Evaluating The Arts Assumptions Art Forms Function Content and Relevance

Reading Material in Art Appreciation
Evaluating the Arts: Assumptions, Art Forms, Function, Content and Relevance
Richard D. Madrilejos
BUCAL Faculty
Introduction
Hello dear students. This is your reading material to guide you in your second assessment
task. This material is mainly based on the output of the author in his CHED Training of Art
Appreciation Trainers in Ateneo de Davao University on October 10-28, 2016. The “Art as
devotion.” part in the assumption is based on the lecture of Madam Madhava dasi, a bramahna
who was invited as a guest lecturer in one of the author’s classes in Art Appreciation. The Art
Form section is based on the terms set by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts of
the Philippines. Pictures of artworks presented here are from An Banwa: Kultura buda Artes
(ABKAT) and Burabod Artists FB pages and from the artists themselves.
The author is convinced through practice that arts can be a vital tool in human
development. It can serve as a catalyst in self-realization then social stability. Therefore, it is of
great importance to study this subject. This is Art Appreciation and you will appreciate through
arts evaluation, analysis and creation.
This material is focused on the evaluation of the arts. It is divided into five (5) parts:
1. Assumptions
2. Art Form
3. Function
4. Content
5. Relevance
Discussion
1.Assumptions of the Arts
Defining a term, limits the term to its definition, and art or artists do not want this
limitation for it is a hindrance to their creativity; and a room for a never-ending debate
among the audiences or critics. So, to be safe of what an art is, we settle for its assumptions.
We assume based on our background, experiences, idiosyncrasies, beliefs or ideologies or
the overlapping of these basis. There are many assumptions of art and these are some:
1.1 Universal
An art work is universal because:
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Evaluating the Arts I Richard D. Madrilejos, 2020
a. Everybody can be an artist or a creator regardless of time, age, nationality,
race, religion, gender, academic or artistic background, etc. A portrait made
by a kid is considered an art like Prof. Jaried Millare’s portrait Nikki. The
former is younger and no artistic background compared to the latter who is
already an adult and an experienced visual artist, but their painting is an art
because there is the element of creation and because of the assumption that art
is for everybody; it is universal.
One of the participants

in ABKAT’s Pagtalubo
Workshop facilitated by
Giovanii Buen and
Omar Brocelango
(2009)
Prof. Millare’s Nikki,

