CHAPTER 1

INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED TO

CONTEMPORARY ART

MIRJAM NILSSON​
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Region is an art
produced at
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the present period in time. In vernacular English, “modern” and
“contemporary” are synonyms, resulting in some conflation of
the terms
“modern art” and “contemporary art” by non-specialists.

According to Leo Benesa (2015), modern or contemporary

art, although a by-word for decades in the Western world, is a
phenomenon of the
post-war period in the Philippines. This is not meant to detract
from the yeoman efforts of Victorio Edades, Carlos Francisco
and Galo Ocampo, who were known as the ‘Triumvirate’ in
progressive art circles of the pre-war period. The art of these
three men was indeed contemporary in intention and direction,
but their role was more needed historical and transitional
rather than iconoclastic. A new group was needed negotiate the
actual aesthetic breakaway from the established canon to the
abstract, expressionist, symbolist and other modes of creative
expression characteristic of the art of the modern world.

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 Art is everywhere. In a modern world driven
by rapid technological advancement, art is
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usually categorized simply as painting,

sculptures, and other similar forms. Little do
we know that art comes in various forms
which we can integrate. Social media, print
advertisement, radio programs, and even
noon time television shows are results of
integrated part.

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 Integrative Art to Philippine Contemporary Art
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The art are classified in distinct forms: architecture, visual arts,
literary arts, dance, dramatic arts, cinema and broadcast arts, and
new media. However, the arts in the regions have evolved and have
taken a new form. They are no longer what they were several years
ago. The arts in the regions have combined to create integrative
art. Because of this, there is now an interconnection among the
arts, resulting in the combination of arts. Contemporary art forms
in the regions now include the following: choreography, musical
ARTS •. Something Click
thaticon to add with
is created picture
imagination and skill
instruments, literary and music composition, visual design,
and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings
theatrical performance, and cinema. Try to analyze these
integrated contemporary art forms in the regions.

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Choreography

Choreography is an arrangement or design for

dance movements usually accompanied by
music. It is the art of dancing that is
composed of a series of dance steps and
movement to create a story. It has become an
integrated art, for it incorporates both dance
and music. In the regions, there is a minimal
number of contemporary dances because the
traditional dances are still being widely
practiced. However, the choreography of
these traditional dances have varied through
generations. Modifications are done to adapt
to contemporary times. Contemporary
choreography are mostly seen in the
productions of street dancing for regional
festivals.
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 Musical Instrument
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A musical instrument is any tool or device that
produces sound. It consists of an array of shapes
and styles from the simple to the complex. One
interacts with a musical instrument in a way that it
produces a sound, like a guitarist plucking the strings
of his guitar or a drummer beating his gong. Examples
of traditional musical instruments in the Philippines
are the kulintang, gangsa, and the kutyapi.
Integration of arts is seen through the intricate design
of musical instruments, representing visual arts; and
their functions, which is primarily to create music. A
musical instrument alone is an example of integrated
art. One notable Filipino, National Artist for Music
Lucresia Kasilag, infused the sounds of naive
instruments on new forms, such as theater and
pictures. Some of her remarkable works are
Orientalia Suite for Piano and Chamber and
Philippine Percussion Instruments, and
Improvisations No 3 and 4 for Moslem gamelan and
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Literary and Musical Compositions

Literary works are written works meant to be read, sung,

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or delivered in a play. They can be written in prose or in

poetry form. Musical compositions, on the other hand, are
not written but notated (represented by musical symbols).
Since they use symbols particular to their field, they must
be learned. These two types of compositions are some of
the easiest art forms to integrate with another form.
Literary pieces, such as novels, short stories, and epics are
the most common bases of other forms like theater and
cinema. A theater without a playwright is nothing; so is a
cinema without a scriptwriter. In the contemporary times,
the most common examples are the movie adaptations of
some well-known literary pieces, such as “Bata, Bata,
Pa’no ka Ginawa?” and “Dekada ‘70,” novels by Lualhati
Bautista that were turned into films by Chito Roῆo; and
Mars Ravelo’s comics “Darna,” “Captain Barbell,”and
“Dyesebel,”which were adapted into numerous movies and
TV programs through time. It is the same with musical
compositions. Anotated work must be performed to be
appreciated. Aside from recitals, compositions are now
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being enjoyed in dance, theater, cinema and broadcast
arts, and even in new media
Visual Design

