Meaning and Importance of Art

Art is a subject under humanities. There is no one universal definition of art since art is subjective. It is
subjective in the sense that people differ in their perception to an object or thing. Some people may
consider an object as something beautiful and meaningful while others may consider it as ugly or
meaningless. In other words, different authors and writers define art in various ways as they perceive
it. Moreover, the meaning of art has changed throughout history due to multicultural settings. Thus,
every time a new movement in art emerged, the meaning of what is art, or what is acceptable as art, is
being challenged. Hereunder are some of the definitions of art given by various authors and writers.

1. Art is derived from the Latin word "ars," meaning ability or skill - J.V. Estolas
2. Art is taken from the Italian word "artis," which means craftmanship, skill mastery of form,
inventiveness, and the associations that exists between torn and ideas, between material and
technique. - A. Tan
3. Art is a product of mans need to express himself - F. Zulueta
4 Art is concerned itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of sensuous
medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words and film-C. Sanchez
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the world. - Plato
6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind-one which demands for its own satisfaction and fulfilling, a
shaping matter to new and more significant form. -John Dewey
7. Art is the skillful arrangement or composition of some common but significant qualities of nature such
as colors, sounds, lines, movements, words, stones, wood, etc., to express human feelings, emotions,
or thoughts in a perfect, meaningful, and enjoyable way. -Panizo and Rustia
8. Art is not what you see but what you make others see- GeorgiaO'Keeffe
9. Art is a lie that helps us to realize the truth - Pablo Picasso
10. Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the action of his personality in the world he
lives in.- Amy Lowell
11. Art is never finished, only abandoned - Leornardo da Vinci
12. Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling, the artist has experienced. - Leo Nikolaevich
Tolstoy
13. Art is the realization in external form of a true idea and is traced back to that natural love of imitation
which characterizes human. -Aristotle
14. Art is the conscious creation of something beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination - Lisa
Morder
15. Art is the discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms
suitable for human use- Frank Lloyd Wright
16. Art is not what you see but what you make others see -Edgar Degas

From the above definitions of art, it can be concluded that there are several ways of defining art as
there are many people, authors, and writers in the universe. Each definition is influenced by the unique
perspective of the above authors and writers as well as their own personality and character.

Nevertheless, a glimpse of the above definitions brings us four (4) common essentials of art.

1. Art is man-made, not God-made.

2. Art is creative, not imitative.
3. Art benefits and satisfies man-when he uses art in practical lite through artistic principles, taste,
and skill.
4 Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist communicates himself to
his fellows.

Art has a particular importance in our lives. All the arts that we see and hear have a purpose as well
as expressions; they occupy some place in our judgment and makes a huge impact in our lives. Here
are the reasons why art is important.

1. Art highlights and heightens the importance of certain events in order to keep them memorable
and pleasurable
2. Art enables us to get a glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the people in their time and
the faces in their environment that influence.
3. Art enables us to value and appreciate beautiful things as a consequence of our encounter with arts.
4. Art may influence us to change our ways and behavior as a result of the aesthetic experience we
derived from the arts.
5. Arts are valuable sources of inspirations and aesthetic delightful experience through the artist
works of art.
The Importance of Art to Students

Arts play a valuable role to students.

1. Through participation in arts - music, dance, drama. media arts, and the Visual arts—
• students can develop their creativity
• students learn about their identity
• students develop self-awareness
• students develop self-confidence
• students develop sense of well-being

2. Through intense involvement in artistic activities

• students experience a sense of wonder and joy when learning through the arts
• students can be motivated to participate more fully in cultural life
• students are able to gain educational opportunities which they can use later in their career life.

Meaning and Importance of Art Appreciation

Art appreciation is important to students. It develops their visual thinking and analytical skills where
they are able to observe closely and describe what they see around them in detail, so as to provide
evidence for their observations. Small efforts done by the students such as these can lead to a
greater appreciation of art. Art appreciation is also important to others for the following reasons: Art
appreciation

1. can help the person make sense of his world by broadening his experience and understanding of
the things around him.
2. can help the person imagine even the unimaginable.
3. is able to connect a person's life and experience the past, the present and the future or sometimes
simultaneously.
4. can help transport the individual to different places and culture through literature, films, visual arts,
and other forms of art.
5. allows the individual to see himself, his family dynamics as well as his community through different
lens of great art.
6. enable the individual to better empathize with those who suffered and endured tor their lives
through great art forms.
7. gives meaning to the data science provides. if science give us empirical facts, these facts together
with theories, it's the humanists who turn these facts with moral, emotional, and spiritual meanings.

Art History refers to the historical development and stylistic context of the objects of arts that includes
the major and minor arts. The major arts include painting Sculpture, and architecture as well as the
minor arts like ceramics, furniture, and other decorative arts. As a term, art history or history of art
encompasses the different methods or studying visual art. As a discipline, art history is not similar to art
criticism. Art criticism determines the relative artistic values of an individual work in comparison with
others comparable style.

Art historians based their studies by scrutinizing objects of arts by answering historically such questions
as the key features of the art style, what does the art convey and how does it function visually. It also
asks questions as to how the artists meet their goal as well as the symbols that were involved.

