Lesson 2 & 3:

Functions of Art and Philosophical Perspective on Art

I. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
a. Distinguish between directly functional and indirectly functional art;
b. Explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspective on the art;
c. Differentiate content from to subject; and
d. Characterize sources and kinds of art.

II. CONCEPT NOTES

Philosophy of art, the study of the nature of art, including concepts such as interpretation, representation
and expression, and form. It is closely related to aesthetics, the philosophical study of beauty and taste.
In this lesson, subject and content will be discussed. To differentiate briefly, subject refers to the visual
focus or the image that may be extracted from examining the artwork, while content is the meaning that is
communicated by the artist or the artwork. Finally, the development and configuration of the artwork – how the
elements and the medium or material are put together – is the form. In simpler terms, the subject is seen as the
“what”, the content is the “why” and the form is the “how”.

To learn more about art assumptions and nature of arts, read and write the following concepts in your
Batang Gapan Notebook.

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The Function of Arts
Art can be generally classified into two:

1. Directly Functional Art – art that we use in a daily basis and serves a literal or tangible functions in our
lives. (e.g. Clothes, Architectural and Engineering, Structures, Money, Furniture)

2. Indirect Functional Art – art that are “perceived through the senses”. Not used literally to live but
accompanies life. (e.g. Painting, Theatre, Literature)

Artistic Functions can be classified into four:

1. Aesthetic Function
 An artwork functions aesthetically when it becomes an instrument for mankind to be cognizant of its
beauty when feelings of joy and appreciation are manifested.

2. Utilitarian Function
 Art serves this function when it is used to give comfort, convenience, and happiness to human beings.
It served basic functions such as clothing, food, shelter, and other things that make human lives with
happiness and ease.

3. Social Function
 Art serves this purpose when it bridges connection among people. Also when it encourages unity and
good relationship among people. With this, people become more understanding and could somehow
create a better society.
4. Cultural Function
 Art serves as an aperture towards skills, knowledge, attitudes, customs and traditions of different
people. The art helps preserve, share and transmit culture of people from one generation to another.

Philosophical Perspectives

A. Plato’s Theory of Mimeses

 In this theory of Mimeses, Plato says that art is mimetic by nature; art is an imitation of life. He
believe that ‘idea’ is the ultimate reality. Art imitated idea and so it is imitation of reality.

B. Aristotle’s Theory of Representation

 All the arts have their own techniques and rational principles, and it is through mastery of these that
the artist/craftsman brings his conceptions to life. Yes, the arts to copy nature but their representations
are fuller and more meaningful than nature gives us in the raw. That is their strength. We do not
therefore need to insist on some moral purpose of art, which is thus free to represent all manner of
things present, past, imagined, or institutionally required.

C. Kant’s L”art por L’art (Art for Art’s Sake)

 Kant argued the purpose of art is to be ‘purposeless’. It should not have to justify any reason of
existing and being valued other than the fact that it is art. Our experience in art – the ways we
appreciate and criticize work – is therefore wholly commanded by aesthetic pleasure and delight;
separate to the rest of the world.

D. Art as an Escape
 The ceremony of art touches the deepest realms of the psyche and the sacred dimension of the artistic
creative process. The sacred level of art not only transforms the artist at the very core of his or her
being. This way of doing and relating to art makes the process and context of art making infinitely
more important than the product.

Lesson 3:
Subject and Content

THE SUBJECT
 The subject of art refers to any person, object, scene or event described or represented in work of art.
 Representational (e.g. Paintings, Sculpture)
 Non-representational (e.g. Architectural, Structures)
 Many contemporary painters have turned away from representational to non-objective painting. They
have shifted their attention to the work of art as an object in itself, an exciting combination of shapes
and colors that fulfils an aesthetic need without having to represent images or tell a story
 Many modern paintings are like this making them more difficult to comprehend

Ways of Representing Subjects

Realism/Naturalism
 Generally the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic
conventions or implausible, exotic and supernatural elements.
Abstraction
 The artist select and renders the objects with their shapes, colors and positions altered
 In others, the original objects have been reduced the simple geometric shapes and they can be rarely
identified unless the artist names in title.
  Artist’s concern is the rendering of the essence of the subjects rather than the natural from itself.

Distortion
 Could mean twisting, stretching or deforming the natural shape of the object.
 It is usually done to dramatize the shape of a figure or to create an emotional effect.

Surrealism
 It is the method where the artist in giving expression to what it is in the subconscious composes
dreamlike scenes that show an irrational arrangement of objects.
 The images are recognizable, sometimes drawn by the nature but they are so combined in utterly
fantastic and unnatural relationship.

Kinds and Sources of Subjects

1. Nature
2. Animals
3. Portrait or Human Figured
4. History and Legends
5. Still life
6. Religion and Methodology
7. Dreams and Fantasies
8. Cityscapes
9. Seascapes

CONTENT

Factual meaning
 The literal statement or the narrative content in the work which can be directly apprehended because
the objects presented are easily recognized.

Conventional meaning
 Refers to the special meaning that a certain object or color has a particular culture or group of people.

Subjective meaning
 Any personal meaning consciously or unconsciously conveyed by the artist using a private symbolism
which stems from his own association of certain objects, actions or colors with past experience.