Visual Design is a composition or layout of lines, shapes, and color to

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form patterns on paper; textile, or any piece for that matter. It can be
found in either two-dimensional works like painting and drawing; or
three-dimensional works like installation and sculpture. Integration
of arts in visual design happens in several hybrid art forms like
installation videos and the like. Theatrical Performance The staging
and execution of a production, like drama, opera, festivals and the like
fall under the form called theatrical performance. It pertains to a
public presentation of a dramatic or musical entertainment. It
involves a lot of teamwork that includes the producer; the director,
the cast, and the crew of workers. Technology, whether traditional,
digital, multimedia, innovative, or alternative, is a vital part of any
performance. Contemporary theatrical performance is experimental ,
innovative, controversial, and interdisciplinary, going beyond theater
and other art forms, like puppetry, cinema, and sculpture. It also goes
out to other disciplines like psychology, and the social and political
sciences. One specific example of a contemporary theatrical
performance is PETA’s Rak of Aegis, a musical tribute to the Filipino
90s band, Aegis. It used the integration of music, theater, and dance
to create
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a hybrid piece of art
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 Cinema

The cinema is the most popular of the art forms; yet, it is the
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youngest of all. It appeared only in early 1900s in Manila

and later spread in the regions. It has gained public
acceptance since then. The characteristics of the cinema is
similar to the theater; except that it is not a live
performance and the action is seen in a flat screen.
However, in the advent of technology, even the theater-
known to produce live performances-has been brought to
the cinema. One recent example is the 2012 12 comedy-
musical, I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! a movie tribute
to the prized trio of the 80s, the APO Hiking Society. A lot
has happened in the contemporary art scene since its onset
in the 70s. In the regions, art forms are now collaborative
and community-based, fostering values of camaraderie,
cooperation, team-building, and pride of place.

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 You already have the knowledge on the different integrative art in the Philippine found in the different region.
It is now time for you to know more about the art of your own region.
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Activity 3: Know your Locality. In what region does your school belong? How many provinces/cities are
there in your region? Research about a specific province in your own region, specifically about its integrated
contemporary arts. Describe(research) its contemporary art forms and practices using the graphic organizer
below.

Theatrical Cinema
Performance

Choreography
Musical

Literary and
Visual Design Musical

Region:
11 Number of provinces/cities:
Chosen City/Province:
 Activity 4: Based on the discussion in activity 3. After knowing more about the different art forms in your
own region, describe what you have learned about your region.
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1. Enumerate examples of the following art forms found in your region.

A. Choreography
B. Musical Instruments
C. Literary and Musical Compositions
D. Visual Design
E. Theatrical Performance
F. Theatrical Performance
G. Cinema

2. Which of these art forms is/are most distinct in your region? Why do you say so?
3. How is my region responding to the promotion of culture and the arts?
4. How does the Philippines society influence the arts in my region?
5. How does the Philippines society influence the arts in the country?
6. What can you do to preserve and promote this distinctive art form in your region?
7. What can you do to preserve and promote this distinctive art form in your region (other region or to
international communities)?
8. What is the significance of the contemporary arts of the regions to its citizens?
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 Now that you have learned the different
contemporary art form and their practices from
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the various region, promote the integrative art

found in your region based on the knowledge and
skill you have learned in this topic.
 
Activity 5: Let us Perform.

Show off your skills by performing an

integrated contemporary art form from your
region. You are given 3-5 minutes in your
performance.. To promote the contemporary arts
of your region, record a video of your
performance, and share it on social media.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

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