The Ugly and the Tragic in Art

There is nothing that may be considered an improper subject for a work of art. The grotesque, the
ugly, and the tragic are all legitimate subjects as much as the pleasurable and the beautiful are. As a matter
of fact, artists have often deviated from the stereotyped and "beautiful subjects.” Many have been attracted
to decaying or dilapidated objects whose forms, colors, and textures have intrigued them. They have ren-
dered these in aesthetically pleasing paintings and prints. Rembrandt van Rijn's painting of the flayed carcass
of an ox hanging in a butcher's stall is an example. And so are Manuel Baldemor's paintings and prints of
weather-beaten barong-barong.
A good number of works of art are concerned with pain and evil. Among the most appealing
subjects of painting and sculpture are the Crucified Christ (Figure 1-5) and "La Pieta." The greatest plays
are invariably tragedies. And many of our songs speak of love denied or lost. "Our sweetest songs are those
that tell of saddest thoughts," Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote.
There are reasons for the wide appeal of works of art that show
human suffering. The interest does not have to spring from a sadistic
or a masochistic tendency at all.
Each of us has suffered grief, frustration, or loss one way or
another. In these works of art, we find an affinity with the rest of
humanity who have like experienced these painful emotions and
tensions. It is as if by vicariously experiencing the suffering evoked by
these works, we are purged of the pain and we achieve a release of
tension. As Andre Maurois, writing about literature and the expression
of the emotions, says:
“It is reassuring to find that other people we like have gone through the same
troubles, the same sadness, and the same regrets. We are not abnormal, we think,
nor are we the sole victims, since a man of genius has described feelings similar to
Figure 1-5. Matthias Grunewald, our own. By making us feet we are not exceptions literature manages to break the
Crucifixion: altarpiece panel (1524), oil spell. It restores us to our place in the human community from which we thought
on canvas. Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe. ourselves excluded, by showing us that those greater than ourselves have suffered
the same ills…”

Subject and Content

Recognizing the subject is not necessarily grasping the content of a work of art. Subject and content
are two different things. While subject refers to the objects depicted by the artist, content refers to what the
artist expresses or communicates on the whole in his work. Sometimes it is spoken of as the "meaning" of
the work. In literature it is called the "theme." In fact, we may define it as the statement we apprehend or
the feeling or mood we experience with the work of art. Content reveals the artist’s attitude toward his
subject. The subject of Hidalgo's Wounded Soldier is a soldier nursing his wound, but its content is definitely
more than this. It is the soldier's stoicism and dignity that the artist wanted us to see.
One does not always see content, but it is transmitted by the way subject and form interact in a
work. It is easier to grasp the content in arts with explicit subject matter than in abstract arts.
Subject matter may acquire different levels of meaning. Cleaver classifies them as (1) factual
meaning, (2) conventional meaning, and (3) subjective meaning.
The factual meaning is the literal statement or the narrative content in the work which can be
directly apprehended because the objects presented are easily recognized. This meaning is often
supplemented by other levels of meaning.
 The conventional meaning refers to the special meaning about a certain object or color has for a
particular culture or a group of people. The flag is the agreed-upon symbol for a nation. The Cross is a
Christian symbol of faith, the wheel is the Buddhist symbol of faith; the wheel is the Buddhist symbol for
the teachings of Gautama Buddha.
The subjective meaning is 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 experiences. This can be fully understood only when the artist himself explains what he really
means, as in the case of the poems of T. S. Eliot where he provides footnotes. Otherwise, it tends to be
interpreted differently by each viewer or reader who may see it in the light of his own associations.
No one can be expected to understand without effort and study the meanings of many works of
art, especially those that deal with religion and mythology. To a non-Christian the dove would not have a
vivid religious meaning, nor would the four arms of Shiva or the elephant head of the god Ganesh have to
the non-Hindu. To fully grasp the content of works of art, one must learn as much as he can about the
culture of the people that produced them and maintain an open mind.
To quote Osborne:
The subject of works of art usually has some intellectual content. And whenever this is the
case, understanding of the intellectual content is a part of apprehending the work of art, perceiving
it fully and getting it complete in awareness... A failure to understand obscurities of the subject
matter, involving as it necessarily does less than complete apprehension, must have some effect
upon the perception of the formal and expressive qualities of the work... Even historical and
sociological information about the work may have relevance to understanding and will therefore
be, to some extent, conducive to full appreciation. But extraneous facts are not a substitute for
percipience or for the task of understanding the specific intellectual content of each work of art.