Oil on Canvas (2008)
b. Everybody can relate to the Anak

subject matter and themes of Freddie Aguilar
an artwork. The art work is
Nung isilang ka sa mundong ito
created by artists and
Laking tuwa ng magulang mo
appreciated by audiences. The At ang kamay nila
artists are human beings who Ang iyong ilaw
experienced birth, diseases, old At ang nanay at tatay mo'why
age and death; who feels love, Di malaman ang gagawin
hatred, anger, fear, etc. These Minamasdan
Pati pagtulog mo
experiences and emotions are At sa gabi'why napupuyat ang iyong nanay
contained in the artists’ creation and Sa pagtimpla ng gatas mo
because the audiences are human At sa umaga nama'why kalong ka ng iyong
beings themselves therefore, they Amang tuwang-tuwa sa yo'
Ngayon nga ay malaki ka na
Page 2 of 35 Nais mo'why maging Malaya
Evaluating the Arts I Richard D. Madrilejos,
Di man sila2020
payag
Walang magagawa
Ikaw nga ay biglang nagbago
Nagging matigas ang iyong ulo
At ang payo nila'why
Sinuway mo
Di mo man lang inisip na ang
can also relate to what the artists express. This is the reason why Freddie
Aguilar’s Anak is translated to every language in the world because many can
relate to the cry of the parents seeing their child making bad decisions in life.
In every country, there is a mother, there is a father, there are parents, there
are individuals who act as parents, and if something bad happens to the person
they are taking good care, they suffer great pain. This is one of the subject
matters and themes of the song that has a universal appeal to every particular
audiences. Considering this explanation, we may say that, Anak shows that art
is universal.
1.2 Art is cultural.
It is cultural because:
a. It promotes a culture. Contrary to the first assumption, this latter does not
show the universal effect or the common effect of an art work, rather it shows
a specific way of life or experience that is true to a particular group of people.
For example, Borlagdan’s An Kakanon sa Aro-aldaw (a collection of
rawitdawit or poems written in any Bikol language in Bicol) shows that art is
cultural because it promotes specifically the Bikol languages to the general
public. Also, the Bikol Harana, a researched by Prof. Chavenia and Prof.
Bermundo is an example of this assumption because it is about the Bicolano’s
unique culture on courtship and marriage practices. The picture below the
poster of ABKAT’s Pagtanyog sa Radio Program with sole purpose of
promoting Bikol language through discussion, original poetry, original song,
and radio drama.
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b. It is not natural. If it is natural, then it is God made. So, cultural means
creations of persons; the artists are persons. The Bulkan Mayon is created by
God but the painting of the Mayon Volcano is created by a person, a painter,
an artist therefore, the Mayon Volcano itself in Bicol as one of the seven
wonders in the world is natural and the painting of the Mayon Volcano is
cultural. Anything that is man-made is cultural therefore it is an art. So, an art
is not just limited to the seven disciplines or art forms: literature, visual arts,
architecture, music, dance, theater and film. Because crafts are persons-made
they are considered arts like handicrafts, cutlery, upholstery, carpentry,
carving, etc. All are persons-made not God made therefore they are not natural
– it is cultural.
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Noel Dorente, Satuya Ini. Mixed Media (2002)
1.3 Art involves experience.
a. The artists out of their direct and vicarious experiences create art works.
Direct experiences are experiences directly perceive by the senses of the
perceiver. The artists have direct perception of a particular sense object. A
sense object is any object that has an effect on one or all our senses. For
example, if the sense object is the Malawmawan Island in Sorsogon City, and
the artist directly sees, hears, smells, tastes, and touches everything in
Malamawan, then the artist has a direct experience of the sense object which
is the island. So, with that direct experience, the artist may write a poem or
compose a song or choreograph a dance. Vicarious experience on the other
hand, means that the artists experience the sense object in a second-hand
manner through a story from a person who has a direct experience, a movie, a
play, a poem, a painting, etc. Considering Malamawan again as sense object,
if the artist has not yet been to the island, still he can create an art work
inspired by the island trough a story from a friend who has been in
Malamawan or through a play watched about the island or a TV documentary
about the Malamawan Island.
These two kinds of

experiences serve as:
a.1 stimulus to have

an idea to create.
a.2 inspiration to
create an art work.
a.3 motivation to
continue creating an
art work.
Noel Dorente, Taken,

2011
b. Academic and artistic

experiences are also
involved in art creation. One can see various styles and techniques of Western
painters in the works of Cesar Gueta, Victor Silva, and Jaried Millare to name
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a few of the Albay visual artists. Jan Aldrin Belisario’s exposure to music
trainings from top Philippine musicians is evident in his well-organized and
very technical compositions.
Victor Silva’s Three

Dancers, Oil on
Canvas (2019)
Millare’s Cover of Richard

Madrilejos’s play, The Net
of Fisherman Ben,
water color illustration
Gueta’s Puno, Acrylic on canvas

(2011) – Yna Jimenez Budhrani’s
private collection
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c. Creating an art work is
already an experience in
itself. One may not be
learned or trained in arts
or be like a Picasso or a
Mozart or a Shakespeare
or a Brocka but still paint,
still compose, still write
poems or still direct
videos. One just wants to
experience creating art
works. Like this picture
below of one of the
participants in ABKAT’s
Pagtalubo Workshop in
Tabaco, appreciating her
banca painting.
d.
d. Learning through experience.

The artist and the audience delve
into arts to learn. As the saying
goes, experience is the best
teacher. The artists learn about
life through creating art works or
they learn how to create art
works to understand life. The
audience through the art works
learn vicariously about life. The
picture in the left shows
Pagkamoot in Madrilejos’s play
An Mamundong Hade at the
Penaranda Stage (2016). Here
Lyra, portraying Pagkamoot tells
the solution to the King’s great
lamentation; and that is love.
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1.4 Art as an expression.
Artists express:
a. universal idea or theme.