Methods Used in Art History

Art history which started in the 19th century but has precedents that date to the ancient time has a
number of methods:

1. Art historians examine the works of art in the context of its time or within which it was created. The
works of art subject to scrutiny are the creator's motivations, desires and prejudices of its patrons and
sponsors. Comparative analysis of themes and approaches of the creators’ colleagues and teachers and
the symbolism of the art of works.

2. Art historians analyze the works of arts through the analysis of their forms. The analysis is focused on
the artist's use of line, shape, color, texture, composition and other art elements.

The two-dimensional and three-dimensional picture planes are two approaches in creating art. The way
the elements of arts employed results to either representational or non-representational art. If the artist
copy or imitate an object or image found in nature, this approach is called representational art. But if the
artist creates an art in a realistic manner (not imitation) rely on symbolism or striving to capture nature's
essence, the art is non-representational which is also called abstract art.

Impressionism as an example of representation style is produced when the artwork was not directly
imitative but an impression of nature.
In expressionism, the work of art is not representational but the expression of the artist' s feelings,
longings, aspirations, and ideals of beauty and form.

3. Art historians also use critical theory in analyzing objects of arts when dealing with more recent
objects. Art historians often borrowed from literary scholars when it involves the application of a non-
artistic analytical framework to the study of art objects.

4. Another method in art history is the application of media and digital technology. This is the recent
method in analyzing art history.

Purpose of Art History

As you well-know, art history is the historical development of visual arts. Hence, the purpose of art
history is:

• to place art in a social and historical context

• it has more advantage over art appreciation when evaluating works of art. The more information
an evaluation has on the works of art, the better an evaluation he can make over the works of art.
• when a person has more context when looking at something such as piece of art work, he could
better understand more the story behind that particular piece of art work,
• to see how things like war, religion, politics, technological change have effect not only on the artist
but on the artwork that was produced.

ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

Art is universal

In every country of the world; art exist because it is important to people's lives. It is the oldest and most
important means of expression developed by man in any culture. In fact, man learned to draw before he
could even start to talk as evidenced by some early paintings in caves and trunks of trees shown in
prehistoric times. Art has been created by all people of the world at all times, it has lived because it is
liked and enjoyed. The elements and forms of art apply to all arts everywhere.
Art is cultural

Art contributes to the understanding of past and present cultures. Through art, people learn about their
culture's values and strengthen their culture's identity. Through art, the people feel proud of their
customs, traditions, and beliefs because they give a sense of belonging the artists' work such as painting
sculpture, music, dances, ceramics, prints and others are records of their society’s culture. They create
within the person's sensitivities toward their community, their country and the world around them.

Art is not nature

Art is not nature because it is man-made. Art is man s interpretation of what he perceives as art. Nature,
such as the mountains, the volcano, lakes, rivers, land terrain are made by God and not by man. Thus,
art, and not nature, is made by man by all times.

Art is an expression of the mind

According to Jeff Lee (2016), art is a form of expression of the deepest emotion of the minds. According
to him, the egoic mind (conscious mind) and the echoic mind (unconscious mind) together making up
the totality of thinking. Artistic expression may be expressed 100% in conscious mind but those who are
extremely artistic or right-brained individuals, they may be more creative and are able to recognize the
value of linking seemingly unrelated thoughts or ideas, methods, and concepts because of their frequent
practice.

Art is a form of Creativity

Art is a product of the imagination that entertains, pleases and inspires. The various artworks of artists
reflect the artists power of creativity. Artists create artwork about anything they want, imagine or see
around them. The artists use their imagination to create any artwork using strange shape and different
kinds of links and colors. Color expresses the artist's personal feelings and moods. Colors symbolize
ideas. It brings art a particular meaning, mood, and feeling in an artwork. The artist's choice of color
expresses the beauty and elegance of the artist's work and also feeling the artist has at that moment. He
does all this as a consequence of his creative mind and imagination. Therefore, we can say that art is
creative, not imitative; artworks are produced by human creative skill and imagination.
Art involves experience

When a work is finished in a satisfactory manner, an experience occurs. Likewise, when a problem is
solved or a game is played, or a conversation is rounded out satisfactorily; experience do occur.
Fulfillment and consummation of an act conclude the experience.

In all experiences, every successively part flows freely. Artists use their experiences to ventilate their
feelings through the works that they make. Some artists focus on societal problems, issues, and
concerns. Some of them use expressionism to communicate strong and intense feelings. They reflect in
their works on the brink of socio-cultural problems because of their experiences for example, Ang
Kiukok, a famous Filipino-Chinese painter likes to dwell on subject matters showing the "harsh,
disturbing, morbid" realities happening in the Philippines. Due to his experiences, he likes to express
anger as well as frustration in his paintings. Emotion is the moving and cementing force of his artwork.

In like manner, the painting of Vincent Van Gogh, the "Starry Night" is an expression of feelings based
from his experiences. In his artwork, he displayed stars swirling in the sky. He used bold jagged strokes,
gloomy colors to convey strong and strange feelings. The lines, colors and shapes express his feelings
about the scene in his paintings. The expression of the artists is shown in the way they express their
feelings towards their artwork.

