UNIT 2

FUNCTIONS, PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVES, SUBJECT AND
CONTENT OF ART
Module 2: Functions, and Philosophical Perspectives of Art
The FUNCTIONS of Art: Why do Artists
make Art

The Agent of Art is Man for Expression is an integral part of being human.
His expression is either an art or a craft.
When his expression is for appreciation sake, it is Art; and
when his expression is geared towards utilization, then it is Craft.
Man oftentimes combined art
and craft and this is called functional art.
functions of art

"Every particular substance in the world has an end, or telos in

greek, which translates to purpose

"every substance, defined as formed matter, moves according

to a fixed path towards it aim"

ARISTOTLE
 an inquiry on the
function of art, is an
inquiry on what is for.

what is the rizal monument for?

"when it comes to function, different art forms comes with distinctive
functions"

"some art forms are more functional than others. "

Personal Functions of Art

The personal functions of art are

varied and highly subjective
functions depends on the artists who
created an art
an artist may create an art out of self
expression, entertainment, or
therapeutic functions
Social Functions of Art

art is considered to have a social function if

and when it address a particular collective
interest as opposed to a personal interest
art may convey message or protest,
contestation, or whatever message the
artist intends his work to carry
political art is a very common example of an
art with social functions
art can also depict social conditions such as
photography (pictures of poverty)
Performance art like plays or satires can
also rouse emotions and rally people
toward a particular end
Physical Functions of Art

the physical functions of art can be found in

artworks that are crafted in order to serve
some physical purpose.
architecture, jewelry- making, interior
design all serves physical functions
Other Functions of Art

music was principally used for dance and religion.

the ancient world saw music as an instrument to
facilitate worship and invocations to gods.
music was essential for synchronity of dancers
music guarantees that warriors were simultaneous
today, music has expanded its functions
there is a lot of music that has no connections to
dance or religion
music is also used as accompaniment to stage plays
and motion pictures
Other Functions of Art

sculptures have been made by man most

particularly for religion
in the roman catholic world, the employment of
sculptures for religious purposes has remained
vital, relevant, and symbolic.

Other Functions of Art

architecture maybe the most prominent functional

art.
unlike other forms of art, buildings take so much
time to erect and destroy
one cannot dismiss taking into consideration the
function of a building before construction
DOES ART ALWAYS HAVE TO BE
FUNCTIONAL?
 PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE ART
Philosophers view art differently and this can be attributed to the experiences that they have with art. The following are their views:

ART AS DISINTERATED ART AS A COMMUNICATION

ART AS AN IMITATION ART AS A REPRESENTATION
JUDGMENT OF EMOTION
Oscar Wilde, Irish author: " It is life that imitates art"
Henri-Louis Bergson: "It is not reason that enables us to imitate; art is not imitation; art is
made from intuition(immediate sensation and intense feeling)"
G.E. Moore: "Art is both imitation and intuition"
Sigmund Freud: "Art is a wish-fulfillment; an excellent work of art results from frustration"
Jose Ortega Y Gaset: "Art is a form of escape; escape from negative elements"
Benedetto Croce: "Art is merely an expression regardless if it is understood or not"
Albert Camus: "Art is rebellion"
Dewey: "Art is not limited in the gallery and museum"
Dante Leoncini: "When man beautifies himself, he becomes a human art"
Margarette Macdonalds: "Art is esoteric. It is mysterious. It is indefinable. It is
transintelligible. It is only describable."
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF ART?
 Hierarchy of arts:
Immanuel Kant: Music is the lowest of all arts because it gives only sensible pleasure
2. Schopenhauer: Music is the greatest because it is capable of freeing man from his
fears and desires, from his anger and despair, and from other passions and anxieties
3. Hegel: Poetry has the best qualities like immediate perception, creative imagination,
development of thoughts and events
4. Leibnitz: The fusion of poetry and music is the highest art
5. Thus, there is no final manner by which a hierarchy of the arts may be established.
Each has his own value.
Module 3: Subject and Content of Arts

SUBJECT AND CONTENTS OF ARTS

SUBJECT CONTENT FORM

THE WHAT THE WHY THE HOW
SUBJECT

Subject of art is what an artist chooses to present in his/her

art. It is the expression of artist’s view of his/her
existence in his her art. It is the theme or topic of the artist in
his/her art. The term subjects in art refers to the main
idea that is represented in the artwork.
The subject in art is basically the essence of the piece
 TYPES OF SUBJECT