THE FUNCTIONS OF ART
Function in Art
Compared to other activities of man, art is generally regarded as impractical, not meant to meet the
requirements of day-to-day living. To the layman, art has very little function, the term function being taken
to mean "practical usefulness." Architecture, weaving, furniture-making, and a few other crafts have
obvious purposes and are therefore classified as functional. But painting, sculpture, literature, music, and the
theater arts seem to serve no other end than to amuse or provide a pleasant escape from life's daily
problems. Thus, they are classified as non-functional.
Broadly speaking, though, all arts have function, for man, the maker, creates things because he has
a particular need for them.
From one point of view, we may consider art as having the general function of “satisfying (1) our
individual needs for personal expression, (2) our social needs for display, celebration, and communication,
and (3) our physical needs for utilitarian objects and structures.”
The Personal Function
We said earlier that the arts are vehicles for the artists' expression of their feelings and ideas. The
arts also serve as means of expression for us. Music, for instance, and literature, at times, have a way of
expressing our emotions for us. As we listen to certain musical compositions, we feel that they reflect
exactly what we feel and thus release the tension such emotions create in us; or, as we read certain literary
passages, we note that the writer has presented exactly what we think, though we could never have
expressed it as clearly or as beautifully.
The therapeutic value of music cannot be ignored. "Music hath charms to soothe the savage
breast," wrote William Congreve. Soft, sweet crooning can easily lull a baby to sleep. Soft, sweet music
piped into modern hospital rooms has been found to speed up the recovery of patients, and music sessions
are effective in treating mentally disturbed patients.
The power of music to make its feel certain emotions and act in certain ways has been written
about by a good number of poets. In "Alexander’s Feast," an ode on the power of music, John Dryden
describes how the court musician Timotheus made Alexander the Great respond to his playing on the lyre,
now "swelling the soul to rage," now "kindling love and desire.
As a defense against the many unpleasant and strident sounds and sights that assault our senses
today, we tend to develop an indifference or a capacity of being deaf or blind to a lot of significant things
around us. Art helps to educate our senses and sharpen our perception of colors, forms, textures, designs,
sounds, rhythms, and harmonies in our environment. Visual and auditory "literacy" through contact with
the arts
can lead us to an intensified awareness of the beautiful in life. It can thus can make our senses less humdrum;
it can refine and elevate our aesthetic taste.
Works of art make us aware of other ways of thinking, feeling, and imagining that have never
occurred to us before. They offer us fresh insights into nature and human nature so that we gain a better
understanding of ourselves and the world around us. They help us improve our lives. This is especially true
of literature, drama, and cinema which capture and vivify human experience.
Social Functions of Art
One cannot conceive of a society without art, for art is closely related to every aspect of social life.
Art performs a social function when "(1) it seeks or tends to influence the collective behavior of a
people, (2) it is created to be seen or used primarily in public situations, and (3) it expresses or describes
social or collective aspects of existence as opposed to individual and personal kinds of experiences.""
Influencing Social Behavior. Many works of art influence the way we think, feel, or act. They
cause us to laugh at certain phenomena, raise our voices in protest over certain matters, or see a social
reality which had never been apparent to us before. They can bring about in us decisions to collectively
change, correct, or improve upon the human condition.
The pictorial form is a very powerful means of putting across a message. Paintings, photographs,
posters, and cartoons have been
used to express humanitarian
concern as well as ideological or
political comment. Protests
against man's inhumanity to man
are seen in Goya's Disasters of War
series, Picasso's Guernica (Figure 1-6),
Luna's Spoliariuin, Hidalgo's
Christian Maidens Exposed to the
Populace, and in prize-winning
photographs about the ravages of
Figure 1-6. Pablo Picasso, Guernica: mural (1937), oil on canvas. Museum of
war in Southeast Asia, the Middle
Modern Art, New York.
East, and other parts of the Third
World. These do not fail to arouse indignation in us and a desire to stop the indiscriminate imposition of
suffering on the innocent, if only we can. A concern for the plight of the working class is seen in the works
of such Mexican artists as Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera, who sought to promote social change
through their art.
