Art Appreciation

NOTES

Lesson 1: Art Appreciation, This allows individuals to make intelligent choices and
Creativity, Imagination, and decisions in acquiring necessities and luxuries, knowing
Expression what gives better value for time or money while taking
into consideration the aesthetic and practical value.
Art

 Is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and Learning to appreciate art no matter what vocation or
expression. profession you have, will lead to a fuller and more
 “art” French word meaning skill or result of meaningful life.
practice.
 “ars” Latin word meaning ability/practice The Role of Creativity in Art Making
 Process, product or ability.
 Creativity
It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty - Requires thinking outside the box.
daily. However, not every beautiful thing that can be - In art, creativity is what sets apart one artwork
seen or experience may truly be called a work of art. from another.

Not everyone can be considered an artist, but all are When can we say that something is Creative?
spectators of art.  When we have not seen anything like it
 When it is out of the ordinary
- We are able to distinguish what is fine and  When it is not just a copy or imitation of
beautiful from what is not and what good quality someone’s work.
is from poor. This gives us a role in the field of  There is Originality
art appreciation.
Creativity should be backed with careful research on
Art Appreciation as a Way of Life related art to avoid conflicts.

“The role of art as a creative work is to depic the world Art as Production of Imagination, Imagination as a
in a completely different light and perspective” – Jean- Product of Art
Paul Sarte
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For
Each artwork beholds beauty in its own kind, the kind knowledge is limited to all we know and understand,
that the artist sees and wants the viewers to perceive. while imagination embraces the entire world, and all
there ever will be to know and understand” – Albert
Einstein
Often, people are blind to this beauty and only those
whose who have developed a fine sense f appreciation Imagination is not constrained by the walls of the norm
can experience and see the art the way the artist did. but goes beyond that.

Hence, refining one’s ability to appreciate arts allows Through imagination, one is able to craft something
him to deeply understand the purpose of an artwork and bold, something new, something better in the hope of
recognize the beauty it possesses. creating something that will stimulate change.

In cultivating an appreciation of art, one should also Artwork does not need to be a real thing but can be
exercise and develop his tests for things that are fine and something imaginary. However, something imaginary
beautiful. does not necessarily mean it cannot be called art. Artists
 Art Appreciation
NOTES
use their imagination that give birth to reality through Applied Arts - elements of style and design to everyday
creation. items with the aim of increasing their aesthetic value.

Imagination allows endless possibilities. Imagination

produces art, art also produces imagination. Essentials of Art
1. Man-made Art
Art as an Expression 2. Must be creative not imaginative.
3. Must benefit and satisfy man.
“what an artist does to an emotion is not to induce it, but 4. Expressed through certain medium or material
express it. Through expression, he is able to explore his by which the artist communicates himself to his
own emotions and at the same time, create something audience.
beautiful out of them” – Robin George Collingwood
Lesson 2: Art Appreciation –
Assumptions of Art
Expressing emotions is different from describing
emotions. Art is Universal
 It transcends cultures, races, and civilizations. As
This makes people’s art not a reflection of what is long as human beings exist, art is feasible, alive, and
outside or external to them, but a reflection of their inner dynamic.
selves.
Art as a Means of Communication
Art expressions  People share a common means of expressing their
Painting – application of pigment in any flat two thought and feeling that is through arts like music,
dimensional surface. dances, literary pieces, decorative arts, paintings, and
drawings, sculptures, and others.
Sculpture – carving, modelling, casting, constructing,  These forms of art are utilized to establish and
assembling materials objects into primarily objects into strengthen communication.
primarily 3d works of art.
 Art is also used to call for unity and reconciliation.
Architecture – art/science of planning, designing and Our country’s anthem, for instance, is there to bind
constructing a building and non-building structures for us; make us feel that we are one in our dreams and
human shelter of use. mission.

Film  Monuments and other historical heritage remind us of

 Focuses on its aesthetic, cultural, and social value, and is our past, the struggles that each one shared, and the
considered as both an art and an industry. unity we formed in the name of freedom.
 Movie/motion picture series of still images that creates
an illusion of moving images.  Art can also be in contract, use to communicate
mutiny and rebellion. For instance, the works of
Performance Art - A live art and the artist’s medium is Rizal “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”
mainly the human body. extends his utmost disagreement with the Spaniards
control over the Filipinos.
Literary Works & Poetry – something in the form of
writing or stories that have artistic and cultural value that
displays the beauty of speech. Art is Timeless
 Timeless is because it goes beyond the time of our
Theater – liver performers to present accounts or own existence.
imaginary events before a live audience.  Timeless because it continually evolves.
 Art Appreciation
NOTES
 Classical music, for instance, never fades and goes  The telos and function of a thing are both related to a
out of style. thing’s identity. What makes a human being a human
being is his capacity for thinking.

