble composed of
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instruments made of bamboo. Source: Google Images

7.3 Musikang Bumbong is a set of

western – like wind instruments
made of bamboo, some brass
instruments and a bamboo-bodied
bass drum. It is composed of
instruments made of bamboo. It is
a Philippine musical ensemble.

8. Human Voice. This is human’s most wonderful instrument. It is used by humans to

express themselves through music. It is an instrument out of humankind’s
inventions. It is unique. It has the ability to combine two mediums of
communication: Speech and Music. Acapella (music produced out of human
voices) is an example of this. Please check this video from Pitch Perfect’s riff off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGdz2rMbTIM.

Classification of the Human Voice

Soprano –female high pitch

Alto – female low pitch
Mezzo-Soprano – a voice combining the attributes of both soprano and alto

Tenor – male high pitch

Bass – male low pitch
Baritone – lying between the tenor and bass for male

Auditory Arts
Auditory is the gift to listen and appreciate what is heard such as music, poetry,
concert and the like.

MUSIC

The “language of the soul” is the silent way to communicate with one another
through the beats, sounds of the instruments, complimented with the beating of
one’s heart and soul. Indeed, besides the visual arts, music is one of the well-
known mediums of sharing and communicating one’s experiences, emotions
complimented with the beautiful blending of the musical instruments and
human voices. Putting them together, one will create and produce a magical
and enchanting musical piece.

Music is a form of art that also serves as a cultural activity which medium is
sound. It is cultural because the kind of music that an individual and group of
people belongs to in terms of practices, traditions, cultural background and
country influences. It is not only the melody, lyric of the music, but also its
interpretation and the musical instruments it needed to be used. It also involves
the pitch, tempo, harmonies and blending if both human and instruments used.
 The Elements and Principles of Music

Some artist may define enumerate the elements and principles of music into the
following (a) rudimentary elements that pertain to the initial stages of how it
started which is basically on a form of communication – grammar, words, etc.
It the early stages, it started as a form of chant, ritual to celebrate harvest, the
start of hunting period or even a wedding and other traditional practices.

During the 1930’s, the age of psychoacoustics has begun. Music started to
make change were in pitch, timbre and harmony were incorporated. This is
called (b) perceptual elements. In the book Psychology of Music by Carl E.
Seashore (1967), he identified the four elements and how it was used and
manipulated in terms of its loudness and how it should be played in terms of its
COURSE MODULE

speed.

These are the following four elements:

1. Pitch in music refers to what and how we hear one musical sound produced
either by a musical instrument or a human voice. It refers to the highness,
lowness of a sound, a note or a tone. Sound is a sensation, a soothing
blending and vibration of the surrounding with the use of the medium of
music. It is pleasant, desired, relevant, characterized by the fluctuation of
the vibrations of human and musical instruments. It has harmony. On the
other hand, noise is unpleasant, deafening, undesired and opposite to the
descriptions of what sound is.
Enriching your knowledge on pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkOJQmaFGNw

2. Rhythm refers to how sounds, silence and pausing are arranged within the
accordance of time. It is associated with the physical motion. It is the basic
element of music, the length and accentuation of sounds. Beat is its
fundamental component (pulse in music, stamping of the feet, clapping of
the hands, tapping on the table, etc.). Meter, on the other hand, refers to
the regular or irregular occurrences of the various accepted or unaccepted
beats. It is how the rhythm is arranged and fixed with certain regular patterns
that have uniform or similar number of beats and measurements. It also
refers how beats are grouped and measured.
Enriching your knowledge on rhythm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DjoipqbkC8 and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBG3AN4qQ0

3. Texture/Timbre refers to the total or overall way on how music sound, the
musical piece either of musical instruments or human voices are composed
and blended with one another (producing range, low and high pitches,
human voices or musical instruments, etc.). Hence, it is also called as the
“color” of a musical sound (e.g. thickness would refer to the use of more
than one instruments all put together).

The relationship between the parts or lines of music are shown in the
following:

3.1 Monophony refers to a type of texture that has single melody or tune,
with no musical accompaniment or additional human voice (e.g.
lullaby).

3.2 Heterophony refers to when it is composed of two or more instruments or

human voices playing or singing the same melody, but each instrument
and singer vary in rhythm and speed adding special characteristics to
the instruments and singers (e.g. second voice or two voices in a song
like “A Whole New World”).

3.3 Polyphony refers to the various and multiple independent use and
applications of melody lines working and blending together, either sung
or played at the same time. In polyphony, different group of singers
 classified according to their pitch all sing together at a different or similar
time (e.g. acapella singing, choral singing with or without instruments).

3.4 Homophony is a time of musical texture wherein the melody is provided

or supported by chordal accompaniment.
Enriching your knowledge on texture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teh22szdnRQ

4. Melody is the next important element. This is considered as the most

important element of music associated with the mental motion and
sometimes called the memory elements because it is what the listener
always remembers.
Enriching your knowledge on melody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cnSY5Z7Ubk
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5. Tempo refers to the speed of a certain musical piece. It may be slow, quick
or moderate. A wrong or unsuitable tempo may affect or damage a song.
Tempos may be identified based on the following: (a) largo – meaning to
go very slow; (b) adagio – to go slow and stately; (c) andante – to go at a
walking pace; (d) andantino – to go alternatively faster or slower than
andante; (e) allegretto – to go moderately fast; (f) allegro – to go fast; (g)
presto – to go very fast; (h) accelerando – to go gradually becoming faster;
and (i) ritardando to gradually becoming slower.
Enriching your knowledge on tempo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvKR6FdMdLk

6. Dynamics refers to the degree of strength and volume of the sound. It refers
to the force or control when music is either played from soft to loud. The
shading of music is important in order to bring about the quality and beauty
of a musical piece.
Enriching your knowledge on dynamics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsctgL7U_Dc

7. Expression is one important element, not usually mentioned in some books,

that serves as the emotion as seen in the face and in the voice. It is important
that the facial expression matches or compliments the expression as
perceived in the song.
Enriching your knowledge on expression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUOpj29BrbI

Combined (Auditory and Performing) Arts

In art, there are combined forms such as auditory and performing arts. These
are found in the following:

DANCE

If music is the language of the soul, dance is a communication making use of

the movement of the body. It consists of interval purposeful selections of various
human movements with the use of music or rhythm. For others, dance could be
a form of recreation.