Satire – which puts up people and institutions to ridicule so that they will change – is effectively
communicated in various cartoons and caricatures. The editorial cartoons in many of our newspapers and
magazines does. Cartoonists usually comment on the foibles of society and of its leaders, with the hope
that something is clone to correct these faults and improve the human condition.
Literature has served just as well for political and ideological expression. And it is a powerful tool
in shaping society and its manners. Fr. Modesto de Castro's Urbana at Felisa, an epistolary novel of the 19th
century, became the Filipino code of ethics of the time, guiding the youth on how to conduct themselves
in church, in social gatherings, in school, and at home. Propaganda literature -usually very moving and
persuasive - has swayed people's minds and feelings toward certain ends. The picture of oppression so
graphically described by Rizal in his two novels undoubtedly disturbed the sensibilities and aroused the
indignation of the leaders of the Philippine Revolution, motivating them to rise up in arms. The stage and
the screen are also very effective tools for political and ideological expression, the artists capitalizing on
their power to make the audience empathize with the characters and situations presented.
In spreading a doctrine or teaching ideas, attitudes, and ways of behaving, paintings, prints, and
sculptures have been used either in place of or as complements to the written word Religion has especially
capitalized on the arts to spread belief and reinforce and sustain faith. For centuries, the stained-glass
windows, frescoes, statues, and paintings in Christian churches have served as the "catechism" for people
who do not know how to read. They not only interpret theological or spiritual matters but also provide
models for the faithful. These art forms, along with religious music and rites, contrive an atmosphere in
church that would put the worshiper in the mood for spiritual meditation and communion with God.
The traditional arts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert are basically religious, exercising a
significant function in the rituals of each tribe. African art reveals an animistic belief: the Supreme Being is
conceived as a creative energy or force that animates all forms of life. The sculptures, masks, dances, and
music all serve to reinforce the workings of such power.
African art is also bound up with ancestor worship and belief in the continuity of life. To the
Africans, death is not the end of life but the transformation of the being into another kind which does not
really leave this world. As with our Mountain Province communities, their statues serve as sanctuaries of
the spirits of the dead ancestors and thus they continue to "live" with the family as household gods.
We usually associate art only with such "noble" functions as enlightening us in our spiritual beliefs
and elevating our moral character, and we tend to ignore the more practical concerns of art which directly
touch our workaday lives.
Nowhere is the function of art as an influence on social behavior more clearly seen than in
commercial or advertising art. Advertising art aims to affect the buying behavior of people. The mediums
include posters billboards, magazine and newspaper ads, catalogs, handbills, package design, radio, and
television. By making a deep impression on people through striking designs, lively colors, and catchy tunes,
they persuade people to buy a product, a service, or an idea, such as family planning, for example, or
participating in the Green Revolution. The artistic activity involves the production of an attractive visual
composition, as in a poster or package design; an arresting melody that drives home the message and makes
it familiar through constant repetition, as in jingles; or film sequences that would unconsciously remind
people of the product or service. Poster designs are so planned that the clear, simple message can be grasped
and understood at a glance. Package design is a small-size poster that attracts immediate attention to itself,
tells the prospective buyer what is inside the container, and conveys a sales message.
Display and Celebration. One function of sculpture and painting is the commemoration of
important personages in society. The statues of national heroes that grace our parks and plazas are
commemorative works as are the commissioned paintings of leaders or rulers. Often, they serve to record
important historical events, or reveal the ideals of heroism and leadership that the community would want
the young to emulate
The arts are also linked to rituals. Rituals have played an important role in people's lives and have
influenced the growth of certain arts as well. The religious worship of Dionysus among the ancient Greeks
gave rise to the Greek drama, and Hindu religious ceremonies have produced dance traditions that have
remained virtually unchanged through the centuries. The daily commemoration in the Christian Church of
Christ's death at Calvary has been formalized in the dramatic form that is the Mass. Not only have liturgical
texts been written for it; music has also been composed for its celebration. A most recent composition is
Leonard Bernstein's "Mass."
Public celebrations, such as festivals, involve rituals of some kind, and these, in turn, employ the
arts. Lanterns are made for Christmas, decorative bamboo arches are put up at street intersections during
fiestas for the passage of religious processions, and masks are made for such celebrations as the Moriones
Festival in Marinduque and the Ati-atihan in Kalibo, Aklan. Artistic attention is lavished on them. And it
does not matter that these objects last for only a few days; they are really meant to serve only the particular
occasion.