The picture below shows
Prof. Millare’s Burak kan
Burabod, Oil on Canvas,
3’x4’ (2011). The painting
shows an idea that natural
is beautiful.
b.
b. particular culture like Prof. Millare’s
De Pruta, an oil on canvas that shows
the culture of a simple happy farmer
after harvest.
c.
c. a significant experience. It may be a simple birthday party of your loved one like
Prof. Millare’s another oil on canvas, Nikki.
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d. promote an advocacy like
the promotion of Bicol
local cultures, folk
literatures and languages.
Below is the picture of the
mixed media of Prof.
Millare entitled, Mga Agi-
Agi.
e. to release an emotion.
Below is Prof. Millare’s
Jetanok expressing
danger, anger and anxiety
because of its very bright
colors and rough texture.
1.5 Art as a creative process.
Any given process is composed of three stages – the pre-production, production

and post-production. This shows that an art work is a conscious decision of the artists
to use their body, mind and intelligence to undergo laborious endeavor.
Each art form has its distinct
activities per stages. Still there
are common activities for each
stage shared by all art forms.
a. Pre-production Stage is
the conceptualization
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stage. It answers the questions: what to create, why create, who will create, to
whom it shall be created to, and how much will be the creation. So, in this
stage the intended art work is identified, the reason behind the intention, the
willing artists who will commit to the work, the intended audience and the
working budget. At the left, is the picture of the BURABOD Artists’s
conceptualization for their play, An Mamundong Hade.
b. Production Stage is the stage where everything is set for execution of

whatever plans made or agreed upon in the first stage. In theater arts, activities
will include promotion, marketing, line reading, blocking, rehearsals,
critiquing, and final performance with the audience. This is the stage when the
art work is ready to be heard, viewed, read, etc. by the audience. The pictures
below show the BURABOD Artists’s rehearsal and performance of An
Mamundong Hade.
Paul who plays Hade

rehearses with Danica, the
Prostitute.
The Hade is proud

of his accomplishments.
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c. Post-production Stage is the Audience Stage. This is the stage where the
audience matters; where the audience as part of the creative process, makes
comments, suggestions, or criticisms about the art work that the artists may or
may not consider. This is true to the Sining Banwa’s curtain call in the last
performance in the Pista nin Teatrong Bikolnon where the artists and the staff
from all the Bikol theater organizations went to the stage and after had an
open forum. See the picture below.
These three stages confirm that art as a creative process is also a form of
communication because the elements of communication are present in creating art
works. The sender is the artists, the medium is the art form, the message is the
content of the artwork, the receiver is the audience, and the feedback is the
criticisms by the audience. In this way, an art work is not just an expression of the
artists’ release of uncontrolled emotions or satisfaction of their unrealized desires
but a conscious, well-planned, and well-organized piece that is created to for an
intended audience to understand the message and gives feedback.
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1.6 Art as an imitation.
Probably the oldest assumption of what an art is based on western thinking.
Ancient people to understand themselves, their environment, higher beings, the
Supreme Being, learn to imitate what their senses perceive. And their imitation
according to western history of arts were the first work of arts made by persons. Even
now, this assumption or concept of art is still applied. Painters imitate a volcano,
sculptures imitate the last General who surrendered to America, musicians imitate the
sound of the birds and the flow of water from a creek, dancers imitate animal
movements, actors imitate a drug addict, film makers imitate a real-life scenario gang
inside a prison house.
The picture below shows Prof. Monay’s imitation of a flying bird or a swift wind
in her choreographed dance as part of the recital in the iKapwa Theater Workshop on
June 12, 2020.
1.7 Art as devotion.