Functions of Art
 It continually invades our time, listened to and  An inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry on what
appreciated by many. It remains strong because it art is for.
became a witness, a company, a reflection, and a  When it comes to function, different art forms come with
journal of our forefathers’ young lives. distinctive functions. There is no one-to-one
correspondence between an art and its function.
 Art defines time. In watching film, even when you do  Some art forms are more functional than others.
not have the idea when it was created, the style of
directing and filming, the clothing, and bearing of the  On the other hand, jewelry-making as an art is known by
characters, musical scoring, and the setting and the plot its product.
of the story would make the viewers guess the period  They are considered to be arts where the value of the art
when it was produced. in question lies in the practical benefits one gains from
it.
Art Addresses Human Needs
 Because it addresses needs of people from all over the What about the Practical Function of Painting and
world. Through, directly functional and indirectly Literature
functional arts, we are provided with a variety of  Even if painting and literature are not focusing on the
offerings – comfort, entertainment and education, practical benefits, it can never be the case that they do
which would somehow lead us to self-fulfillment and not have any function.
satisfaction.  Noli Me tangere and El Filibusterismo, they go
beyond their literary worth. They are functional “in
 Art is artificial because it is just an imitation or even so far as they are designed to accomplish some
appropriation that are communicated in creative and definite end”
artistic ways.
Classifications of the Functions of Arts
 Art can never be natural because nature is evanescent, in 1. Personal Functions of Art
constant transformation of changes, and yet art is - The personal functions of art are varied and high
permanent: it does not change by itself, unless subjective.
manipulated by its creator, man. - An artists may create art out of the need for self-
expression.
Innate – the beauty of nature and silent. It is given. It - It can also be mere entertainment for his intended
doesn’t ask for attention since it is naturally part of it, audience.
while it is true that beauty in art demands human - An art may also be therapeutic.
attention for it leads us to its valuation.
2. Social Functions of Art
Lesson 3: Art Appreciation – - Art is considered to have a social function if and
when it addresses a particular collective interest as
Functions of Arts opposed to a personal interest.
Aristotelian - Art may convey message of protest, contestation, or
 “telos” - Telos is intricately linked with function: For a whatever message he artist intends his work to
thing to reach its purpose, it also has to fulfill its carry.
function. - Art can also depict social conditions. Pictures of
 Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the poverty; performance art like plays or satires.
world has an end, or telos in Greek, which translates
into purpose. 3. Physical Functions of Art\
 Art Appreciation
NOTES
- The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot Does Art always have to be Functional?
and understand.
- They are crafted in order to serve some physical  While it has been shown that most arts are functional,
purpose. Architecture, jewelry-making and even still there are some which are not. The value of a
interior design are all forms of arts that have work of art does not depend on function but the work
physical function. itself.

Other Functions of Art - MUSIC

 Music in its original form was principally functional  Meanwhile, those whose functions are ascertained
because it was used for dance and religion. The ancient have a different story. A functional object cannot be
world saw music only as an instrument to facilitate claimed to be beautiful unless it can perform its
worship and invocation to gods. function sufficiently.

 Today, music has expanded its function and coverage. It  Art demands so much more than mere efficiency.
can be used for self-expression. It is also used as a Efficiency cannot be mistaken as beauty
wonderful accompaniment to stage plays and motion
pictures. Lesson 4: Art Appreciation –
Philosophical Perspectives on
 Music can mean a multitude of meanings to different
people.
Art
Art as Imitation (Mimesis)
 Plato’s the Republic
 It paints a picture of artists as imitators and art as
Other Functions of Art - SCULPTURE mere imitation. For the state to be ideal, Plato advised
 The employment of sculptures for religious purposes has against the inclusion of art as a subject in the
remained vital, relevant, and symbolic. curriculum and the banning of artists in the Republic.
 He was convinced that artists merely reinforced the
 Sculptures were also made in order to commemorate belief in copies and discouraged men to reach for the
important figures in history. In the University of the real entities in the World of Forms.
Philippines, the iconic statue Oblation by Guillermo E.
Tolentino has remained a pillar of the university and a  Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two
constant reminder of the need to offer oneself up reasons:
selflessly for the country. a. They appeal to emotion rather than the rational
function faculty of men.
 Coins are also manifestations of sculpting’s functions.
b. They imitate rather than lean one reality.
 They feature a relief of a famous hero or personality.
 Poetry rouses the emotions and feelings of men and
thus clouds the rationality of people.

 Art is just an imitation of imitation. A painting is just

Other Functions of Art – ARCHITECTURE
an imitation of nature, which is also just an imitation
 Architecture might be the most prominent functional of reality in the world of forms.
art form because buildings are huge, expensive and
Art as a Representation
are not easily constructed and replaced.