During the early period, dances just like music are part of the traditional and
religious rituals, magical commemorative, ceremonial as well as testimonial.
However, the 20th century saw the evolution of dance. From the traditional forms
and rituals, it is now part of keeping healthy, athletic and maintaining good
figures, as well as the discovery of other and new steps.

The Elements of Dance

1. Theme is an element that refers to the story where in it conveys or evoked

emotions. It is the basic element that conveys a message. Classical ballet
deals with romantic stories about mythical characters and situations.
 Modern dance concert revolves around themes from folklore and poetry,
as well as current events and social problems.
Enriching your knowledge on theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLSrI_hXEw

2. Movement is the fundamental element of the dance. The dancers can

externalize an inner state or condition and thus, communicate with the
audience by the means of movements. It results from the need to express
an emotional or physical state or condition. It occurs in space and must
convey a certain kind of quality that is purposive or emotional. It is a given
form and structure of choreography. It also involves the dancer’s technique
on how a dancer executes his or her body actions that include the steps,
gestures of arms, hands, head, feet including facial expressions.
Enriching your knowledge on movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGuD9Geeb2k
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3. Music serves as the background where the dancer can easily and
rhythmically convey its movements. The music must relate to the dance in
order to motivate the movement of the dance.
Enriching your knowledge on music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqHt2VeYJN4

4. Spectacle is the ability to create an impact on the audience by sequencing

the movements and music it creates. It consists of the costumes that help
create the characters of each dancer. Parts of the spectacles are the
costumes that they design, choose, prepare and wear, that at times
matches the props or backgrounds that go with the setting that will highlight
or provide additional creativity that will further enrich the dance
presentation.
Enriching your knowledge on spectacle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-H1hH_CHAM

All the elements are incorporated in all the different kind of dances from the
following (a) folk dance or ethnic dance that depicts and describes people’s
beliefs, practices, traditions, customs and rituals; (b) theatrical dances that
perform as entertainment for audience in theaters such as ballet, modern
dances, musical comedy and tap dancing; and (c) ballroom dances that are
performed for entertainment and now at the present time as part of a
competition. Ballroom dances are usually danced in pairs (e.g. swing, foxtrot,
cha-cha, boogie, tango, rhumba) and groups (e.g. waltz ideally danced with
a group of more than five pairs).

THEATER

It is a form of literature written by a playwright that consists of dialogues.

Sometimes it is being sung between and among the characters for the purpose
of their performances. Many of these plays are either performed for broadways,
regional, local, community theaters or presentations like the school plays. A play
can both refer to written texts or playwright for the inclusion of their complete
performance.
Enriching your knowledge on theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npCgALW2eks

In the Philippines, local plays include the “cenaculo” depicting the story, life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ in existing stage set up for community and public
viewing. The modern version of which that show cased and presented in the
movie and stages was “Jesus Christ Superstar” a rock version of the life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ performed by well-known Hollywood actors and
actresses.
Enriching your knowledge on cenaculo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53YwvHgud9Q

The Elements

1. The Script or the play. It is considered to be one of the important elements

of theater. It serves as the blue print not only in building a production but
also in the choice of the casts or characters for the play.
 2. The Plot refers to the process by which the playwright’s work is put into
picture and realization by the directors and his staff, his or her actors, the
stage designers, technicians and all the other collaborators. This is what they
call the “the works in progress on stage”.

3. The Music is one of the important elements in theater play. It gives life and
color to the presentation. Sometimes, it is the musical piece that registers
and what is being remembered more on the part of the audience. It
provides additional drama and climax to the story.
Enriching your knowledge on music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY5afLuAKNc

4. The Costumes refer to the dress that the casts are supposed to wear to give
meaning and significance to the play. Other than the appropriateness of
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the costume colors and texture should also be a consideration in order to

add color and life to the stage as well as to attract the attention of the
audience.
Enriching your knowledge on costumes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYAph4qI4sg

CINEMA

It is a complex process that involves the capturing of images with the object
called camera and projected on screen. It is one medium that has the greatest
appeal to people. It embraces many types of films or movies such as cartoons,
news, commercial, news commercial, industrial films, educational films, social
documentaries and even home movies.

Its Elements

1. Time is the most important element of cinema since it moves with time. It is
subjected to contraction, expansion, breaks or leaps through the
manipulation of the Director. It has three aspects of time:

It can be distorted through several ways:

1.1 Physical Time refers to the time taken by an action as it is being filmed
and as it is projected on the screen. It shows what is actually happening
in real life.

1.1.1 Slow motion refers to action performed in a slow motion or

movements in a film. It is achieved when the frame captures or
takes the pictures at a rate faster than when it will be played
back.

1.1.2 Accelerated motion refers to motion or action that occurs when

the camera takes pictures slower than the projector can run
them on the screen.

1.1.3 Reverse motion is achieved when it conveys an undoing of time.

In reverse motion, the end of the action is shown first then the
action is retrace from its beginning.