These activities unite people in shared experience, just as the celebration of important phases of
life. Music and dance arts most often employed when a person’s is “coming-age”, graduation, engagement,
or marriage is celebrated. Certain musical compositions have now become identified with graduation and
wedding rites, although they were not originally composed of such occasions.
Social Description. Even without the slightest intention of artists to present historical pictures,
art works are vital historical documents. They describe aspects of existence at certain periods. Because many
of them focus on facets of daily life, they tell us what. the societies that produced them were like.
Tools, weapons, furniture, paintings, statues, stories and songs, and buildings reflect the feelings,
struggles, and achievements of people. They reveal how people thought, felt, and lived in a certain historical
period. The temples, sculptures, epics, plays and even the pottery of ancient Greece tell us so much about
the age when man first regarded himself as "the measure of all things."
Portraits are especially informative. For example, the portrait of Romana Carillo done by Justiniano
Asuncion in 1875 shows a young woman in a richly embroidered baro and panuelo and wearing pearl earrings,
a pearl brooch, a pearl-studded comb, and several rings on her right hand which clutches a prayer book.
Here we are not shown only the costume of ladies belonging to the i!uctrdo class in the 19th century. The
painting also attests to the values and tastes in material acquisition of the middle-class Filipino families of
the time. This affluent middle class had just emerged by then as a result of the country's having attained
some eco nomic prosperity following the opening of Manila to international trade
"No other kind of human activity is so permanent as the plastic arts, Herbert Read said, "and
nothing that survives from the past is so valuable as a clue to the history of civilization."
Physical Functions of Art
Tools and containers are objects which function to make our live physically comfortable.
Functional works of art may be classified as either tools or containers. A spoon is a tool; so is a car. A
building and a community are containers, as is a ceramic vase or a chair.
The problem of the artist in designing a functional object is making the thing exactly right for its
particular use and at the same time pleasing to the eye of the user.
Form and Function. The function of an object generally determines the basic form that it takes.
A chair is so designed as to allow the seated body to rest comfortably on it. Its different parts (back, arms,
legs, and seat) are harmoniously related to one another and integrated into an object that fulfills its particular
purpose.
The shapes and sizes of spoons indicate their uses: a teaspoon, which is smaller than a tablespoon,
is used to pin sugar in the tea or coffee and to stir the beverage. It is unlike a baby's spoon which has a
blunted
end as not to hurt the baby's soft palate as he is fed, nor does it look like the grapefruit spoon which has
serrated edges for scooping out the fruit's meat.
The shapes of knives also tell us about their uses: the curved blade of the scythe for mowing; the
large, sharp butcher's knife for cutting and slicing meat the serrated bread knife; the small sharp-edged steak
knife; the carving knife for meat and poultry; and the blunt table knife to spread butter with.
Architecture. The design of a building is determined primarily by its operational function. What
is the building for? Who are going to use it? How many are they? These are some of the questions usually
asked by the architect before he begins. A place for worship requires a big hail for the congregation to
gather in; a school, a place where it can offer a level or type of education (kindergarten, elementary,
vocational, etc.) and serve a given number of students. These considerations determine the height of the
building (number of floors), the sizes and shapes of the rooms, the location of doors and windows, the
traffic patterns, and the location of facilities.
The design that a building takes is also adapted to the climate of the region. The pitched roofs of
most houses in the tropical countries are suitable to the alternation of periods of heavy rainfall and months
of warm sunshine. Extending far beyond the supporting walls, these roofs allow for rain water to speedily
slide down and not accumulate and cause the roofing material to deteriorate. At the same time, the wide
overhang keeps the glaring sunlight from getting into the house through the wide windows that are
characteristic of the architecture.
With the introduction of new construction materials, methods, and provisions for overcoming
climatic limitations, architects are now freer to innovate designs.