a. Because it is a creative process, the artists need to devote their time, energy, life,
everything to the process and the finish product. This is true to some Asian
countries where the Supreme Being is impersonal or without form. So, they focus
on themselves, either as nothing or as everything. The perfection of the self is
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either to be nothing or to be everything. To be everything in the context of arts is
to be devoted to create grand and extravagant art works and to be the greatest
artist among the artists like the Noh Theatre in Japan or Essays of Confucius in
China. To be nothing is to create art works as minimal as possible and to talk
about merging into nature or white lights like the meditation practice of the
monks in Thailand.
b. However, in India, specifically artists- Muya kong magin si Hesus
devotees under the Vaishnava Richard D. Madrilejos, 2020
Sampradaya disciplic succession,
where they perceive the Absolute Kun nalilibong
Kun sisay an tubudon -
Truth as the Supreme Person, who has
Gobyerno, radyo o telebisyon,
form, qualities, and activities create Ma'gin si Hesus
artworks as an offering with love and Na bilog an pagtubod
devotion to God in the form of His Na igwang Dios.
deity. Albay poets like Borlagdan and
Kun namumundo
Madrilejos compose rawitdawit to this
Ta sinuwayan kan agom
effect. Similarly, in the Philippines, O wara pang nag-iilusyon,
devotees of Lord Jesus Christ and Ma'gin si Hesus
Roman Catholic Saints because they Na an tunay na kaogmahan
agree to a personal nature of God and Pagkamoot sa Mahal na Dios.
His devotees, create poems, songs,
Kun nadadagit
paintings or sculptures to imitate the Ta may nang-iiwal na tugang
passion and instructions of Jesus and O makuliton na magurang,
other saints. Bikol artists and their Ma'gin si Hesus
artworks (to name a few) that maybe Na an pagkamoot daing sukol
classified in this assumption are Dai kaipuhan na baluson
Pancho Piano’s glass painting in the Siring sa Mahal na Dios
St. John the Baptist’s Church in Muya kong ma'gin si Hesus.
Tabaco City, Vibar face and body 4/7/20
sculptures of Jesus Christ, Bligz
religious rap, Ju. Rafael Belgica’s
Toob and Prof. Ramil C. Chavenia’s
composition and arrangement of
Liturgical music in St. Anne-Joachim
Parish in Malinao, Albay.
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Bligz’s religious rap, Padagos
2. Art Forms
These art forms or forms of arts are based on the Sub-commission on the Arts of the
National Commission for Culture and The Arts (SCA-NCCA) of the Republic of the
Philippines. Art forms may refer to the creative medium used or the way the subject and
the content of the art is being communicated to the audience.
2.1 Architecture and Allied Arts

a. Architectural Design
The art and practice of
designing and
constructing buildings.
The picture at the left
shows the National
Artist for Architecture,
Pablo Antonio’s design
of the Far Eastern
University (FEU) main
building.
b. Interior Design
is the art or process of
designing the interior
decoration of a room
or building. The
picture at the left
shows the National
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Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin’s interior design of the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP).
c. Landscape Architecture
The art and practice

of designing the
outdoor environment,
especially designing
parks or gardens
together with
buildings and roads
just like the National
Artist for
Architecture
Ildefonso’s design of
the Rizal Park as
shown in the left.
d. Urban Design is defined

as:
d.1 arrangement and

design of buildings,
public spaces, transport
systems, services, and
amenities
d.2 making connections

between people and
places, movement and
urban form, nature and
the built fabric
For example, is the Sasaki

Associates design of the
Anonas New Community-Sweet Reality in the Philippines. In the picture above,
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you will see the plan where to put the buildings, how the public place will be
utilized, the location of the transport system, services and amenities. The plan
makes sure that there is a harmonious relationship between the people and the
place considering that it is located in an urban setting.
e. Environmental Planning
Based on the REPUBLIC ACT No. 10587 "Environmental Planning Act of

2013″ Section 4, Environmental Planning is defined as:
1. urban and regional planning, city planning, town and country planning,
and/or human settlements planning,
2. multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying,

harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water
resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable
communities and ecosystems.
So, planning to take care of the environment is an art specifically in the form
of the Allied Arts. At the same time, it is a scientific advocacy because based on
the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, it
1. promotes the comprehensive physical, economic, socio-cultural, aesthetic and

environment-friendly development of the different regions, cities and
municipalities of the Philippines
2. encourages rural-urban interdependence in the best interests of the nation.
This art form uses creative and

scientific ways to plan
everything (solid waste, fuel
storage management,
emergency management,
energy savings, water waste/
water management, and
recycle program management)
to serve as an umbrella for the
people and nature just like the
picture at the left.
2.2 Film
a. Mainstream Film
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a.1 Caters to a wider audience, the masses
a.2 Genres – romance, action, comedy, and romantic comedy
a.3 Mood is light-hearted
a.4 Purpose - to entertain, to ease stress
a.5 Biggest production companies – Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films,
GMA Films
Examples are Star Cinema’s

One More Chance (2008) and
Viva Film’s Ang Probinsyano.
The former is produced by
giant production company Star
Cinema. Its genre is romance to
lighten up the mood or to ease
stress therefore it caters to a
wider of Filipino audience. The
former is produced by the Viva
Films, another big production
company that is filled with
action to entertain the masses.
b. Independent Film
b.1 Alternative Cinema/