THESE TYPES OF ART HAVE SUBJECTS THAT REFER TO OBJECTS

OR EVENTS OCCURING IN THE REAL WORLD
ALSO TERMED FIGURATIVE ART BECAUSE OF THE FIGURES
DEPICTED ARE EASY TO MAKE OUT AND DECIPHER

REPRESENTATIONAL ART
 TYPES OF SUBJECT

ARTFORMS THAT DO NOT MAKE A REFERENCE

TO THE REAL WORLD, WHETHER IT IS A
PERSON, PLACE, THING, OR EVEN A
PARTICULAR EVENT
IT IS STRIPPED DOWN TO VISUAL ELEMENTS ,
SUCH AS SHAPES, LINES AND COLORS THAT
ARE EMPLOYED TO TRANSLATE A PARTICULAR
FEELING, EMOTION AND CONCEPT

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART
 TYPES OF SUBJECT
LOOKING AT THE COMBINATION OF LINES,
SHAPES AND COLORS OF THE SCULPTURE WILL
POINT TO A HEAD OF A WOMAN.
EVEN WITH THE ABSTRACTION OF THE IMAGE,
THIS WORK IS ARGUABLY REPRESENTATION
ART
ABSTRACT ART

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL REPRESENTATIONAL
ART ART

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART
AND ABSTRACT ART
 SOURCES AND KINDS OF
SUBJECTS

"IF YOU REALLY ASK IN PLAIN WAY WHAT CAN BE SOURCES OF

ART IN SUBJECTS, EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD BE THE ANSWER.
EVERYTHING THAT MADE YOU INSPIRE WITH"
 Artists have always been fascinated
with the beauty of their physical
environment. They would observe
nature on its beautiful and restful
mood, and apply pigments on canvass
on varying textures and colors.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
The Greek and Roman Mythology are
also rich source of art subject. Stories
from Greek and Roman Mythology
centers on the gods, goddess and
heroes.
RELIGION
Religion has played an enormous role in
inspiring works of virtual arts, music,
architecture, and literature trough ages.
During the prehistoric era, the medieval
and the present time, there was no
difference between religion and art

GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY

SOURCES OF SUBJECTS
 STILL-LIFE LANDSCAPE
Natural scenery such as mountains,
A COLLECTION OF INANIMATE OBJECTS cliffs, rivers, etc.
ARRANGED TOGETHER IN A SPECIFIC
WAY

5 MAIN SUBJECTS ARTISTS HAVE BEEN EXPLORING IN ART FOR CENTURIES

 PORTRAITURE ABSTRACT NATURE

An image of a particular person A non-representational work of art A focused view of interpretation of

or animal, or group thereof. specific natural element

5 MAIN SUBJECTS ARTISTS HAVE BEEN EXPLORING IN ART FOR CENTURIES

 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

REALISM ABSTRACTION DISTORTION

It concerns with the depiction of
subjects as they appear in everyday life.
The artist main function is to describe
accurately what is observed through the
senses
It refers to art unconcerned with the It is the alteration of the original shape
literal depiction of things from the of an object, image or other form of
visible world representation.
The subject is in misshaped condition.
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

ELONGATION MANGLING CUBISM

The subject or painting is being It shows subjects or objects which Subjects are shown in basic geometrical
lengthened or extended are cut, mutilated, lacerated, or hacked. shapes.
Uses cones, cylinder, sphere or other
pictorial elements.
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM EXPRESSIONISM FUTURISM

Uses large canvasses It presents the world solely from a It emphasizes and glories themes
Lack of refinement in the application of subjective perspective, distorting it associated with contemporary concepts
paint, strong color uneven brush and radically for emotional effect in order of the future, including speed and
rough texture to evoke moods or ideas technology
 WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

SURREALISM FAUVISM DADAISM

It tries to reveal a new and higher
reality than that of life. They try to claim
to create a magical world more
beautiful than the real one through art.
It came from the slang of super realism.
Themes are either ethical,
philosophical, or psychological.
It uses extreme bright color.
Most of the fauves tried to paint
pictures of comfort, joy and pleasure.
Came from the french word "Dada"
meaning hobby horse. Dadaist reacted
to what they believe were outworn
traditions in art and the evils they saw
in the society.

FACTUAL MEANING
The most rudimentary level of meaning
for it may be extracted from the
identifiable for recognizable forms in
the artwork and understanding how
these elements relate to one another
CONTENT IN ART
CONVENTIONAL MEANING
Pertains to the acknowledged
interpretation of the artwork using
motifs, signs and symbols and other
cyphers as bases of its meanings.
SUBJECTIVE MEANING
When subjectivities are consulted, a
variety of meanings may arise when a
particular work of art is read