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Art Appreciation
Further Readings
Introduction: What is Art?
INTRODUCTION:
This module provides an introduction to the field of Arts (Humanities). It will help you develop your understanding of art and
why we need to study Humanities. This will also give a glimpse of how art affect our everyday lives. Therefore, it covers the following
topics on simple definition of art, why study Humanities, brief history of art, and the basic perception and assumption of art.
This should allow you to make a more aware of ideas within arts that will make understand more and appreciate art and apply
it to our daily lives.
After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:
1. Distinguish the role of humanities (Art)
2. Recognize the importance of Humanities (Art)
3. Elaborate the purpose of art as well as its assumptions and functions.
4. Engaged better with personal experiences of and in art.
Panorama of a section of A Thousand Li of Mountains and Rivers, by Wang Ximeng from the 12th-century Song Dynasty
DISCUSSION:
Art is something constantly around us. Some people may deny having to do with the arts but it is undeniable that life presents us
with many forms of and opportunities for relationship with arts. A teenager who chose to comb his hair the way it looks appealing to
other people, or simple choosing a shirt to wear. An acquaintance with old cathedrals on your way to school or your job. A market
vendor cheering for her bet in a dance competition on a noontime TV program. These instances manifest that art is undeniably
everywhere.
But despite the seemingly overflowing instances of arts around us, one still finds the need to see more and experience more,
whether consciously or unconsciously. One whose exposure to music is only limited to one genre finds it lacking not to have been
exposed to more. Plato had the sharpest foresight when he discussed in the Symposium that beauty, the object of any love, truly
progresses. As one moves through life, one locates better, more beautiful objects of desire. One can never be totally content with what
is just before him. Human beings are drawn toward what is good and ultimately beautiful. Art is uniquely human and tied directly to
culture. It takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. It asks questions about who we are, what we value, the meaning of beauty
and the human condition. It gives voice to ideas and feelings, connects us to the past, reflects the present and anticipates the future.
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This lesson is about yearning of what is beautiful, the appreciation of beauty around us… and some preliminary assumptions and
perception that people normally hold about art.
Human being is the basic subject of Humanities hence the word which comes from the
Greek “Humanus” means human, and in Latin which means educated. The term “art” is related to the
Latin word “ars” meaning ability or skills. Humanities also means understanding man and his affairs
(activities) rather than just prescribed unchangeable body of accepted facts and theories (ideas).
Likewise, Humanities is more concerned on how a person expresses his/her feelings. It aims to offer
happiness to human being. It also direct human being achieved happiness without money as
instrument or anything that belonged to the world.
As an area of discipline, the course Humanities is too broad that it encompasses all other
programs and discipline like language and grammar, social science, philosophies and histories. Webster’s New Collegiate dictionary
defines art as “The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” Yet art is much
more than a medium, or words on a page. It is the expression of our experience.
Importance, Functions, and Assumptions
Importance of Art in the Society
Art is a part of our culture. It should be given importance by the people. It is the expression of our creative ideas and
imagination. It has different forms such as the visual arts, sculpture, music, literature, theater, films, and other ways that artists choose
as a medium for their craft. The important thing is that they are able to put their imagination and ideas into something tangible –
although these are subject to other people’s comprehension and appreciation. And when the members of a society continue to do this,
there is a collective psyche or essence of a particular period or generation.
Art transcends time. It transcends the artist who was responsible in its creation. It shatters barriers and goes beyond them to
be able to share its message and speak of its meaning. Art rises above language, class, religion, gender, and other factors that seem
to divide the world. Art brings people together. It elicits different reactions and emotions but everyone can agree that it moves them to
think, to feel, and to act. Art is there to remind us of the values that we uphold. It makes us realize that we may all come from different
walks of life but there are some things that are undeniably common to all of us – like love, friendship, and freedom. It reminds us that
there are more important things in life. It makes us realize the importance of pursuing our passion and expressing ourselves. At the end
of the day, we can say that art makes us a better person – by making us think profoundly, by making us feel deeper, and by making us
act and do something other than not doing anything at all.