 Connection between Function and Form:  Aristotle: Art is a form of imitation but it is
consideration of the natural conditions and the social considered as an aid to philosophy in revealing the
conditions. o Spanish colonial houses in the truth.
Philippine
 Art Appreciation
NOTES
 The kind of limitation that art is not antithetical to the  Dedicated only to the created side, making visually
reaching of fundamental truths in the world. pleasing work only for the enjoyment and appreciation
 What art endeavors to do is to provide a vision of of the viewer, but with no functional value.
what might be or the myriad possibilities in reality.
 Purposes of Art:  Art practitioner such as a painter, sculptor,
a. Art allows for the experience of pleasure. choreographer, dancer, musician, etc. who produces or
b. Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach create indirectly functional arts with aesthetic value
its audience things about life. using imagination.

Art as a Disinterested Judgement

 Immanuel Kant considered the judgement of beauty,
ARTISAN
the cornerstone of art, as something that can be
universal despite its subjectivity.  Essentially a manual worker who makes items with
 he recognized that judgement of beauty is subjective but his/her hands, and who through skill, experience and
he advanced the proposition that even subjective talent can create things of great beauty as well as being
judgements are based on some universal criterion for functional.
the said judgement.
 Every human being, after perception and the free play of  A craftsman, Such as carpenter, carver, plumber,
his faculties, should recognize the beauty that is blacksmith, weaver, embroider, etc. who produces
inherent in a work of art. directly functional and/or decorative arts.

Art a Communication of Emotion History – support for the arts and culture is not limited
 Leo Tolstoy defended the production of the sometimes to the allocation of funding or patronship. The artists are
truly extravagant art, like operas, despite extremely given incentives and honors for their work through state-
poverty in the world. initiated and given awards and citations.
 Art serve as a language, a communication device that
articulates feelings and emotions that are otherwise 2 Major Awards Given to the Philippine Artists
unavailable to the audience.
1. Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Order of
Art as a Communication of Information National Artists)
 As a purveyor of man’s innermost feelings and thoughts,
art is given a unique opportunity to serve as a - The highest National Recognition given to
mechanism for social unity. Filipino individuals who have made significant
 Art serves as a mechanism of cohesion for everyone. contributions to the development of Philippine
arts. (Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts,
Literature, Film, Architecture)
Lesson 5: 1) CCPA/NCAA announces opening for nominations.
2) NCCA and CCP receive nominations; screen and
Artist – created prototype whose only value is for
deliberate
artistic and visual purposes only.
3) The NCCA and CCP submit a list of recommendation
Artisan – created something that is functional like to the president.
furniture, but with some elements of aesthetic. 4) The president issues a proclamation conferring the rank
and title on the recommendees.
Difference of Artist and Artisan 5) The Order of National Artists conferred during
ceremonies organized by the Secretariat.
ARTIST

Incentives and Privileges:

Art Appreciation
NOTES
a. The rank and title
b. Medallion pr insignia and a citation Duties and Responsibilities of Awardees
c. Cash awards and a host of benefits (monthly life o The Manlilika ng bayan is a link between the past, in
pension, medical and hospitalization, and life which his/her traditional folk art found fertile soil for
insurance coverage) growth, and the future, during which he/she seeks
d. A state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga his/her art to be permanently sustained.
Bayani
e. A place of honor or designated area during
national state functions, along with recognition or
acknowledgement at cultural events.

o It becomes his/her responsibility, therefore, to

2. Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living undertake the following:
Treasures Award) a. To transfer the skills of his/her traditional
folk art to the younger generation through
- Jointly administered by the National; apprenticeship and such other training
Commission for the Culture and the Arts methods are found to be effective
(NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the b. To cooperate with the implementing agency
Philippines (CCP) as provided for in Sec. 7 of this Act in the
promotion and propagation of his/her
- Conferred by the President of the Philippines
traditional folk arts
upon recommendation by both institutions.
c. To donate to the National Museum a sample
- First recipient was Fernando Amorsolo in 1972 or copy of his/her work.
(National Artist for Visual Arts)

GAMABA conducts the search for the finest traditional

artists of the land whose distinctive skills have reached a
high level of technical and artistic excellence and have
been passed on to and widely practiced by the present
generation in his community. (weaving, carving, graphic
and plastic arts, textile, pottery, and other artistic
expressions of traditional culture.)

- Created in 1992 under RA 7355 by the NCCA.

Incentives and Privileges

a. A specially designed gold medallion
b. An initial grant of P 100,000 and a P 10,000
monthly stipend for life (later increased to P 14,
000)
c. Maximum cumulative amount of P 750,000
medical and hospitalization benefits.
d. Funeral assistance and tribute fit for a national
living treasure.

- Ginaw Bilog, artist and poet, Mansalay, Oriental

Mindoro Poetry (Ambahan), 1993
- Masino Intaray, musician and epic chanter,
Brookes Point, palawan, Poetry (Kulilaw and
Bagit), Music (Basal/Gong), 1993