Houses are built for people to live in. Obviously, then, the architect must take the physical,
psychological, and spiritual needs of the family into account when he designs a house. He must consider
the occupants' needs and interests and must allot space for the varied activities, locating the activity areas
where they show a logical relationship with each other and Providing paths for easy circulation. A family
that loves to entertain will need a particular entertainment area; a family of book lovers and collectors may
need a library. The rooms must be sensibly located in relation to each other, and the pattern for moving
about must be planned to cut down on unnecessary steps between areas as well as to avoid interference
with other activities.
The designs of modern industrial buildings show a big difference from the factory stereotypes of
the past. Their interiors have become more suited to human needs, both physical and psychological. Murals,
mosaics, and Sculptures now appear in lobbies and hallways of office buildings. Potted plants, and even
carpets are used to relieve the severity of the walls.
Community Planning. A community is more than just a group of buildings. It is rather a group
of individuals and families living in a particular locality because of common interests and needs. Buildings
only serve the lives of these people.
Considering the growth of population and the physical and aesthetic inadequacy of most
communities, their improvement and the design of new communities are of great importance today. Smog,
overcrowded dwellings, and insurmountable traffic problems have made city living a nerve-wracking
experience for many of us. And overcrowded and blighted areas (slums) have spawned a host of social
problems, ranging from health problems to criminality. Dwelling in slums seems to foster undesirable
patterns of behavior.
Steps to improve our living conditions have taken the form of plan-fling new communities in areas
which are not thickly populated and replacing city slums with good housing.
Community planning involves the efficient organization of buildings, roads, and spaces so that they
meet the physical and aesthetic needs of the community.
 A community may grow in strategic areas such as natural ports, road terminals, industrial
complexes, or mines. A preponderance of some particular interest has been noted in certain cities; some of
them are seats of government, university towns, or industrial centers. A community may thus assume a
specific character and its growth and physical development must take this into account.
The traditional design of communities was ordered around a focal point. In Philippine
communities designed during the Spanish period, the plaza complex was observed. The plaza was laid out
as the center of the town. On its four sides were the important public buildings, including the cathedral or
church with the convento, and the schoolhouse, as well as the muunicipio. The plaza itself served a social
function, gathering people for fiestas and other public occasions. It was a meeting place for the government,
the church, and the people. Even up to the present the plaza serves as the locale for the political religious,
and social expressions of a community.
Today, with fast urban development, other focal points have sprung up in the form of shopping
centers and recreation centers.
Community planning takes into consideration the assignment of areas for proper land use. These
areas are:
1) Residential districts. Special areas are assigned for residential purposes. These are designed with
such personal and social needs in mind as comfort, health, and facilities for recreation. Roads are laid out
for maximum accessibility to focal points such as shops, schools, churches, and recreation places as well as
for social convenience.
The present trend is to get away from overcrowded downtown districts and the attendant problems
and settle in areas where it is possible to blend the charm of rural living with the conveniences of urban
living. Those who prefer to remain in the city may live in apartments or in high-rise condominiums.
Houses are designed to harmonize with the environment and neighborhood. But uniformity, as in
many subdivision projects, tends to produce monotony and disregards the individuality of the homeowner.
Zoning ordinances, which insure the proper distribution of the various sections of the community
to their respective functions for the sake of health, safety, and efficiency in carrying out these functions,
also provide rules governing uniform setbacks and minimum distances between houses. They regulate the
height of buildings, too, so that these do not endanger health by obstructing light and air. Thus, the design
of houses are affected by these regulations.
2) Industrial and commercial areas. These areas are usually located near the source of raw materials.
Because they are usually far from the residential areas, the transportation needs of commuting workers
should be adequately provided for. Factories should also provide healthy working conditions.
Heavy industries include large factories which are usually noisy and which emit industrial fumes.
Thus, they are located away from residential districts. Light industries, like embroidery firms, have relatively
clean and quiet plants, and can be located near residences without posing any danger to homeowners.
A commercial area can be a cluster of small neighborhood stores, a shopping complex in the
suburbs, or a central downtown district. It is usually situated where it can be reached easily by car or public
transport. Aside from being conveniently accessible, the shopping centers of our time try to provide ample
parking space around them for their customers.
3) Civic centers. A community governs itself; it therefore provides structures where the functions of
government can be efficiently carried out, and which would, in appearance, be symbolic of community
dignity and pride. In modern cities, these public buildings are grouped as civic centers in the middle of the
community.
