MODULE 1 INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES

At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to

1. Differentiate art history from art appreciation.

2. Discuss the nature of art’s preliminary expression.
3. Clarify misconceptions about art.
4. Discuss the assumptions about art.

When you hear the word “humanities” what is the first word thing that comes into
your mind? The humanities include the study of ancient and modern languages,
literature, philosophy, history, law, politics, religion and art. Scholars in the humanities
are “humanity scholars” or humanists. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org)Furtheremore, the
humanities gives you general knowledge.(https://www.vocabulary.com) The humanities
help us understand others through their languages, histories and culture. Humanities
students build their skills in writing and critical reading. They encourage us to think
creatively. They teach us to reason about being human and to ask question about the
world. (https://curt-.com>)

ART HISTORY VERSUS ART APPRECIATION

Art history is the study of works of art in their historical development and stylistic
contexts. This includes the “major” arts of painting, sculpture and architecture as well as
the “minor” arts of ceramics, furniture and any decorative objects. It is the study of
object of art in their historical development and stylistic context, format and design that
we may be able to understand the purpose of the work of art and appreciate it. It is
anchored in the arts and sciences, which promotes awareness of interrelationship of all
fields of knowledge( Encyclopedia Americana,1986). On the other hand, art
appreciation refers to the exploration and analysis of art forms that we are exposed to
it. It can be highly subjective, depending on an individuals personal taste and
preferences, or can be done on the basis of several grounds such as elements of
design and mastery of displayed in a piece (https://www.educationworld.in).
ART AND ITS MEANING

The word “arts” comes from the Aryan word AR which means to put together. It
also comes from the Latin word ARS which means skills, ability and covers those areas
of artistic creativity. It embraces the visual arts, literature, music and the visual arts. It
expresses aesthetic ideas by use of skills and imagination. Merriam Webster defines
art as “the conscious use of skills and creative imagination specially in the production of
aesthetic objects”. Art is so diverse that there are many ways to understand it. Leo
Tolstoy defines art as an activity by which a person, having an emotion intentionally
transmits it to others. According to Plato, art is that which brings harmony with the
beauty of the world. Ruskin states that it is the whole spirit of man. Arthur Dow
considers art as a way of life, of doing, thinking, of feeling, of making choices of living in
a fine way.

Some generalization about art. (What is art?)

1. Art is any creative work of human being.

2. Art is a form of expressing oneself.
3. Art resides in the quality of doing; process is not magic.
4. Art is the act of making something visually entertaining.
5. Art is that activity which manifests beauty.
6. Art is mastery, an ideal way of doing something.
7. Art is not a thing-it is a way (Elbert Hubbard)
8. Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has ever known
9. Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into
beautiful forms suitable for human use. (Frank Lloyd Wright)

WHY IS ART IMPORTANT??

Artist do not think like the policymakers or academic people. They think from
their hearts-big, revolutionary and visionary ideas. This why artists are able to move
people to action, thus creates significant cultural and political contributions. This is
what makes art powerful. Further, art has played an important role in helping fight
against intolerance of different cultures, racism, and other forms of unjust societal
segregation. With immigration becoming a modern trend, the world’s countries are
expected to be more tolerant and accepting of those who enter their borders. Finally,
art is a remarkable mode of depicting culture from all over the world and an essential
ingredient to empowering the hearts of the people.

CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION AND THE EXPRESSION IN ART

Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. It is
characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden
patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena and to
generate solution.(https://www.creativityat work.com) It is the ability to transcend
traditional ideas, rules, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new
ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, originality, progressiveness, or
imagination. (https://creativity.com) Imagination is tied very closely to creativity
because imagination is putting things, ideas. Feelings or images together,
initially in the artist’s mind. Through imagination one is able to craft something
bold, something new and something better in the hopes of creating something
that will stimulate changes.( https;//quizlet.com) Expression is automatic in
every action, thought or feeling in everyone. (https://www.quors.com)The
Expression of feeling constitutes the creation of art, just as philosophy and other
disciplines are expression of ideas.( https://www.britannica.com) The
combination of these three factors lead men to create a work of art that will
surely influence people to seek for change in improving their lives.

ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

These assumptions are the principles and bases of appreciating a work of art
since it is in art that man can convey one’s individuality and way of life.

1. Art is universal.

Art is everywhere; wherever men have lived together. It has sprung up among
them as a language charged with feelings and significance. Art as a cultural force
can be pervasive and potent. It has no limit and rises above cultures, races and
civilization. It is timeless because it goes beyond the time of our own existence.

2. Art is not nature.

Art is man made, it is a creation of man utilizing his thoughtful skill and artistry. It
is artificial because it is just an imitation or appropriation of reality and nature. It
is a representation of ideas, thought, feelings that are communicated and
expressed in a creative and artistic way. Art created by God is divine while art
created by man is temporary. Art can never be natural because it is momentary
in the constant transformation of change. Artist could create works of art but
they cannot form nature.

3. Art involves experience.

Art is a depiction of our daily experiences. It demands taking part. It involves

laying of pigments. Moulding of clay, chipping marble, casting of bronze,
constructing of building, singing of songs, playing roles on stage, acting and
going rhythmic movements in a dance. Every art does something with physical
material, the body, thus the only way to find conviction and assertion is through
immersion in the Arts. Art is appreciated if we spend time to look at it, listen to it,
to touch it and feel its presence.
4. Art is cultural.

Art is set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that define a group of
people, such as the people of a particular region. Culture includes the elements
that characterize a particular people’s way of life. The arts-vast subdivision of
culture, composed of many creative endeavors and discipline.
(https://en.em.wikipedia.org)

5. Art is an expression.

Art is an expression made visible by a form. It expresses and translates, it

acknowledges and reveals, transfers and reveals. Art is an expression of
feeling, belief and character.(https://meganbostic.squarepace.com)

6. Art as a form of creation.

A work of art is created by an artist, in order then to develop an independent

existence in the eye of the beholder over which the creator loses all control.
The creation of art is the bringing about of a new combination of elements in
medium (tones in music, words in literature, paints on canvass and others.
(https://www.britannica.com)

CATEGORIES/CLASSIFICATION OF ARTS

1. Visual Arts (2D,3D)

a. Painting- the application of pigment on any flat two-dimensional

surface.
b. Sculpture- it is the carving, modelling, casting, constructing and
assembling of materials and objects into primarily dimensional works
of art.
c. Architecture- it is the art and science of planning, designing, and
constructing buildings and non-building structures for human
shelter or use.

2. Performing Arts

a. Music- is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is

sound organized in time.
b. Dance- is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way,
usually to music and within the given space for the
purpose of expressing an idea or emotion.
c. Film- also called movie or motion picture, is a series of still
images that when shown on a screen creates an illusion of
moving images.
 d. Theater_ is a collaborative form of art that uses live
performers, typically actors or actresses, to present the
experience of real or imagined event before a live
audience in a specific place often a stage.
e. Literary-is concentrating the writing, study or content of
literature, specifically of the kind valued for quality of form.
f. Performance poetry=is a poetry specifically composed for
or during a performance before an audience rather than
on print mostly open to improvisation.

3. Digital Arts

It is the art that is made with the assistance of electronic device or intended to
be displayed on a computer which is the most important element in digital art.

4. Applied Arts

The application of design and decorations in everyday objects to make

them aesthetically pleasing

a. Fashion design- it is the art of applying design, aesthetics and natural

beauty to clothing and accessories.

b. Furniture design- it is a specialized field where functions and fashion

collide.

c. Interior design-it is enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and

more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using space.

d. Graphic design-it is an artist process of effective communication. Designers

combine words, images and symbols to create a visual representation of ideas.