Purpose and Function of Art
Art has had a great number of different functions throughout its history, making its purpose
hard to quantify to any single perception. This does not suggest that the purpose of art is “indefinite”
but that it had many unique, different reasons for being created. Some of the functions of art are
provided in the outline below. This is a partial list of purposes as developed by Claude Lévi-Strauss.
Expression of the imagination. Art provides a means to express the imagination (things, places, ideas
that are unreal or unknowable) in common-grammatical ways. Unlike words, which come in
sequences, each of which has a definite meaning, art provides a range of forms, symbols and ideas
with meanings that can be determined by the artist. An artist can create visual imagery of mythical
animals, religious concepts such as heaven or hell, fictional places, or other things from their creative
mind.
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Ritualistic and symbolic functions. In many cultures, art is used in religion, spiritual or magical rituals, performances and dances as a
decoration or symbol of a god or other divine quality. While these often have no specific utilitarian purpose, anthropologists know that
they often serve a purpose at the level of meaning within a particular culture. This meaning is not furnished by any one individual, but is
often the result of many generations of change and understanding, and of a cosmological relationship within the culture.
Communication. Art, at its simplest, is a form of communication. Most forms of communication have an intent or goal directed toward
other people. Illustrative arts, such as scientific illustration, are a form of art as communication. Maps are another example. However,
the content need not be scientific. Stories, emotions, and feelings are also communicated through art.
Entertainment. Art may seek to bring about a particular emotion or mood, for the purpose of relaxing or entertaining the viewer. This is
often the function of the art industries such as Motion Pictures and Video Games. And of course, more traditional art, such as some
paintings and sculptures are simply meant to be enjoyable.
Political change. One of the defining functions of early twentieth-century art has been to use visual images to bring about political
change. Art movements that had this goal—Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism, among others—are collectively referred to as the
avant-garde arts. This purpose of art continues today in many objects aimed at exposing corruption of the ruling class, including
government, the wealthy, and corporations.
Social causes. Art can be used to raise awareness for a large variety of causes. A number of art activities are aimed at raising
awareness of AIDS, autism, cancer, human trafficking, and a variety of other topics, such as ocean conservation, human rights in
Darfur, murdered and missing Aboriginal women, elder abuse, marriage equality, and pollution. Trashion, using trash to make fashion,
is one example of using art to raise awareness about pollution.
Psychological and healing purposes. Art is also used by art therapists, psychotherapists and clinical psychologists as art therapy. The
Diagnostic Drawing Series, for example, is used to determine the personality and emotional functioning of a patient. The end product
(the art object) is not the principal goal in this case, but rather a process of healing, through creative acts, is sought. The resultant piece
of artwork may also offer insight into the troubles experienced by the subject and may suggest suitable approaches to be used in more
conventional forms of psychiatric therapy.
Propaganda or commercialism. Art is often utilized as a form of propaganda, and thus can be used to subtly influence popular
conceptions or mood (especially regarding political issues). In a similar way, art that tries to sell a product also influences mood and
emotion. In both cases, the purpose of art here is to subtly manipulate the viewer into a particular emotional or psychological response
toward a particular idea or object.
These are just one writer’s categorization of purposes for art; there are many other ways to try to organize the diverse and
complex ideas of art into artificial categories. In addition, the functions of art described above are not mutually exclusive, as many of
them may overlap.
Assumption of Art
Art is Universal
Literature has provided key works of art. Among the most popular ones being taught in school are two Greek epics, the Iliad
and Odyssey written by Homer which is a blind poet. Musically speaking, songs of The Beatles like Yesterday and Obla Di Obla da
which was written dated back from the 70’s. The same as the Ibong Adarna and Florante and Laura. These works was written before
the beginning of recorded history and as old as our grandfathers has been passed on through generations and still a prominent topic of
study until today. Art has always been timeless and universal, spanning generations and continents through and through. In every
country and every generation, there is always art. Oftentimes, people feel that is considered artistic are only those which have been
made long time ago. This is a misconception. Age is not a factor in determining art. “…art is not good because it is old, but old because
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it is good”. (Dudley et al, 1960). This assumption is then about humanities is that art has been crafted by all people regardless of origin,
time, place, and it stayed on and on because it is liked and enjoyed by people continuously.