4) Parks, plazas, and malls. The need for a balance between man-made structures and natural areas
is answered in the design of the plazas and malls. These may provide some relief from problems such as air
and water pollution, inadequate facilities for recreation, and lack of parking space. The traffic problem often
caused by clogging of streets by parked cars is solved by setting aside ample parking space or providing it
in multilevel parking areas.
Well-landscaped parks pocketed in the center of busy urban section, relieve the monotony of
appearance of similarly constructed buildings and ease the nervous tension of those who must live and
work around the area.
5. Streets and roads. Transportation must function with reasonable ease and rapidity from one area
to another, linking the various districts of the community to each other and the community to its environs.
With the popularity of motor vehicles nowadays, we need well laid-out streets.
Streets are large or small according to their function. It makes a great deal of difference whether
the street is to be a big thoroughfare for traffic, an avenue or superhighway, or a secluded road in a
residential district.
Some of the old stereotyped street patterns were the gridiron, which laid out two sets of parallel
streets at right angles to each other, and the radial pattern, which made streets radiate from one or more
centers or focal points. The street patterns of many new communities today do not follow set rules. Streets
are built where they are most needed. Different kinds of streets – curved, straight, dead ends, arteries – are
combined for efficiency and beauty.
The location of terminals should serve the best interests of all. These are usually situated near ports
or huge markets and shopping complexes which absorb the daily influx of commuters, workers, merchants,
and shoppers.
In planning the community, the design will be determined by the nature of the site, on the one
hand, and the work and recreational needs of the citizens, on the other. Along with these should be ample
provisions for growth and expansion.
Function and Beauty. Many things remain the same in shape throughout the years because their
functional requirements do not allow for greater variations in their form. Time has proved that their designs
best enable them to accomplish their purpose.
But these designs may not necessarily be the most beautiful ones Within the limitations of the functional
requirements of a cup, for example – it must have a particular breadth and depth to contain liquid varied
shapes are formed. Some are pleasing to our eyes, others are not. Since cups, like chairs and tables, pots
and pans, and many other functional objects in our homes are seen and used daily, they can be a constant
source of satisfaction and delight or of irritation. Their visual appeal must also be given consideration.
Functional works of art must not only perform their function efficiently but must also be aesthetically
pleasing.
A home should not only meet the needs but also express the personality of its owner. It Should
likewise stimulate the eves and spirit, and in the one who looks at it a sense of balance, rhythm. and
harmony, not just because of the design of the house itself, but also in its relation to the surrounding
landscape and the other buildings nearby.
It is the presence of this quality of delighting the beholder because of a harmonious arrangement
of the formal elements that distinguishes a work of art from an ordinary functional object.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF ART
The arts are indescribable to define and difficult to gather into a conceptual net, but we would probably
agree that the arts enhance daily experiences. Art has touched everyone. Art is all around us, being universal
as it can be found in all cultures. We are certain that we do not want to be without the arts, yet we are
pushed to define them and sometimes even to understand them. Art has a particular importance in our
lives. All the art that we receive through our senses have a purpose, as well as expression; they occupy some
place in our judgment.
These days, art plays a vital part in developing the intellect of the younger generation to build up a positive
character and appreciate natural aesthetics. An artistically tending student has a constructive turn of mind
and artistic ways in every work lie or she performs. Above all, such a student steadily develops unbiased,
responsive and inventive mind full of creativity and dormant talent.
In this period of advanced technology know-how and modernization, of vital magnitude. We fight back to
stabilize our lives while trying to maintain the swiftness of the frenzied pace of living. Students who rise up
with an artistic awareness perceive the world, from diverse viewpoints. This understanding shapes their
behaviors, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, and performances. The artistic awareness is
above any methodologies or approaches. The milieu in which each child dwells, grows up and functions is
distinctive and cannot be comprehensive. Creative sensibilities are to be developed and encouraged at
home) at school, in society, and finally, in the world, which plays a major role.
In general, there is no debating the belief that the arts have never been more important to our society and
should be fully integrated into our lives, our community and education as a whole.
MEANING OF ART
The word "art" is rooted in the 13th century French word art, which means skill as a result of learning or
practice, and the Latin word ars, meaning ability or practical skills.
The word art covers many meanings, including ability, process, and product.