1.1.4 Stopped motion is an action wherein time is expressed with a shot

in a film that is fixed and cannot be changed. However, there
are instances wherein motions maybe altered like when the
chronological flow of events is interrupted by images of past
events that is called flashbacks. Another way of achieving
stopped motion in through flash forward was in the future events
interrupted the forward movement. To achieve the flash forward
movement, several devices maybe resorted to keep the
interruptions distinct from the present and provide transition from
one another.
 1.2 Psychological time refers to our emotional expression of the duration of
the action that we experience as we watch a film. In real life, it is how
our mental state effects the way time passes for us. A very good
example of films that actually affect us psychologically is suspense,
which consists of delaying resolution of a situation that arouses and
maintains continues interest on the outcome of the story of the film. In
fact, there are even times when we can hardly forget the situation and
offer other possible solutions to have avoided such an incident.

1.3 Dramatic time refers to the time taken up by the events depicted in the
films. The cinema may use Story Line that will cover a single day in the
life of the character or the whole story of a civilization to connect the
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present with the past to fully appreciate and understand the story.

It also includes story that embraces long period that may be used as
flashbacks, prologue or epilogue. Others use dramatic time that may
embrace short period by making use of repetition of the same events.

2. Space refers to instrument or the contributory factors in achieving realness

or reality of the objects. On the screen, the image is only flat and that our
perception of depth is just an illusion. Hence, cinema makes use of materials
in order to provide illusions to put some meaning and realities to the settings.
It scales the size of the objects on the screen and their relation to the
surrounding area because the perception of the size of the objects on the
film is artificial and very much unlike what we experience every day.

Some techniques may also be applied when providing space to the setting.
This is with the use and positioning of the camera (a) angles and shot in order
to achieve an illusion of depth and (b) positioning the camera.

2.1 Three Different Sizes of Shots

2.1.1 Long Shot is achieved when the camera is positioned very far from
the object. Therefore, there is a wide view on a small scale. Its
purpose would be the following: (a) to show the extent of the
location and (b) to show the relationship between the characters
and the setting.

2.1.2 Medium Shot is achieved when taken from an average distance or

medium extent. It is a person’s shot from his or her head to his or her
waist.

2.1.3 Close-up Shot results when the camera is situated so close to the
object that we could distinguish the smallest features of the object.

2.1.4 Lighting is achieved when the positioning of the light desired by a

filmmaker to create areas of the light and dark enabling him or her
to increase or decrease depth.

2.1.5 Shooting Angle allows the director to show his or her concept of the
object or the character in the film. It can be expressed subjectively
of what things are like as they are seen from the point of a
character.

2.2 Three Angles of a Camera

2.2.1 Directly Upward is achieved by taking the picture and angling the
camera upward to make the object appear larger than reality.
Person filmed from the same angle may see, powerful, forceful and
majestic.
 2.2.2 Vertically Downward produces an effect opposite that of the
vertically upward. The object shown here seems small and
insignificant since we seem to see it from a great height. In this case,
the audience or those watching makes us feel superior.

2.2.3 Horizontal creates an impression of closeness or equality among the

characters on the scene. It makes the viewer feel that he or she is
part or on the same level as the characters.

Aside from the positioning and the proper angling of the camera, the
cameraman has the responsibility of operating and eye controlling the
camera to record the objects. In addition, the director takes the
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responsibility and authority in choosing the frames and scenes significant

to the film. He or she arranges the shots and makes use of cutting camera
movement and framing. Framing is a procedure resulting from the
director’s choices, isolation or limitation of the subject or by showing only
what is significant. One way of achieving this responsibility is by the
following techniques.

2.2.4 Cutting is the process of isolating portion of space by focusing our

attention on them and unconsciously ignoring the rest. One image
is made to succeed another without interruption. It consists of
joining shot of a scene with a shot of another thus providing both
shots as having logical connection.

2.2.5 Montague enables the director to show only the scenes the story
requires furthering its action and providing variety. It helps him or her
eliminates unwanted scenes and takes several shots and selects
only those important to his or her story. It uses cutting to build up his
or her story.

Transition Device Camera Techniques

These are the following transition device camera techniques.

Fade is used to show the old image gradually fading out and a brief period of
darkness before the new scene gradually appears.

Dissolve is also called mix. It involves the superimposition of the last positions of
the previous shoot over the nascent portion of the next shot to show two events
happening at the same time.

Iris in – Iris out is one of the favorite devices in silent movies. This involves fade
from the edges of the screen to the center after which the image grows in a
widening circle from the center of the screen.

Turn – over shows whole screen turning over and continuing to the other side.

However, when a character or action is in motion, the camera may also be

used to achieve the objective of providing the scene even in motion. Camera
movement helps us experience the gradual growth of ideas and emotions. A
change of view may be made by the continuous movement of the camera
while shooting instead of something from one shot to another. Some camera
MOVEMENT’S TECHNIQUES are as a follows:

Tracking is a camera movement technique used if the whole camera is

moved bodily while taking pictures of a scene. An example is when the
car or motor bike is moving; a second vehicle with the camera will also
move in the same movement or track with the vehicle and the character,
 or for aerial – a camera maybe attached to the helicopter or drone to
trace the movements and of the character.

Planning is achieved if the camera is kept in the same place but turned
on its axis (e.g. when covering the building); then it is spanned on the
children and then on nature.

Transference Effects is a camera movement wherein the camera may be

moved in such a way as to create familiar experience (e.g. earthquake
effect).

Subjective Effects is a camera movement to show expressions, attitudes,

movements or conversations of characters as they react to a particular
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person or situation.

3. Sound is the result of all the recordings of pitch, tone, intensity, volume and
texture from the theme called soundtrack (i.e. the effects of the different sounds
needed for the film).

Resources on learning about cinema:

Lighting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZg3x8G-clU
Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AGaECt9j4g
Shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CwiBJYUXk
Angles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLfZL9PZI9k
Transition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82keIqP3EMI
Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsUb10HIEUs

The CURATOR

In the world of art, he or she is responsible in interpreting different works,

selecting, classifying, differentiating them, even to the point of labeling them,
doing catalogue essays and other activities that need to support and prepare
an exhibit.