Low-budgeted film
b.2 Forms – short films,
documentaries, experimental
films, animations
b.3 Themes – exploring
poverty, sex, and oppression
Critically acclaimed
independent Filmmakers in the
Philippines are Kidlat Tahimik,
Lav Diaz, Raymond Red,
Brillante Mendoza, Alvin
Yapan, and Kristian Cordero
(to name a few). At the left is
Lav Diaz’ Ang Babaeng Humayo starred by Ms. Charo Santos.
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2.3 Dance
a. Folk
Dance that is based on the way of life of indigenous communities like the
natives of Cordillera as researched by the National Artist for Dance,
Ramon Obusan. Below is the picture that shows his immersion with the
natives.
b. Ballet
Serves as the foundation for western dance. It requires strong technique,
athleticism but with grace.
c. Contemporary
It is a lot like ballet with acting/ lyrical but breaks the rules of the former.
The National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes is known all over the world
for her Ballet and Contemporary works as shown in the picture below.
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d. Jazz
Common characteristics of Jazz dance are:
d.1 Isolations: a dancer isolates one specific part of her body, such as her
rib cage or wrist
d.2 Grounded movement: dancers keep a low center of gravity, and often
bend their knees
d.3 Syncopation: accenting an offbeat or note of the musical
accompaniment that surprises the audience
d.4 Contractions: motivated by her breath, a dancer will make a C-shape
with her core
d.4 Sensuality: there is a sexiness in jazz dance that is lacking in more
traditional styles
These characteristics are reflected in the Musical Movie Chicaco and in the works
of Douglas Nieras respectively shown in the pictures below.
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2.4
Theater Arts
a. Government
Produced
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In Albay, the province during the Magayon Festival, produced Abdon
Balde’s Sayaw kan Tulong Bulod. It was directed by Prof. Julio Mendoza.
The picture at the left shows the poster design of the play, the playwright
and the Governor as he shows appreciation to the director, the staff and
the players.
b. Community-Based
It is composed of local artists, youths, Barangay officials, laborers and

workers, etc. to
discuss social
issues and concerns
through original
theater productions.
In Bicol, the most
active community
theater group is
Sining Banwa
Performance
Collective. It will
have its 10th theater
season in August
2020 (from their
Facebook page). Above is the picture of their 2019 Theater Arts season
entitled, Oktubre.
c. Student-Based
This is mainly composed

of students and teachers
who would like to hone
their crafts in acting,
revive classical plays,
perform originals,
express themselves and
also discuss social issues
and concerns through
theater productions. In
Bicol University from
2012-2017, the
BURABOD Artists
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composed of education and theater arts students performed plays that
would promote self-realization. The picture shows the BURABOD’s
performance in one of the relocation sites in Guinobatan, Albay during
the Mayon eruption. It is a reenactment of a family’s tragic plight due to
the said disaster and how self-realization and meditation can mitigate this
tragedy.
The Bicol University

Speech and Theater Arts
Genre (STAGE)
composed of all the
Speech and Theater Arts
students in Bicol
University College of
Arts and Letters is also
an example of this type
of theater. Below is a
picture of their original
play, Lamay performed
at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines as part of
the CCP’s Pasinaya.
2.5 Literary Arts
a. Poetry
b. Short Story
c. Novel
d. Essay
e. Drama
Some notable
writers in Bicol are
in this picture on the
left. On top, you
have, from the right,
Raffi Banzuela,
Jazmin Llana, Frank
Penonez, Jazmin
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Llana and Kirstian Cordero. Below right is Jimple Borlagdan and in the left is
Niles.
2.6 Music
a. Folk
Its text is about the

traditional way of
life. Music is
communal. There is
the element of
repetition. It is more
of an expression of
culture rather than a
performance. It is
unending. Bahay
Kubo is a folk song.
b. Contemporary
Its text is based on

