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Functions and Philosophical Perspectives of Art

The document discusses Aristotle's view that everything has a purpose or telos. It then discusses different functions of art, including personal expression and entertainment, social functions like conveying political messages, and physical functions when art has a practical purpose like architecture. While music, sculpture, and architecture often served functions originally, art does not always need to be functional to be considered art.

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44 views

Functions and Philosophical Perspectives of Art

The document discusses Aristotle's view that everything has a purpose or telos. It then discusses different functions of art, including personal expression and entertainment, social functions like conveying political messages, and physical functions when art has a practical purpose like architecture. While music, sculpture, and architecture often served functions originally, art does not always need to be functional to be considered art.

Uploaded by

kuro hanabusa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Functions and Philosophical

Perspectives of Art
Aristotle

• The Greek philosopher Aristotle


claimed that every particular
substance in the world has an end,
telos in Greek, which translates to
“purpose.”

• In Aristotle’s view of reality, man is


bound to achieve a life fulfillment and
happiness, or in Greek, eudaimonia.
Functions of Art
Function

• Different artwork come with


distinctive functions
• There is no one-to-one
correspondence between an art and
its function
Classification of Functions of Art

1. Personal (public display, expression)


2. Social (celebration, to affect collective behavior)
3. Physical (utilitarian)
Personal Functions of Art

• Varied and highly subjective


• It depends on the person/artist who created
the art
• The artist may create an art out of:
• self expression
• entertainment for intended audience
• therapeutic
Social Functions of Art

• Art is considered to have a social function if


and when it addresses a particular collective
interest as opposed to a personal interest.
• Political Art is a very common example of an
art with social function.
• Art may convey message to protest,
contestation, or whatever message the artist
intends his work to carry.
• Art depicts social conditions. (Ex.
Photography)
Physical Function of Art

• The easiest to spot and to understand.


• Artworks that are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose.
• (Ex. Architecture, jewelry-making, interior design)
Other Functions of Art
Music as a Function

• Music in its original form was principally


functional.
• Used for dance and religion.
• Powerful accompaniment to stage plays and
motion pictures.
• Has multitude of meanings to different
people.
Sculpture as a Function

• Commonly used particularly for


religion.
• Used to commemorate important
figures in history.
Architecture as a Function

• A lot of investment is to put


mega structures like pyramids of
Giza, the acropolis, or the great
cathedrals of the medieval
world.
Does Art Always Have to
be Functional?
Does Art Always Have to be Functional?

• A functional object cannot be claimed to be


beautiful unless it can perform its function
sufficiently.
• (Ex. Consider a house that cannot even
protect its resident from the nasty weather
outside or a spoon that spills the food on
it.)
• Efficient functional object is not necessarily
beautiful.

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