The word curator came from the Latin word “cura” meaning “to take care”. A
curator serves as a manager, overseer and keeper of a cultural heritage either
of an institution, a gallery, museum, library or archive. The content or collection
of an institution is considered to be a heritage material.

To become a curator, he or she needs the right educational background

preferably in art, history and philosophy. He or she should also be passionate
and knowledgeable. He or she also should possess good communication skills
and proficient in writing since they will be responsible in documenting and
cataloguing materials. Hence, the task of a curator requires patience, eye for
art and beauty, aesthetic touch, but above all, it requires them to possess multi-
tasking skills.
COURSE MODULE

References

Sonsona, et al. (n.d.) Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression. PanAsia Book
Exchange Inc. Philippines.
 ENG 102: Art Appreciation
Modules 7 - 10: On Art History
Weeks 8-12: October 24 – Nov. 26, 2022 | 1st Semester, S.Y. 2022-2023

Introduction
We finally identified the elements and principles of art in the previous modules, but we
have not learned yet where all these ideologies came from. Therefore, it is necessary to go
back to history and relearn how these elements and principles have evolved overtime. Since
art is considered metamorphose (meaning, forever changing according to context and
time), we often view art as a forceful influence of history, however, we tend to forget that it
was a two-way process--that art itself has shaped the course of history, yet history has also
shaped how art should be.
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In this module, we will go back in time when art began, and observe how it was able to
adapt with the milestones and evolutions of human thoughts and conditions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Trace back the history of art from its beginning until the present times, and
• Identify the different underlying perceptions of art in different artistic eras.

The Need for Learning the History of Art

Studying art history is quintessential in developing our appreciation for the arts. In this
lesson, we will only focus on the aesthetic significance of the artforms but also its historical,
cultural, and social relevance. Through this discussion of the history of art, we will get to
comprehend the development of art through time, the events that influenced it, and the
major characteristics of the artforms. This module will also involve studying the piece of art by
looking at the composition, elements, styles, and techniques used by prominent artists.
Moreover, this module will attempt to answer the question of why such subjects are shown in
the art piece the way they do. Through this, we will develop in us a deeper sense of
appreciation for the world and acquire fresh perspectives of how we view our day-to-day
living.

Prehistoric Period
Prehistoric art is classified into four types: petroglyphs, pictographs, prehistoric sculptures,
and megalithic art. Examples of petroglyphs are cupules (cup-like scouring of the rock
surface), rock carvings and engravings. On the other hand, pictographs include cave
paintings and drawings. While prehistoric sculptures include small statuettes and relief
sculptures, megalithic art refers to the arrangement of large pieces of stones.

Painting of a bison (c.15,000 BCE) from the Altamira Cave

The primitive men depended on hunting of wild animals for food and clothing, and lived
mostly in caves. With an attempt to represent their beliefs and their world at the time, they
painted images on cave walls and ceilings. These images are later called cave art. Cave arts
 have five principal motifs: animals, human figures, tools and weapons, local maps, and
symbols. They were either engraved, sculpted, or painted on rocks.

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Red Ochre Hand Stencils in the Cave of El Castillo (c.37,300 BCE)

One of the earliest cave arts was found at Altamira, Spain. They are paintings of animals,
mostly bison, boar, deer, and horse. These paintings are unique since they composed of
many different colors and the animals are depicted in life-size proportions with great
accuracy. There was also abstract art found in the cave, in the form of signs and symbols.

Another example of cave art is hand art. The prints were obtained by either pressing the
hands smeared with red, black and white substances on the walls of the cave or by outlining
the hands on the walls. These hand paintings are found at Catal Huyuk in Turkey, El Castillo
and Altamira in Spain, and Laussel and Gargas in France.

Sculptures were also made during this period. One of the first works of sculpture is fertility
statues. Example of this is Venus of Willendorf showing a plump female figure in which the
breasts and hips were emphasized to suggest a strong connection of women to fertility.

Venus of Willendorf (25,000 BCE)

The Stonehenge stands as a prehistoric stone circle monument also believed to be a

cemetery situated about 8 miles north of Salisbury, England. Scientists believed that this was
built on six stages for around 3000 and 1520 BCE, from the Neolithic Period to Bronze Age. This
is a unique structure as seen on its artificially shaped sarsen stones made of blocks of
Cenozoic silcrete.
 Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, England
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The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans

Egyptians
Ancient Egypt is one of the earliest and important civilizations. Ancient Egypt is closely
knit with religion, and they believe in immortality of life after death. They also give importance
to the spirit (ka) which is why they make sure to shelter it after death to ensure its continued
existence. Thus, they preserve the image of the dead in painting and sculpture and through
mummification.

Anubis Weighing the Soul of the Scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 BCE

Egyptian art is based on perfection, reflecting the ideal world of the gods. Most of its art
is functional, mainly to serve as the home for a spirit of their loved ones, their kings or their
gods. An example of their art is the Pyramids (Egyptian architecture). The pyramid is one of
the greatest ancient architectures. It is made of huge stones quarried and transported for
miles. Its base is a perfect square, showing their belief in perfection. They build pyramids to
house the remains of their dead kings or pharaohs. Inside these pyramids are painted and
inscribed sarcophagi that narrates the lives of their leaders and images of Osiris (the god of
the underworld), Isis (wife of Osiris) and other deities. These arts are not meant to be seen in
public as they are regarded sacred, however, through discovery of the modern human,
these artifacts are retrieved by archeologists and scientists.

Greeks
Greek art is divided into three periods: Archaic, Classical or Hellenic, and Hellenistic.

In the archaic period, the arts were dominated with in linear geometric designs and
human figures. These geometric designs are painted in their vases. One of their famous
sculptures is the kourus—a nude male figure.
COURSE MODULE

Spear Bearer (Dyrophoros) 450-44 BCE. Polykleitos of Argos (Roman copy of bronze original)

The classical or Hellenic period is considered the golden age of Athens for it is when there
were various cultural achievements. It is the period when aesthetic ideals were developed
and became the point reference of art. These Greek ideals gave emphasis on form,
intellectual order, harmony, perfect proportion, and balance (which were considered the
early forms of art elements).

