Art

An Introduction

kmdm
Art
etymology
from the Latin word ars (“skill”)
from the Greek words artizein (to “prepare”)
and arkiskein (to “put together”)
from the Italian word artis (“craftsmanship, skill,
mastery of form, inventiveness, and the
association that exist between form and ideas
and between material and techniques”)
from the Aryan root ar (to “join” or “put
together”)
the product of creative human activity in which
materials are shaped or selected to convey an idea,
emotion, or visually interesting form
suggests creative endeavors and includes an
entire range of activities classified as cultural
Art
often subdivided into broad categories
performing arts (theater, music, and dance)
creative activities presented before an
audience, on stage, and in open places
involve live, filmed, or videotaped
presentation of drama or the performance
of certain skills
include acting, dancing, singing (or
combinations of these, as in musicals and
opera), mime, vaudeville, circus acts,
pageantry, and puppetry
literary arts (poetry, essays, and novels)
Art

visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture,

architecture, printmaking, photography,
design, digital art, decorative arts, and crafts)
can be perceived with our eyes
fine arts (painting, printmaking, and
sculpture)
applied arts (architecture and design)
The Nature of Art
constitutes one of the oldest and most important means of
expression developed by man
has been created by all people at all times
has lived because it is liked and enjoyed
made by man himself not imitatively but creatively
brings life in harmony with the beauty of the world
an attitude of spirit, a state of mind --- one which demands for its
own satisfaction and fulfilling, a shaping of matter to new and more
significant form (John Dewey)
The Nature of Art
common essentials of art
must be man-made
must be creative, not imitative
must benefit and satisfy man and man must make use
of art in practical terms
expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist
communicates himself to his fellows
a valuable source of inspiration
enables a glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the people
who lived in the period the artwork was produced and the external
factors that influenced the artwork
can beautify our humanity
enables people to know the changing image of man as he journeys
across time, searches for the reality, and strives to achieve the ideals
that create the meaning of life
Art Appreciation
the ability to interpret or understand man-made arts and
enjoy them either through actual and work-experience with
art tools and materials or possession of these works of art for
one’s admiration and satisfaction
The Subject of Art
serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art
comes in varieties
usually anything that is represented in the artwork
may be a person, object, scene, or event
representational/objective arts
artworks that depict something easily recognized by most people
painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, music, dance, and theater
arts
non-representational/non-objective arts
artworks that have no resemblance to any real subject
do not represent anything and they are what they are
appeal directly to the senses primarily because of
the satisfying organization of their elements
The Functions of Art
for recording appearances
Prehistoric people made images for use in rituals related to the
most important events in their lives: birth, death, and hunting ---
the means of the group’s survival.
Works of art that show the appearance of important people serve
as substitutes for those people.
for making visible the invisible
Art can also make visible things we normally
cannot see.
Throughout history, people have made images
of gods, angels, and demons; of events from the
distant past or the far-off future; and of what
they wished the present would be but is not.
The Functions of Art
for communicating
Art in all its forms can display wealth, power, and prestige.
religious beliefs to worshipers
a political point of view
news of general interest
to teach and to persuade
for delighting
by being beautiful or charming in
themselves
by their visual intricacy and patterns in
nature
by frightening us with terrifying sights
The Functions of Art
main functions
personal function
People have personal reasons for indulging in art.
aesthetic function
Man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature.
social function
Man learns to love and help each
other.
International understanding and
cooperation are fostered and nations
become more unified, friendly,
cooperative, helpful, and sympathetic.
The Functions of Art
main functions
utilitarian function
Man lives in comfort and happiness.
Man’s life is enriched and nature is improved.
economic function
It “pays a lot” to be an artist.
political function
Political programs and projects are
promoted to the public.
Virtues of self-discipline, industry, unity,
and cooperation are inculcated.
historical function
Historical figures and events are recorded.
The Functions of Art
main functions
cultural function
Skills and knowledge from one generation to another are
transmitted and preserved.
Man is aware of his cultural background,
making him more knowledgeable and his
life more enduring and satisfying.
Art embodies a nation’s culture.
religious function
Art forms evolved from religion.
physical function
There is ecstasy after having completed a work
of art.
 Even if we think of art as isolated
from the rest of life, we still must
turn to architects to design
buildings with important functions,
whether churches or banks.

We still value design in furniture

and other useful everyday
objects, and want monuments to
honor our heroes.