a given context
(time or place).
Music is
individualistic and
trained, bounded
by rules or
technique. It is a
performance so
with an expected
ending. Queen’s
Bohemian
Rhapsody is
under
contemporary
music.
2.7 Visual Arts
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a. Painting is the application of color on flat surface. It is two-dimensional
art work.
George Vibar’s painting
b. Sculpture is a
three-
dimensional art
piece that uses
clay, wood,
marble, cement,
paper, etc.
Pat Noveno’s work
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Ronald Bjaro’s vases
c. Photography use a camera to capture images.
Erik Lim’s Superia 400
3. Functions of Arts
3.1 Personal
The art work is for the artist’s or the audience’s self-expression, self-awareness and
self-improvement in art making and in life. It serves as a medium to express a feeling
to someone that cannot be done directly.
It may agree to the art maxim, “Art for art’s sake.” for art functions as a way for the
artists to improve his craft for the development of art. The artist explores new ways
for self-expression just like the visual arts exhibit of the Albay Contemporary Artists
(ACA).
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George Vibar’s interview in one of the ACA’s exhibit @ the Atrium
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Yatoy’s Muwah in Deviant Art
3.2 Social
The artwork serves as the medium for an artist to promote an advocacy. Sining
Banwa Performance Collective promotes social or protest plays. An Banwa: Kultura
buda Arte kan Tabaco promotes Bicol languages. Raffi Banzuela’s Selebra, a
collection of rawitdawit promotes Bicol cultures. Ronald Rebutica was the
cinematographer of socio-political movies like “An Kubo sa Kawayan,” “Edsa,” and
“Oro.” Prof. Julio Mendoza’s works promotes social and religious advocacies like his
play “Sa Pamitisan kan Bulkan,” a re-telling of Daragang Magayon to expose the
contemporary social injustices and to offer solution through faith to the Virgin Mary.
3.3 Physical
The artwork has

practical use. It
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may be things
we wear like
clothes,
watches,
perfume or
things we use
like cellphone,
chairs, or
ballpen. These
are also tools
for farming,
fishing, or
baking. All of
these things
and tools are
artworks and
their function
as an art is physical. Above is MIllare’s “Bahay Kubo” design and at the side is
Culing Bermil’s Plant Stand.
For example, we will use Erik Lim’s shot of Mamiya using C330 Arcos as we see
below:
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This photograph has personal and social functions. Personal, because I know that
the subject is the artist’s wife. So, on the part of the artist, the photo suggests
appreciation towards his wife staring up. As an audience, I personally felt exited but
worried of what the subject is seriously looking upon. Mamiya may also have a social
function because it may discuss gender issues, women empowerment, or/ and faith as
well.
4. Content
There are three levels of content or meaning of an artwork:
4.1 Factual
It refers to the denotative meaning of an artwork or the explicit meaning or

dictionary based.
It is also the relevant information of the artwork that includes the artist, the
medium used, places exhibited/ staged; is it published or did it receive award,
criticism or citation; is it adapted or transformed in another art form; is it a basis
for the creation of a new original art work.
4.2 Conventional
The meaning is based on popular belief or common accepted realities of a
particular society at a given time.
It also conforms to the constructed norms and rules of the society.
4.3 Subjective
The meaning of the artwork depends on an individual maturity, preference,
interest, likes or dislikes, and background (family, educational or/and artistic).
One may use a literary or art theory to find the meaning of the artwork.
Let us take for example Prof. Millare’s drawing below:
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The factual meaning of the painting is a variety of traditional tools use in farming.
You may mention also, the painter, the title of the painting, its medium, size, location
it was exhibited or/ and any other actual information pertinent to the painting.
The conventional meaning may be simplicity, hardwork, or tolerance.
For the subjective meaning, if I will use Marxism as a literary theory, my meaning
would be the land owners injustices towards the farmers. However, if I am not used to
and got wounded in using these tools, then my subjective meaning of the painting will
be pain because of my personal experience of the tools in the painting.
5. Relevance
5.1 Personal
It answers the questions - What is the importance of the artwork to you as a student
or as son or as a daughter or as a person? Did it help you in your studies? In what
way? Did it make you a better person? Explain why. If you have answers to these
questions, the artwork has personal relevance.
5.2 Social
If you will be able to answer these questions below, then it has a social relevance.
a. What social issues or concerns are reflected in the art work?

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b. How are these reflected?
c. What solutions are being offered in the artwork to address these social issues?
5.3 Historical
If there are significant event in the past that is reflected in the artwork, then it has a
historical relevance.
5.4 Cultural
This kind of relevance pertains to the promotion of traditional ways of living.
5.5 Philosophical
Did the artwork make you question your existence? Make you search for your real
self? Ask whether there is really God; and what is your purpose in living? If you
have answers to these questions then, an artwork has a philosophical relevance.
5.6 Spiritual
If the artwork is a reminder to cultivate our loving relationship with God and others,
then it has a spiritual relevance.
Let us take Jetanok, another painting of Prof. Millare as example to discuss its
relevance:
Page 31 of 35
Jetanok is an oil on canvas, 18” x 24,” (2008).
The painting shows personal, cultural, and philosophical relevance. It has a