When the Greek culture were interwoven with the oriental culture, then came the
Hellenistic period. Art became dynamic, flexible, and truthful. It showed more honest views
of humanity (the imperfections of human), and emotions of the subjects.

One important information of Greek art is that the Greeks pioneered the building of
temples, and other public buildings which were stylistically divided into “orders,” specifically
Doric (Regions of Olympia, mainland Greece and Italy), Ionic (Regions of Ionia, Aegean
Islands and Asia Minor) and Corinthian (Region of Bassae). These names manifest the regional
locations and distinctions of the various Greek areas.

The Three Major Orders of Greek Architecture

www.quia.com/pages/rbarr/rrgrkarch
Romans
The Romans conquered the Greek civilization because they wanted to have the system
of the Greeks’ advanced civilization, and when they conquered, they also adopted most of
the Greeks’ art forms and techniques. However, they portrayed art in a more realistic and
natural form. Their paintings would showcase their environment. Still life, landscapes, and
architectural motifs were common subjects.
 In sculptures, the Romans preferred to sculpt portraits, also called busts. The sculpted
figures served to venerate the authority figures. An example of this is the bust of Julius Caesar.
Large equestrian statues were also developed which served as symbol of dynamic authority
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Bust of Julius Ceasar

The Romans used concrete to reinforce their buildings. Of special significance is their
invention of the vaulting system of construction. The rounded arch, the vault and the dome
were used in their buildings primarily because it can span a large space than the post and
lintel system o the Greeks. An astounding example of Roman architecture is the Colosseum.

The Colosseum built around 70-80 AD

Medieval
Medieval art is classified into four major periods and styles: Early Christian, Byzantine,
Romanesque and Gothic.

The art of the Early Christians emphasized the spiritual and religious. Christian images
(Christ and the saints) and symbols dominate the art in this period. The early Christian
churches were in a basilica type of structure. The first known Christian church is the old Basilica
of St. Peter in Rome.
COURSE MODULE

Mosaic Icon of the Virgin Glykophilousa, 13 th Century

On the other hand, Byzantine art is a combination of Classical and Asian traditions.
Byzantine aimed to create a reflection of heaven. The artists make icons portraying Christ,
the crucifixion, Mary, and other representational religious works. Examples of art produced in
this period are mosaic, illuminated manuscripts, fresco wall paintings, and panel painting.
Islamic architecture was also built. Hagai Sophia in Constantinople is a major example of
Byzantine architecture.

Romanesque would mean the manner of the Romans. This started later part of the 11 th
century to the 12th. Fresco wall paintings and architectural wall paintings were common
during the Romanesque period. Frescoes are paintings on walls and ceilings while the plaster
wall is still wet, when the plaster dries the painting sets into the wall. Architectural sculpture is
one of the most important art forms to emerge in this period. These are sculptures used to
decorate the churches. Church buildings were built using the Romanesque style—round
arches combined with heavy walls and columns.

Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers

The last style of medieval art is Gothic art. This period links Romanesque art with
Renaissance. Architecture is the main form of expression of this period. A distinctive
characteristic of a Gothic cathedral is it has high, pointed spikes pointing upwards which
symbolizes an expression of faith. Pointed arches also replaced the rounded arches of the
Romanesque architecture style. Stained glass and tapestries also decorate the interior of
buildings.
COURSE MODULE

Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy

Renaissance (The Age of Enlightenment)

Renaissance comes from the French word “rebirth.” In this period there were discoveries
in art and sciences. Religious images were commonly depicted in their paintings and
sculptures with precise anatomical features (based on earliest studies of science). It was
during this period that easel paintings become popular. Renaissance artists portray their
subjects as natural as possible, seeking to capture the beauty and mystery of the natural
world. Modeling, shading and geometrical/linear perspective were also used in their
paintings to achieve a three-dimensional effect.

The Creation of Adam, c. 1511, Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel Ceiling)

Famous artists during this period were Giotto, Massaccio, and the three Great Masters-
Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Raphael Sanzio.

School of Athens, 1509-1511, Raphael

 Giotto and Massaccio were the first artists to portray their subjects realistically, with
expression and gestures. Leonardo da Vinci is named the “Renaissance Man” because of his
intellect, wide range of interests, and talent. However, when it comes to art, both da Vinci
and Michelangelo showed astounding details of the human body in their paintings and
sculptures, while Raphael, being the youngest of the three, was more popular for his
“Madonnas (Mother and child).”

Mannerism
Also known as Late Renaissance, Mannerism comes from the Italian word “maniera”
which means “stylishness.” This art movement which originated from Florence, Italy refers to
a stylized, exaggerated approach in painting and sculpture. Mannerist artist stressed the
individual way of painting, the personal vision and pictorial understanding of things (how one
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perceives something, which may be different from one another), which is a concept of
individualism. Mannerist artists were followers of Renaissance masters but set their own goals,
created their style, and turned against traditional conventions—breaking the “elitist” form of
art.

Madonna with Long Neck, 1534, Parmigianino

Subjects were portrayed artificial and less naturalistic because Mannerists put high value
on the portrayal of human body that are gracefully, yet oddly positioned. Elongated limbs
and stylized facial features were common motifs, and unlike the preciseness of play between
shadow and light of the Renaissance artforms, Mannerist art tends to look flat in perspective.
 Baroque
Baroque comes from the Portuguese word “barocco” which means “irregular pearl or
stone.” The theme of its paintings and sculptures are still religious, however, more of the
elements of the Catholic dogma.
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The Ecstasy of St. Theresa, 1652

Baroque art is characterized by drama, movement, energy, and restlessness. A new

technique, chiaroscuro, was developed in this period. This technique is achieved by
contrasting light and shade in painting and management of shadow to create an illusion of
depth. The paintings are open composition, meaning the lines, shapes and elements make
the image dynamic as if it was moving and suddenly frozen. There is this sense of movement
in the picture—the eyes of the viewer move from one area of the painting to another. Painters
portray strong movement using spirals and upward diagonals, and strong color schemes to
dazzle and surprise the audience.