Art is not nature
One important characteristic of art is that it is not nature. Arts is man’s expression of his reception and perception of nature
not nature itself. Art is man’s way of interpreting nature. Art is made by man, whereas nature is a given around us. A painter may paint
an image of a person but it is not necessarily nature, for he applies his ideas and impression by the way he utilizes different color
combination which may express his feelings on his artwork. One may ask questions such as: Why Andre Bonifacio write “Pag-ibig sa
Tinubuang Lupa”? Why did Juan Luna motivated to create his masterpiece, the Spoliarium? In whatever work of art, one may would
always ask why, but we may also consider the question “what is that the artist want to convey or show?
Art involve experience
Art is always an experience. Unlike fields of knowledge that involve data, art is known for experiencing. A painter cannot claim
to know how to paint if he has not tried holding such as brush. A sculptor cannot produce a work of art if a chisel is foreign to him. It
only affirms that “all art depends on experience, and if one is to know art, he must know it not as a fact or information, but as
experience.” An important aspect of experiencing art is its being highly personal, individual, and subjective. In philosophical terms,
perception of art is always a value judgment. It depends on who the perceiver is, his tastes, his biases, and what has inside him. One
cannot argue with another person’s evaluation of art because one’s experience can never be known by another. Finally, because of
these differences, feelings and emotions based on how we experience is a concrete proofs that art has been experiences. By
experience, we mean the “actual doing of something”.
References:
• Caslib, N. Jr., Garing, C., Casaul, R., (2017). Art Appreciation. Manila, Philippines. Rex Book Store
• Tabotabo, V, Corpuz, M., Hidalgo, F., (2013). Introduction to the Humanities and the Basics of Art Appreciation. Manila, Philippines.
Purely Books Trading and Publishing House Corporation.
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Output No. 1
Name: __________________________________________ Course: __________________ Year/Section:_________
Art is everywhere for it is universal. Base on your on perception, kindly discuss the importance of Humanities or Art in the
society.
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Output No. 2
Name: __________________________________________ Course: __________________ Year/Section:_________
Answer the following questions as precisely yet as thoroughly as possible.
1. If you were an artist, what kind of artist would you be?
2. Why is art not nature?
3. Why is art timeless and ageless?
4. Why does art involve experience?
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Rubrics
Traits 20 15 10 5
Focus & Details There is one clear, well- There is one clear, well- There is one topic. The topic and main
focused topic. Main ideas focused topic. Main Main ideas are ideas are not clear.
are clear and well supported ideas are clear but are somewhat clear.
by detailed and accurate not well supported by
information. detailed information.
Organization The introduction is inviting, The introduction states The introduction There is no clear
states the main topic, and the main topic and states the main topic. introduction,
provides an overview of the provides an overview A conclusion is structure, or
paper. Information is of the paper. A included. conclusion.
relevant and presented in a conclusion is included.
logical order. The
conclusion is strong.
Voice The author’s purpose of The author’s purpose The author’s purpose The author’s purpose
writing is very clear, and of writing is somewhat of writing is somewhat of writing is unclear.
there is strong evidence of clear, and there is clear, and there is
attention to audience. The some evidence of evidence of attention
author’s extensive attention to audience. to audience. The
knowledge and/or The author’s author’s knowledge
experience with the topic knowledge and/or and/or experience with
is/are evident. experience with the the topic is/are limited.
topic is/are evident.
Word Choice The author uses vivid words The author uses vivid The author uses The writer uses a
and phrases. The choice words and phrases. The words that limited vocabulary.
and placement of words choice and placement communicate clearly, Jargon or clichés
seems accurate, natural, of words is inaccurate but the writing lacks may be present
and not forced. at times and/or seems variety. and detract from
overdone. the meaning.