personal relevance because it made me appreciate my profession as a teacher to work
hard and minimize my complaints and just continue my job just like the taho vendor
and the jeepney driver in the painting. The cultural relevance is present because it
shows common workers and scenery in a rural area like the chicken, the jeepney
driver and the taho vendor with the Mayon Volcano as its background. Finally, it has
philosophical relevance because it made me realize the dominated nature of persons
in this world just like the chicken, the taho vender and the jeepney driver including
passengers who are in great risk if the Mayon Volcano erupts.
Notice that not all the relevance is present in Jetanok. So, there are artworks that
reflect all the relevance enumerated and there are also that reflects only two or three
like in Prof. Millare’s Jetanok.
Assessment Task
Choose one Bikolano artwork (song, poem, painting, photography, etc.). Then answer the
following questions:
1. Give at least 2 assumptions of art that are manifested in the artwork. Justify your answer with
2-3 sentences each assumption.
2. What is the artform of the artwork? Explain in 2-3 sentences.
3. Choose among these three options to answer: A. What is/ are the function/s of the artwork as
an art? B. Identify the three levels of content and explain each in 2-3 sentences. C. Identify and
explain at least 2 relevance of the art work in 2-3 sentences each relevance.
Rubric
Outstanding Very Satisfactory Satisfactory (2.0-2.5) Fair (2.6-3.0) Poor/Conditional/
(1.0-1.4) (1.5-1.9) Failed (3.1-4.0/5.0)
The answer is The answer is The answer is Some parts are The answer is
complete, complete, accurate complete but some missing, not incomplete,
accurate (form (form included), but parts are not accurate accurate, and not inaccurate (form
included), and not well-organized. (form included), and well-organized. included), and not
well-organized. not well-organized. well-organized.
Page 32 of 35
References
http://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/
https://www.google.com/search?
q=architecture+meaning&oq=architec&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j0l4j46j0.4846j0j7&so
urceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
ei=cdU2X7Bsqd6YBe_Uh4AK&q=interior+design+meaning&oq=interior+demeaning&
gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgAMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIA
BAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxA
eMgYIABAHEB46BAgAEEc6CwgAEAcQHhBGEPkBOgkIABBDEEYQ-
QE6BAgAEEM6CggAELEDEIMBEEM6BAgAEAo6CAgAEAcQChAeOgIIADoECA
AQDVDyoANYo78DYNXbA2gAcAF4AIABgwGIAbcRkgEEMTguNpgBAKABAaoB
B2d3cy13aXrAAQE&sclient=psy-ab
ei=stU2X_zNHKubr7wPrZW3gAk&q=landscape+architecture+meaning&oq=landscape
+archi+meaning&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAxgAMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCA
AQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQ
HjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB46BAgAEEc6CQgAEA0QRhD5AToECAAQQzoKC
AAQsQMQgwEQQzoHCAAQsQMQQzoCCAA6CwgAEAcQHhBGEPkBOgoIABCxA
xBGEPkBUMGqAVjR5QFg-
PYBaAFwAXgAgAG6AYgBiBaSAQUxNi4xMpgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrAAQE&s
client=psy-ab
https://www.realliving.com.ph/lifestyle/5-national-artists-who-are-architects-
a00043-20180827
http://www.urbandesign.org/
http://ecourbanhub.com//ananas-new-community-sweet-reality-philippines
https://piep.org.ph/profile/objectives.html
http://primer.com.ph/blog/2017/01/02/mainstream-and-indie-the-philippines-film-
industry/
http://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/
dance/philippine-contemporary-dance/
Page 33 of 35
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=AwrXgiOsGAZcKlkAJ1BPmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEyMmo1MWE3BGNv
bG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjI1NTdfMQRzZWMDc3I-?
qid=20111001172142AA7EtgD
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/13/17556030/sytycd-dance-styles-guide
https://karenhobiwong.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/pat-noveno-exhibit-2012-2/
Suggested Readings
Chey, C. (2017). Art is Universal-Society is Local. Arts and International
Affairs. 2 (2).doi: 10.18278/aia.2.2.5
Jones, J. (2015, October 1). Art is universal – no country should claim a