Upclose image of The Ecstasy of St. Theresa, 1652

When it comes to architecture, Baroque buildings are highly ornamented which create
spectacle and illusion. Churches, mainly, were adorned with statues to accentuate their
glory. Domes and roofs were enlarged.

With music, Baroque is one of the richest and most diverse periods in music history. The
different forms of Baroque music are cantata, concerto, sonata, oratorio, and opera which
all originated from Italy.

Want to listen to Baroque Music? Click on this link: (563) "Gershwin on the Ganges" - YouTube
 Rococo
Rococo is a continuation of the Baroque but in a lighter, more graceful tone and has a
more decorative effect. Rococo comes from the word rocaille meaning “shell.” Artists would
mix seashells, pebbles, and other organic elements to create a naturalistic inspired work.
Rococo art is French style distinguished because of its elaborately designed artworks that
aimed to please rather than to instruct.

The paintings were detail-oriented, ornate, and elaborately decorative and in pastel
tone. Jean Antoine Watteau is considered the father of Rococo Art. Its subject is aristocratic;
people are depicted socializing in pastoral landscapes. Other artists, however, like Francois
Boucher is famous for his erotic imagery.
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Thomas Gainsborough, Giovanna Baccelli, 1782

Rococo architecture has no particular meaning. It is mainly a style of ornament and

interior design. Painted ornaments decorate the interior. Color harmonies based on gold,
white, pink, blue, green, and white are used to generate sunny, light-hearted feeling. The
salon, a room for entertaining guests, was a major innovation in architecture. The furniture
and architecture are focused on secular, asymmetrical designs and maintained the
decorative style of the Baroque.

Entrance of the Buontalenti Grotto in Boboli Gardens

 Romanticism
The Romantic Movement came about because of the renewed interest in Medieval
stories of heroism and emotion. It originated in Europe in 18th century as a rebellion against
the intellectualization brought about by Neo-classicism. Neo-classicists established its style
and restrictions for painting, sculpture, and architecture; thus, independent artists reacted to
it and created the Romantic Movement.

Romantic art stressed the individuality and creativity of the artist. The artists are free to
express his/her view of the world in whatever medium or technique s/he is comfortable with.
Romantics valued originality, inspiration, and imagination to promote a variety of style in their
artworks—this view on art is still applied right now. Romantic artists emphasized that sense
and emotion, as well as reason, were equally important in understanding the world.
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Romantic painters favored coloristic and painterly techniques over the linear, cool tone
of the neoclassical style. The common Romantic subjects are nature, the past, and the inner
world of human nature. Artists see it as continually changing and developing. Artists
connected nature with human imagination. Another Romantic subject is the incidents from
history. The inner world of man is also a favorite subject of Romantic artists. They are interested
in the depths of human nature, and they believe that this inner world is not ruled by reason.

Romantic architecture draws inspiration and is influenced by Greek, Gothic, Renaissance

and Baroque. Different elements are lifted from any source. A famous Romantic architecture
is the Paris Opera, made by Charles Garnier. Like other Romantic artforms, the sculptures are
also inspired by ancient Greek, Medieval times, and Michelangelo. The statue of Liberty by
Auguste Bartholdi is an example of a Romantic sculpture.

The Façade of the Palais Garnier Opera House, 1875

Statue of Liberty, Auguste Bartholdi

 Impressionism
The movement of impressionism was inspired by Monet’s painting “Impression Sunrise.” It
developed in France in the 19th century as a rebellion against conventional and academic
standards. Just like Mannerists, impressionist art is characterized using vibrant and fresh colors
and favors spontaneity. Artist paint more outdoor scenes to capture the natural color and
light. They are concerned with the effect of light on objects because they see the light as an
important element that affects the richness and dullness or the darkness and lightness of
colors. How it is captured is a key to the impressionists’ work. Artists tend to work quickly to
capture what they see in the moment so they go away from precise details of lines, rather
use brush strokes that favor the quickest way to create impressions of objects when painting
is seen from afar.
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Sunrise, 1873, Claude Monet

A common subject of impressionist art is outdoor scenes, nature, and contemporary

everyday life. The pioneering impressionist artists include Claude Monet (father of
Impressionism), Eduardo Manet, August Renoir, and Edgar Degas. Later in the century, a new
movement emerged. Post-impressionism is an extension and rejection of Impressionists’
limitations. Post-impressionists portray more realistic subjects but gave more importance to
geometrical forms to express inner vision. Pointillism, which makes use of tiny dots of color,
was developed, this is pioneered by George Seurat. Other impressionist artists include Paul
Cezanne, Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh.

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

 Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau, though very prominent in architecture, pervaded all arts. It includes great
variety of fine and decorative arts, like painting, graphic art, interior design, jewelry and
furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass art and metal work. Despite of its translation “new art,” its
style was already in circulation a decade before it gained a specific recognition when in the
mid-1890’s Siegfred Bing, a German-born art dealer, critic and entrepreneur established a
store and showroom called “La Maison del Art Nouveau” (The House of New Art).
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Times of the Day, by Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Mucha

Although Art Nouveau suggests that this type is entirely new and unprecedented, the
style has several sources. First, its early proponents found were inspired by natural forms for
their complexity and irregularity—particularly curved lines of plants and flowers. In a nutshell,
Art Nouveau is an intricately designed art. The artist would take a lot of time to perfect very
minute details to impress the audience with its precise details.