Sentence All sentences are well Most sentences are Most sentences are Sentences sound
Structure, constructed and have varied well constructed and well constructed, but awkward, are
Grammar, structure and length. The have varied structure they have a similar distractingly
author makes no errors in and length. The author structure and/or length. repetitive, or are
Mechanics, &
grammar, mechanics, and/or makes a few errors in The author makes difficult to
Spelling spelling. grammar, mechanics, several errors in understand. The
and/or spelling, but grammar, mechanics, author makes
they do not interfere and/or spelling that numerous errors in
with understanding. interfere with grammar,
understanding. mechanics, and/or
spelling that
interfere with
understanding.
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Art Appreciation
Further Readings
Creativity, Imagination, and Expression
INTRODUCTION:
This module will provide knowledge on creativity, imagination and expression as part of art appreciation. It includes topic on
art appreciation as the way of life, role of creativity in art making, art as a product of imagination, visual arts and other mode of arts.
After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:
1. Differentiated art from nature;
2. Explained how art appreciation is a way of life;
3. Exhibited knowledge about the role of creativity in art making; and
4. Applied the idea of imagination and expression through an art work.
DISCUSSION:
It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty on the daily basis. However, not every beautiful thing that can be seen
or experienced may truly be called a work of art. Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. No matter how
extraordinarily formed mountains are, nature is not considered art simply because it is not made by man. An artwork may be inspired
by nature or other work of art, but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful and incorporates
them in creating his masterpiece.
Art Appreciation as a Way of Life
The role of art, as described by a famous French philosopher Jean-Paul Satre, is a creative work that portrays the world in a
completely different light and perspective, and the source is due to human freedom. Each artwork holds a beauty of its own kind, the
kind that the artist sees and wants the viewer to perceive. More often than not, people are blinded with this beauty and only those who
have developed a fine sense of appreciation can experience and see the art the same way as the artist did. Because of this, numerous
artworks go unnoticed, artists are not given enough credit. It sometimes takes a lifetime before their contribution to the development of
art is recognized. Refining one’s ability to appreciate art allows him to deeply understand the purpose of an artwork and recognize the
beauty it possesses. It is a way of life as they say.
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To be more appreciative, one must understand through time and experience art itself. It is better to reflect not on how but why
an artist make an artwork or on what is the purpose and meaning of his art that he want the viewer to see and appreciate. Visiting a
museums, art galleries, theaters, even malls or establishment that display art exhibition, or even art being show on the internet will not
only develop an understanding of the art, but will also serve as a rewarding experience. No matter what status, vocation or profession
you have, learning to appreciate art will lead to a fuller and more meaningful life.
The Role of Creativity in Art Making
Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often used to solve problems that have never occurred before or simplifying
things or make it complicated depending on how we apply our viewpoints which is enjoyable and unique to us. In art, creativity is what
sets apart one artwork from another. We say something is done creatively when we have not yet seen anything like it or when it is out
of the ordinary.
A creative artist does not simply copy or imitate another work of art. He does not imitate lines, flaws, color, and patterns in
recreating nature. He embraces originality, puts his work, and calls it his own creative piece.
Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
Above is an artwork of Vincent van Gogh entitled starry night. If you observe, he apply his own creativity in this artwork by the
use of lines and colors. In reality a starry night does not look like that but still van Gogh decide to use such elements which is a
portrayal of his creativity that he may call his own art work.
Yet, being creative nowadays can be quite challenging. What you thought was your own unique and creative idea may not what it
seems to be, for coincidentally someone has devised what you have done before you make what you think is yours.
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For instance, this campaign ad and slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines used by the Department of Tourism (DOT) boomed
popularity in 2011, but later on it was allegedly plagiarized or copied from Switzerland’s tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in Switzerland”,
back in 1951. Thus, creativity should be backed with careful research on related art to avoid such conflicts.
Art as product of Imagination
Where do you think famous writers, painters, and musicians get their
ideas? Where do ideas in making creative solutions begin? It all starts in human
mind. It all begins with imagination.