Visual effects in movies

astound us, well-designed Web
pages appeal to us, and
gorgeous images in advertising
persuade us.
 The Scope of Art
major divisions according to purpose (Panizo & Rustia, 1995)
practical/useful arts directed to produce handicrafts,
artifacts and utensils for embroidery, ceramics,
the satisfaction of iron and metal crafts,
human needs and tin can
manufacturing
liberal arts directed toward the study of philosophy,
intellectual growth psychology, literature,
mathematics, and
sciences
fine arts focused towards painting, sculpture, and
creative activity for the architecture
contemplation of the
mind and the uplift of
the spirit; made
 The Scope of Art
major divisions according to purpose (Panizo & Rustia, 1995)
fine arts primarily for aesthetic
enjoyment through the
senses, especially visual
and auditory
major arts characterized by actual music, poetry, and
and potential sculpture
expressiveness
minor arts concerned with interior decoration and
practical uses and porcelain art
purposes
 The Scope of Art
major divisions according to media and forms (Panizo & Rustia, 1995)
plastic arts exist in a physical space sculpture and
and perceived by the decorative materials
sense of sight
kinetic arts involve the element of dance
rhythm
phonetic arts utilize sounds and music, drama, and
words as mediums of literature
expression
pure arts take only one medium sound in music and
of expression color in painting
mixed arts take more than one opera or theater ---
medium of expression combining music,
poetry, and drama
 The Scope of Art

Classifications of Arts (Estolas, 1995)

visual arts graphic arts and plastic arts
performing arts theater, play, dance, and music
literary arts short story, novel, poetry, and
drama
popular arts film, newspaper, magazine, radio,
and television
gustatory art of the cuisine food and beverage preparation
decorative arts beautification of houses, offices,
cars, and other structures
The Origin of Art
history of art: began with that of humanity
dates back to the time when superstitions and
beliefs in the spirits are still very common in
every culture
indigenous art: accompanied ancient rituals
and ceremonies
Ancient people performed dances to entertain,
to worship their gods and goddesses, and to
invoke success and blessings.
music and poetry: chronicle the lives and works of
ancestors and the legendary origins of heroes and
gods
The Origin of Art
history of art: began with that of humanity
tribal cultures: body paintings during
ceremonies
cave paintings and drawings: ancient religious
beliefs and visions
sculptures: associated with religion, with gods
and goddesses as most common subjects
artworks made from durable materials:
survive longer than those made of wood
temples of the East and West: pertain to gods,
goddesses, religious animals, demons, priests,
kings, and queens
Art as a Declaration of Power

the power to convey immortality

the power to change our beliefs
the power to shock
the power to touch our emotions
the power to awaken our senses
the power to transform the ordinary
Painting
branch of the visual arts in which color,
derived from any of numerous organic or
synthetic substances, is applied to various
surfaces to create a representational or
abstract picture or design
 Sculpture
comprises three-dimensional objects,
whether freestanding (without other
structures for support) or attached to a
background and called relief sculpture
the creation of a three-dimensional
work of art, especially by carving,
modeling, or casting
Architecture
the art and science of designing and
constructing buildings
the art of creating structures in which we
can live, work, worship, and play
 Literature
oral and written works characterized by
expression and form in connection with
ideas of permanent and universal
interest
the body of oral and written works of a
culture, language, people, or period of
time
Music
artful arrangement of sounds across time
that varies widely among cultures in style
and structure
sounds, usually produced by instruments
or voices, that are arranged or played in
order to create an effect
 Dance
patterned and rhythmic bodily
movements, usually performed to music,
that serve as a form of communication or
expression
the transformation of ordinary functional
and expressive movement into
extraordinary movement for
extraordinary purposes
Theater
one of the oldest and most popular forms
of entertainment, in which actors perform
live for an audience on a stage or in
another space designated for the
performance
 Photography
method of picture making developed in
the early 19th century, based on principles
of light, optics, and chemistry
the art, hobby, or profession of taking
photographs, and developing and
printing the film or processing the
digitized array image
Film
a series of images that are projected onto
a screen to create the illusion of motion
one of the most popular forms of
entertainment, enabling people to
immerse themselves in an imaginary
world for a short period of time
Decorative Arts
categories of useful yet decorative
objects, generally intended for home use
such as ceramics, furniture, and fabrics
furnish or embellish the spaces in which
we live, or adorn our bodies
 Sources:
 Ariola, Mariano M. Introduction to Art Appreciation:
A Textbook in Humanities. 2nd ed. Quezon City: C &
E Publishing, Inc., 2014. Print.
 Lewis, Richard, and Susan I. Lewis. The Power of
Art. 3rd ed. United States of America: Wadsworth
CENGAGE Learning, 2014. Print.
 Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft
Corporation.