Photo of ornate dining utensils

Constructivism
Constructivism, as an artistic philosophy, was started In Russia in 1913 by Vladimir Tatlin
who rejected the idea of autonomous art. He wanted ‘to construct’ art by advocating the
philosophy that It is a practice for social purposes. Constructivism had greatly influenced
modern art movements of the 20th century, as manifested in major trends such as the Bauhaus
and De Stijl. Its influence was widespread, with major impacts on architecture, sculpture,
graphic design, industrial design, theatre, film, dance, fashion, and to some extent, music.
COURSE MODULE

Monument of the Third International, 1919-1920

Tatlin’s design became a symbol of revolutionary modernism and the constructivist spirit
of utilitarian simplicity and respect for the logic of materials. Constructivist ideology was
largely anti-aesthetic, reflecting Marx’s contention that the mode of production of material
life determines social, political, and intellectual processes. Basically, constructivism is rooted
in the Marxist point of view on communism, economics, and politics. Photography at this era
was not viewed as art rather a startup for business competition in which clients would be
advertisers.

Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova’s famous books! Poster 1924, employs a
stark grammar of simple geometry and flat color to promote a campaign for worker
education
 De Stijl (The Style)
De Stijl is considered as the most idealistic of the abstract movement, founded in
Amsterdam in 1917 by painters Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) and Theo van Doesburg (1883-
1931) and the architect Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud (1890-1963). De Stijl may refer to the
body of artworks from 1917-1931 from the Netherlands (Linduff, et al, 1994).

Having passed through Impressionism and Symbolism, and was familiar with the Cubists
in Europe, particularly those in France, Mondrain claimed that the reason for starting the
movement was the inability of cubism to develop its ultimate goal. Theo van Doesburg, on
the other hand, claimed that the Stijl’s movement otherwise referred to as Neoplasticism was
a reaction to the Modern Baroque of the Amsterdam School movement.
COURSE MODULE

Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red, 1937-42, Piet Mondrian

Mondrian wrote that reality is obscured when particular forms and natural colors cause
subjective feelings. Natural forms must be reduced to constant elements of form and natural
colors to primary color to plastically produced reality. Thus, Stijl artists are inspired by high-
minded ideals of purity, harmony and sobriety. Hence, according to Honour (2009) Stijl artists
advocated pure abstraction and universality by a reduction to the essentials of form and
color; they simplified visual compositions to vertical and horizontal, using black, white, and
primary colors.

Hague’s City Hall with its new De Stijl treatment, as overseen by Studio Vollaerszwart
 Op Art and Pop Art
Op art or optical art is an artistic movement that flourished during the 1960’s that
practiced more overt exploitation of the physiology of seeing. In optical art, the recognizable
object is eliminated in favor or geometric abstraction and the experience is primarily visual.
Optical artists produce moving or motion effect by using an arrangement of elements like
color, lines, shapes, or combinations of these elements. Adams (1994) cited that when an
artist makes creative use of elements, optical arts may be utilized to make metaphors of
human emotions and experiences.
COURSE MODULE

Crest, 1964, Bridget Riley

Duo-2, 1967, Victor Vasarely

The main reaction provoked by abstract expressionism in the late 50s and 60s was Pop
Art. In contrast to the nonfigurative and seemingly subjective character of Abstract
Expressionism, Pop Art took the form of a return to the object. Though it became popular in
the US in the 1960s, its origins are to be traced from England in the 1950s. Its imagery was
derived from commercial sources, mass, and everyday life (Adams, 1994).

The objective of Pop Art is to use images of popular culture in art, emphasizing the common
elements of any culture through sarcasm or irony. It uses unrelated materials visually removed
from its known context, isolated, or combined with materials to create its intended message.
COURSE MODULE

Andy Warhol “Marilyn Monroe” - Life imitates art

Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes so Different, So Appealing? 1956, Richard Hamilton

The work of painter Richard Hamilton shown above may be considered as the first pop
work of art. It showcases male and female poster models, TV, car logos, theater, cassette
player, and even the word “POP” on the label of the giant lollipop held by the male model.

In the United States, Pop Art took a bolder form. Whereas mass media had an exotic
appeal for the European, it was simply banal for the Americans who see British Pop Art too
tamed. American Pop Art was presented in extreme and subversive forms characterized by
commercial imagery and repetition, which echoed the process in American media which
render incidents trivial and meaningless references to the same people and facts and by
constantly replaying of recorded events. Among the notable Pop Artists were Robert
Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselman, Wayne Thiebaud, George
Segal and Claes Oldenburg.
 Minimalism
Minimalism is an artistic movement in painting and sculpture where any sense of the
artist’s role in the work is kept to an apparent minimum, to give it a “completely literal
presence.” This results in an extremely simple and pure form, reducing the art to a state
intrinsic to its medium with a deliberate lack of expressive content.
COURSE MODULE

The estate of Sol LeWitt

Honour (2009) supported this fact when he said that the point is to emphasize that it is
not the artist’s expression, but the medium and materials if the work are its reality. In other
words, a work of art should not refer to anything other than itself. As minimalist painter Frank
Stella once stated, “All I want anyone to get out of my paintings is the fact that you can see
the whole idea without any confusion. What you see is what you see.”

Minimalism emerged as an art movement in the 1960s as a reaction to Abstract

Expressionism which minimalist find to be too personal, pretentious, and insubstantial.
Minimalist opposed the idea that art should reflect the personal expression of its creator.
Rather, they advanced the principle of eliminating all sense of the artist’s role in the work,
leaving only the medium for viewers to contemplate in its absence of narrative and content
beyond the medium itself (Adams, 1994).

Artmajeur Abstract minimalist art in gray tones Painting by Maria Buduchikh

 Conceptualism and Installation Art
Conceptualism is an art which emerges out of the growing investigation into Western art
and the political and economic institutions that support it. It was an attack on the visual
formalism of the 1950s and 1960s. It advances the notion that the concepts or ideas involved
in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic, technical and material concerns.
Conceptualism downplays the dependence upon the craft skill of the artist but emphasizes
the character of the relationship between the artist’s ideas and the material facts of the
world.