As ability, art is the human capacity to make things of beauty and things that stir us; it is creativity. As
process, art encompasses acts, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, designing buildings, singing, dancing,
and using the camera to create images or memorable works. As product, art is the completed work‑an
etching, a sculpture, a structure, a musical composition, choreography, or a tapestry.
Art concerns itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of a sensuous medium -
color, sound, bronze, body, words, and film. This medium is fashioned into a symbolic language marked
by beauty of design and coherence of form. It appeals to our mind, arouses our emotions, kindles our
imagination, and enchants our senses (Machlis, 1963).
Many known personalities define art in various ways. According to Plato, "Art is that which brings life in
harmony with the beauty of the world." For John Dewey, "Art is an attitude of spirit a state of mind-one
that demands for its own satisfaction and fulfilling, a shaping of matter to new and more significant form."
For Oscar Wilde, "Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known " and for Fihert
Hubbard. "Art is not a thing - it is a way." From the various definitions above, art has four essentials.
Four (4) common essentials of art:
1. Art has to be man-made.
2. Art must be creative, not imitative.
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist communicates
himself to his audiences.
Art History
It is the study of objects or works of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e., genre,
design, format, and style. This includes the "major" arts of painting, sculpture, and architecture, as well as
the minor" arts of ceramics, furniture, and any other decorative objects. It is in the study of objects of art
in their historical development and stylistic contents, format, and design that we may able to understand
the purpose of the work of art and appreciate it.
The humanities course is anchored on a strong foundation in the arts and sciences, which aims to promote
an awareness of the interrelationships of all fields of knowledge (Encyclopedia Americana, I96). Today, we
know of the humanities as a loosely defined group of cultural subject areas, which we refer to as the Arts.
It is in the study of the humanities where appreciation of the arts is given emphasis. Artists convey their
thoughts, beliefs, values, feelings, and relations through the various fields of art, which can be visual,
popular) literary, gustatory, decorative) and performing. The humanities and art appreciation offer the basic
knowledge each student needs, be it an academic requirement or merely an experience in life.
Just like the artists, we also communicate through our paintings, songs, body movements, films, and drama
to highlight and enhance certain events and keep them memorable and pleasurable. We also build
monuments and statues to remind us of the heroic deeds of great men.
Artworks are valuable sources of inspiration, and aesthetic, and delightful experiences. We can be
mesmerized by a dance we watch, delighted by the books we read, and moved by the music we hear. We
also get deep satisfaction from them. We may enjoy a masterpiece of a painting, a sculpture, or a play
because it may capture our attention. We are inspired to plan and construct stunning houses when we are
inspired by modern architectural designs.
Creativity is an artist trait developed in the course of one's life to solve problems or express his feelings.
His continuing reactions to emerging conditions of nature and social life gives birth to new idea and new
methods. These in turn, he uses to overcome difficulties, which in the process of confrontation with reality,
give the solution to a vision, create art, or activate social transformation.
The method of creativeness is composed of the artist, being the prime mover, his thoughts, communicated
through the performer, and the audience as his judge. Each participates dynamically in the artistic process.
Through exposures to the artists' works, we get a glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and relations of
the people in their time and the events that happened in their environment that may have influenced their
artworks. Our encounter with the arts may also result in our valuing and appreciation of beautiful things.
Out of the aesthetic experiences we derive from the arts, we may be influenced to change our habits and
behaviors. They may transform us into highly cultured, dignified, and upright human beings. The arts may
beautify our humanity.
This explains the modern definition of the humanities, which refers to the Arts that bring out the good and
noble in us. Through the arts, we come to know and understand the changing image of man as he journeys
across time, searches for the reality, and strives to achieve the ideals that create the meaning of life.
Art appreciation in the humanities Is being able to look at a work of art and forrn a wise opinion of the
work. It is having the knowledge, background, and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities
that comprise all works of art. Art appreciation, therefore, deals with the learning or understanding and
creating artworks and enjoy them.
ASSUMPTIONS OF ART
There are principle and bases of appreciating a work of art that man can communicate one’s indivisuality
and way of life.
Art is Universal.
Art is everywhere; wherever men have lived together, art has sprung up among them as a language charged
with feelings and significance. The desire to create this language appears to be general, and art as a cultural
force can he pervasive and potent. Art has no limit, and it rises above cultures, races, and civilization. It is
timeless because it goes beyond the time of our own existence.