The Functions of Art

Every art form has a definite function since satisfies a particular need. To the layman, art may have little
function. Some find meaning in art in its ability to serve the purpose for which it was designed.
Obviously, architecture is directly and almost entirely functional because buildings and other structures
are always built for some special purpose. Music and dance were used in ancient rituals and worship of
the Gods, for social and folk entertainment, as well as the military. Paintings and sculpture may be used
to narrate events, to portray people or events, to instruct (as in the case of Christian Art), to
commemorate individuals or historical events, and to serve as vehicles of personal expression. Metal
works such as gates, grills, lamps, Christian religious objects, armor, weapons, and tools, ceramics,
glassware, stained glass, mosaic, tilework, textile, and furniture are among the many types or arts or
crafts. Each of these examples is made for some definite and specific use. The seven (7) functions of art
are:
1. Aesthetic function
Through art, man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature, he benefits from his own work and from
those done by his fellowmen. He learns to use, love, and preserve them for his enjoyment and
appreciation.

2. Utilitarian function
With the creation of the various forms of art, man now lives in comfort and happiness. Through art, man
is provided with shelter, clothing, tools, light, medicine, beautiful surroundings, personal ornamentals,
entertainment, language, transportation, and other necessities and conveniences of life. Art does not
only enrich men life. It also improves nature through landscape gardening, creation of super highways,
and through propagation and conservation of natural resources.

3. Cultural function
Through the printed matter, art transmits and preserves skills and knowledge from one generation to
another. It makes man aware of his cultural background, making him more knowledgeable making his
life more enduring and satisfying.

4. Social function
Through civic and graphic arts, man learns to love and help each other. International understanding and
cooperation are fostered and nations become more unified, friendly, cooperative, helpful, and
sympathetic.

5. Political function
Art reinforces and enhance a sense of identity an ideological connection to specific political views,
political parties a politician.

6. Educational function
There are art symbols and signs to illustrate knowledge and attitudes that are not expressed in words.

7. Spiritual function
Some art works express spiritual beliefs, customs, ceremonies and rituals about the meaning and
destiny of life. These artworks may have religious significance.
Philosophy of Art

Philosophy of art refers to the study of the nature of arts, its concept interpretation, representation,
expression and form. Philosophy of art is closely related to aesthetics, which is the study of beauty and
taste. There are five (5) philosophical perspectives of art. These are:

1. Art as Mimesis

The word mimesis is a Greek word which means imitation or copying although it may also mean
representation. The philosophers Plato and Aristotle spoke of mimesis as the representation of nature.
Plato believed that all artistic creation is a mimesis. It exists in the "world of ideas and is creted by God”.
The concrete things that man created are just shadows created by man's mind. All artists are imitators of
nature. Aristotle speaks of tragedy as an "imitation of an action -that of a man falling from a higher to a
lower estate”. Thus, when an artist skillfully selects and present a material, that artist is purposely
seeking to imitate or copy the action of life.

2. Art as Representation (Aristotle)

Art represents something. When an artist uses signs and symbols to take the place of something else,
he is using art as a representation of such signs and symbols. It is through representation that people
organize the world and reality through the act of naming its elements. Signs and symbols are arranged
in order to form semantic constructions and express relations with the other things.

3. Art for Art's Sake (Kant)

It was Victor Cousin, a French philosopher who translated this slogan which means "I ‘art pour l 'art".
Artists associated with aestheticism believes that art needs no justification. Art does not serve political
didactic or other hand.
lmmanuel Kant's main interest was not in art per se, but in Beauty in the Sublime. Kant being an
Enlightenment writer thought that Beauty or Sublimity were not really properties of objects, but ways
which we respond to objects. Kant pointed out that what he meant by Beauty is not the form of the
Beautiful but about Taste. Kant's concern is not on the objective aesthetic response but on the function
of individual or personal taste. He claimed that judgment of taste is both subjective and universal.
He said that aesthetic universals are subjective because they are responses of pleasure and do not
essentially involve any claim about the properties of the object itself. On the other hand, aesthetic
judgement is universal because it is not merely personal but also, disinterested.

4. Art as an Escape

According to Allen Weinstein, without mental escape, we build up a lot of anxiety within ourselves.
Artists have to get rid of this anxiety and pressure because if we keep these worries and anxieties within
our mind, they will come out in the form of anger and even hatred. Unfortunately, such anger and hatred
are often taken out on the wrong people. According to Señeres and others (2008), the artists’ works of
art reveal the emotional outburst that has been kept for many years in their mind. The only way to take
out such tension is through painting, dancing, music, and other art forms. They are a cathartic solution to
one's anxiety and life' s difficulties. Likewise, the awareness that these works of art created among the
viewers may also lead to a positive or negative emotional reaction.

5. Art as Functional

The artist intent in creating a functional piece of art is to bring creativity, beauty, and usefulness into
people' s everyday lives. Whether it's a curvy chair made of cardboard, a banca made of paper,
functional art makes us rethink and re-assess the way we look at ordinary things, sometimes by using
unusual materials in their construction.