German physicist Albert Einstein who had made significant contributions
in science and humanity demonstrated that knowledge is actually derived from
imagination. He emphasized this idea through His words: “imagination is more
important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and
understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will
be to know and understand.” This only means that imagination allow endless
possibilities.
In an artist’s mind sits a vast gallery of artworks that does not need to be a real thing, but something that is imaginary. Take for
example a musician who thinks a tune in his head. Making of this tune in his head makes it imaginary tune. It remains imaginary until
he hums, sings, or writes down the notes of the tune on paper. However, something imaginary does not necessarily means it cannot be
called art. Artists use their imagination that gives birth to reality through creation.
In the same way, that imagination produces art, art also inspires imagination. Oftentimes, we find places that will boost our
imagination in creating something we like. For example while making our assignments and projects, we often find places like coffee
shops, restaurants, and libraries with paintings and artwork hanging on the wall. As early as the time of our ancestors, men crave to be
surrounded by beautiful things. Cave walls are surrounded by drawings and paintings of animals, clay molded and stones were curved
into forms. These creative pieces were made not only they were functional to men, but also because beauty gave them joy.
Art as Expression
There may have been times when you feel something is going on within you, you try to explain it but you do not know how.
You may only conscious about feeling this sort of excitement or fear, but you know just one word is not enough to describe the nature
of what you truly feel. Finally, you try to release yourself by doing something, which is called expressing oneself. Suppose this feeling is
excitement, you relieve it by expressing through shouting or jumping. An emotion is unknown to man until he expresses it.
An English philosopher Robin George Collingwood explicated in his publication The Principle of Art (1938) that what an artist
does to an emotion in not to induce it, but express it. Through his expression, an artist is able to explore his own emotions and at the
same time, create something beautiful out of them. Expressing emotions in something different from describing emotions. An artist has
the freedom to express himself the way he wants to without describing it. Hence, there is no specific technique in expression, but a
reflection of inner selves.
There are countless ways of expressing oneself through art. The following list includes, but is not limited to, popular art
expressions.
Visual Arts
Visual arts is the kind of art form that the population is most likely more exposed to, but are so diverse – they range from
sculptures that you see in art galleries to the last movie you saw. Some mediums of visual arts include paintings, drawings, letterings,
printing, sculptures, digital and more.
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Film
It refers to the art of putting together successions of still images in order to create an illusion of movement. Filmmaking
focuses on its aesthetic, cultural, and social value and is considered as both an art and an industry. It simulates experiences or
creates one that is beyond the scope of imagination and expression as it aims to deliver ideas, feelings, or beauty to its viewer.
Performance Art
Performance art is a live art and the artist’s medium is mainly the human body which he or she uses to perform, but also
employs other kind of art such as visual art, props, or sound. Most popular medium of it is theater and dance.
Applied Art
Applied arts is incorporating elements of style and design to everyday items with the aim of increasing their aesthetic value.
Industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and graphic design are considered applied arts. Through exploration and
expression of ideas, consideration of the needs, and careful choice of materials and techniques, artists are able to combine
functionality and style.
Art is a product of a man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. An artwork may be inspired by nature or other works of art,
but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful and incorporated them in creating his
masterpiece. Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely, all are spectators of art, which gives us all a role in the
field of art appreciation.
Creativity is what sets apart one artwork from another. While through imagination, an artist is able to craft something bold,
something new, and something better in the hopes of creating something that will stimulate change. Lastly, through expression, an
artist is able to explore his own emotions while at the same time, create something beautiful out of it.
Visual Arts Film
Performance Arts Applied Arts
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Output No. 3
Name: _____________________________________ Course: ___________________ Year/Section: _________
Elaborate the following questions thoroughly as possible.
1. Why is art different from nature? Site some examples.
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2. Why is Art appreciation a way of life?
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3. Role of creativity in art making.
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Output No.4
Name: __________________________________________ Course: __________________ Year/Section:_________
Make a simple artwork through drawing base on what you want to express about the present situation of the Philippines having this
pandemic. Try to exhibit your imagination. You may use pencil or charcoal as your medium.