Art is Not Nature.
Art is man-made; it is a creation of man utilizing his thoughtful skill and artistry, which undergoes process
and planning. Art is artificial because it is just an imitation or even an appropriation of reality and nature.
It is a representation of ideas, thoughts, and feelings that are communicated in creative and artistic ways.
Art that is created by God is divine, and art that is created by man is superficial or temporary. Works of art
are made by artists to adore the wonders of life and the beauty of God's creation.
Art can never be natural because it is momentary in the constant transformation of change; it does not
change by itself unless manipulated by its creator, which is man. Artists could make any work of art, but
they definitely could not form- nature. From man's experiences, we cannot even compare Art with Nature
because it is something mysterious, and it is made by the Divine Providence whose depth and mystery is
beyond human understanding.
Art Involves Experience.
Art is a depiction of our experiences. It demands taking part. Art involves laying of pigments, molding of
clay, chipping of marble casting of bronze, constructing of buildings, singing of songs, playing roles on
stage, acting, and going through rhythmic movements in a dance. Every art does something with some
physical material the body or something outside the body; thus, the only way to find conviction and
assertion is through immersion in the Arts. We can only appreciate art if we spend time to look at it, listen
to it., touch it, and feel its presence.
FUNCTIONS OF ART
1. Personal. It is being used to provide comfort, happiness, and convenience to human beings.
The artist tries to express his personal feelings through the artwork.
2. Social. Art is used for public display and celebration it is used to a collective behavior. It
bridges connect ion among people. Art conveys sense of family, community or civilization.
3. Cultural Function. Art helps preserve, share, and transmit culture of people from one
generation to another.
4. Aesthetic Function. Art becomes influential for man to be aware of the beauty of nature,
Aesthetic is when there is the real feelings of appreciation to nature's beauty and are manifested
through appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the artwork
5. Spiritual Function. An artist may create a work of art to reinforce the religious or spiritual
support of a culture.
BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF ART
1. Art as mimesis (Plato) - According to him, art is an imitation of the real that was an imitation
of the' ideal. Art is an imitation of an imitation.
2. Art as representation (Aristotle), - According to him, the aim of art is not to represent the
outward appearance of things but their inward significance.
3. Art for art's sake (Kant) that art has its own reason for being. It implies that an art object is
best understood as an autonomous creation to be valued only for its success as it organizes
color and line into a formally satisfying and beautiful whole.
4. Art as an escape - The ceremony of doing or creating art touches the deepest realms of the
mind and the sacred dimension of the artistic creative process. The sacred level of art not only
transforms something into art but also transforms the artist at the very core of his or her being.
 5. Art as functional - Art serves a function. Art is meant to be used, to enrich lives to be spiritually
potent, to educate, to support. or protest existing power structures, to entertain, and so on.

CATEGORIES/CLASSIFICATIONS OF ART

1. Visual Arts (2D, 3D)

a. Painting It is the application of pigment (color) on any flat two-dimensional surfaces.
b. Sculpture - It is the carving, modelling, casting, constructing, and assembling of materials and
objects into primarily three-dimensional works of art.
c. Architecture - It is the art and science of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and
nonbuilding structures for human shelter or use (3D).
2. Performing/Combined Arts
a. Music - is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time.
b. Dance - is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space
for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion.
c. Film - also called movie or motion picture, is a series of still images that when shown on a screen
creates an illusion of moving images.
d. Theater - is a collaborative form of art that uses live performers, typically actors or actresses, to
present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often
a stage.
e. Literary - is - concentrating the writing study or content of literature, especially of the kind valued
for quality of form.
f. Performance poetry - is poetry specifically composed for or during a performance before an
audience rather than on print mostly open to improvisation.
3. Digital Art
It is the art that is made with the assistance of electronic devices, or intended to be displayed on a computer,
which is the most important element in digital art.
4. Applied Arts
Are the application of design and decoration to everyday objects to make them aesthetically pleasing.
a. Fashion design - is the art of applying design, aesthetics, and natural beauty to clothing and its
accessories.
b. Furniture design - is a specialized field where function and fashion collide.
c. Interior design - is enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically
pleasing environment for the people using the space.
d. Graphic design - It is an artistic process of effective communication. Designers combine words,
images, and symbols to create a visual representation of ideas.