masterpiece for their own. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/jonathanjonesblog/2015/oct/01/rembrandt-
art-universal-country-claim
Chastain, J. (2019, January 30). Why is art universal?. Quora.
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-art-universal/answer/Jason-Chastain-5
Lumbera, B. (2004, January 5). In Focus: Decentering Philippine Art and
Culture. NCCA.https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/decentering-
philippine-art-and-culture/
Peralta, J.T. (2015, March 6). Cultural Evolution. NCCA.
https://ncca.gov.ph/2016/03/06/cultural-evolution/
De Leon, Jr., F.M. (2011, July 29). In Focus: Cultural Identity and
Development. NCCA.
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/cultural-identity-and-
development/
De Leon, Jr., F.M. (2011, July 29). In Focus: Philippine Arts in Context.
NCCA. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/philippine-arts-in-
context/
Leddy, T. (2020). Dewey’s Aesthetics. In E.N. Zalta (ed.), The Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020). Stanford.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dewey-aesthetics/
Koloc, D. (2019, October 25). Why does Art involve experience?. Quora.
https://www.quora.com/Why-does-art-involve-experience/answer/David-Koloc
Hospers, J. (2019). Art as Expression. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy-of-
art/Art-as-expression
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2020). Art, Expression in. In
Page 34 of 35
Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved
July 29, 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-
almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/art-expression
Bissell, R. (1974, July 20). A Critical Examination of the Notions of Art as
“Imitation of
Nature” and “Re-Creation of Reality”. The Personal Site of Roger Bissell, the
Muse-Seeker. http://www.rogerbissell.com/id11b2.html
Mallick, P. (2017, January 14). The Creative Process of Making Art 1 :
Generic Creative Process. WordPress.
http://prabalmallick.net/blog/creative-process-of-making-art/
Acknowledgement
Albayano artists who are mentioned and whose works are present in the material.
Abdon Balde, Jr.

Bligz
Cesar Gueta
Culing Bemil II
Erik Lim
George Vibar
Giovanii Buen
Inocencio Bermundo
Jaried Millare
Jimple Borlagdan
Julio Mendoza
Niles Jordan Breis
Noel Dorente
Omar Brocelango
Rafael Belgica, Jr.
Raffi Banzuela
Ramil Chavenia
Ronaldo Bejaro
Ronald Rebutica
Richard D. Madrilejos
Sarah Marion Monay
Vic Silva
Yatoy Carretas
Page 35 of 35

Evaluating The Arts Assumptions Art Forms Function Content and Relevance

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Reading Material in Art Appreciation

1.Assumptions of the Arts

An art work is universal because:

One of the participants

Prof. Millare’s Nikki,

b. Everybody can relate to the Anak

1.2 Art is cultural.

1.3 Art involves experience.

These two kinds of

a.1 stimulus to have

Noel Dorente, Taken,

b. Academic and artistic

Victor Silva’s Three

Millare’s Cover of Richard

Gueta’s Puno, Acrylic on canvas

d. Learning through experience.

a. universal idea or theme.

1.5 Art as a creative process.

Any given process is composed of three stages – the pre-production, production

b. Production Stage is the stage where everything is set for execution of

Paul who plays Hade

The Hade is proud

1.7 Art as devotion.

2.1 Architecture and Allied Arts

The art and practice

d. Urban Design is defined

d.1 arrangement and

d.2 making connections

For example, is the Sasaki

Based on the REPUBLIC ACT No. 10587 "Environmental Planning Act of

2. multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying,

1. promotes the comprehensive physical, economic, socio-cultural, aesthetic and

2. encourages rural-urban interdependence in the best interests of the nation.

This art form uses creative and

Examples are Star Cinema’s

b.1 Alternative Cinema/

It is composed of local artists, youths, Barangay officials, laborers and

This is mainly composed

The Bicol University

2.5 Literary Arts

Its text is about the

Its text is based on

2.7 Visual Arts

George Vibar’s painting

Pat Noveno’s work

c. Photography use a camera to capture images.

Erik Lim’s Superia 400

The artwork has

It refers to the denotative meaning of an artwork or the explicit meaning or

Let us take for example Prof. Millare’s drawing below:

a. What social issues or concerns are reflected in the art work?

This kind of relevance pertains to the promotion of traditional ways of living.

The painting shows personal, cultural, and philosophical relevance. It has a

2. What is the artform of the artwork? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

Jones, J. (2015, October 1). Art is universal – no country should claim a

Abdon Balde, Jr.

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