In Installation Art, which is also considered as conceptual art, an exhibit may just be
mounted by anyone by simply following a set of written instructions. This method justifies
American artist Sol LeWitt’s definition of Conceptual art, “one of the first to appear in print.”
COURSE MODULE

In conceptual art, the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When
an artist uses a conceptual form or art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are
made beforehand, and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine
that makes the art. Marcel Duchamp is considered as a pioneer of conceptualism. Duchamp
provided conceptualists examples of prototypically conceptual works through his collection
called the “the readymades.” Fountain, 1917 which was a standard urinal-basin signed by
the artist with the pseudonym “R. Mutt,” and submitted for inclusion in the annual, un-juried
exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in New York (which rejected it), is considered
as his most famous “readymade.”

Fountain, 1917, Marcel Duchamp

At the root of Conceptualist Art is questioning involving the idea or concept versus the final
product or object. Specifically, conceptualism artists question;

1. Artistic intention and its role in ascribing meaning to the art object.
2. Visual nature of art and its communicative process.
3. The labor involved in the creative process.
4. The institutional framing of art.
5. How the public comes in contact with art and how that helps to create meaning.
6. The role of the art market.
7. The hierarchical structure that controls who becomes a successful artist (who gets show, the
price at auction).
8. The function of the public sphere in producing a market of spectators.
9. Conventional traditions and rules that determine the value of a particular medium

However, one weakness continues to haunt conceptualism. That is, it lacks the strategic
methodology to determine the success of its anti-formalist position. Honour (2009) lamented
that because of this, it became very difficult to come to terms with what was significant in
Conceptualist work.
 For the activity or quiz, please ask your Art App instructor.

References
Sonsona, et al. (n.d.) Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression. PanAsia Book
Exchange Inc. Philippines.
COURSE MODULE
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
ARTISTS AND ARTISANS
SOULMAKING
ARTISTS AND ARTISANS

What is the
difference?
ARTISTS ARTISANS
 ARTIST
An artist refers to the making of any
artwork or products that came from
one’s expression of creativity and
imagination that is for pure aesthetic
reason.
 ARTIST
The word artist came from the French
word, artiste that refers to creative
professionals, ranging from painting,
sculpture, music, and performing
arts.
 ARTIST
They are also those who possessed
skills and talents without
professional training in particular
activity such as drawing, sketching,
designing, and composing.
 ARTIST
They are those who possessed skills
and talents without professional
training in particular activity such as
drawing, sketching, designing, and
composing.
 ARTISAN
Produces crafts out of the
imagination and creation of the
artist. They create work only
for decorations and practical
uses.
 ARTISAN
It came from the French word
artisan and Italian word
artigiano that refers to a skilled
craft worker who creates or
makes things by hand from
jewelry to furniture.
 ARTIST
VS.
ARTISAN
 PRODUCTION, TECHNIQUE, AND MEDIUM

ARTISAN
ARTIST
commits its work with the aid and
is more free and able to
instructions coming from the
explore and manipulate its
artist, the technique and
mediums and applies freely the procedures, and since the work is
techniques in order to produce commissioned for production
the kind of work it visions to purposes, the use of the mediums
be. need to be limited.
 ARTISTIC VALUE

ARTIST
ARTISAN
has a clearer artistic value
considering it is a product of its its main objective is to produce

own feelings, experiences, and the work and it has no depth that

expression. The elements, and produces certain emotions and

mediums are well-defined and feelings, but it has its beauty or

techniques are well applied to aesthetic element.

produce a masterpiece.
 FUNCTIONAL VALUE
ARTIST

has no clear functional value. Its ARTISANs

aim of producing or creating an has a functional value. They do
art work may only be for personal not create a work for the sake of
reasons, for collecting purposes creating; they are utilitarian too.
or just for aesthetic purposes It is of use to man and society
only. and at the same time aesthetic in
its functions too.
ACTIVITY:
CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW WITH AN
ARTIST OR ARTISAN. RECORD THE
INTERVIEW. MAXIMUM OF 2
MINUTES.
Ask the following:
1. What do you do as an artist/artisan? What are your
common subject/s?
2. How long have you been in this field?
3. What challenges do you encounter as an
artist/artisan?
4. What do you love most in what you do?
5. What message can you give for those who are new in
the field?
Soulmaking
Do you spend time
with your inner self
through
recollecting and
reflecting your own
experiences?
What are your
recent reflections
with your life?
 SOULMAKING
This pertains to an alternative venue for
and looking into the depths
and essence with what we are doing in our
everyday life.

This activity calls for of

oneself with examining our very core.
 HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?
According to Narciso (2016), the profound
intention of soulmaking is centered on the
idea to be empty along the way andfind
peace in a certain moment and to be able to
discern essence and relevance within.

If the SOUL (talent) and BODY (matter) find

or complement each other, the person
becomes a soulmaker.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SOULMAKING
IMAGES THAT ONE CAN PRODUCE?

 Personal Story - essays, reflections

 Poetry - poetic musings of the heart
 Drawings/sketching/caricature/painting
 Speaking/talking/inspirational messages
 Photography
 A Piece of
by Norman “Noi” F. Narciso

A piece of candy wrapper

Sits at the window pane
It imitates a leaf
That falls
Not from heaven
But from the hands of man
The sad thing
They would not leave and wither
But they would stay
Waiting to become a leaf
To release its soul
SOULMAKING PROCESS INSPIRED BY SCIENTIFIC
APPROACH HELMHOLTS AND GETZELTS
compose your own poem
the poem shall be reflective on the given photo
not less than 4 stanzas

CRITERIA:
 creativity -10
 depth of self-reflection -10
 impact -10
TOTAL: 30 points