MODULE 1

LESSON 1: DEFINITION, ASSUMPTION, and NATURE OF

ARTS & CREATIVITY

LESSON 2: FUNCTIONS OF ART

LESSON 3: CLASSIFICATIONS OF ART

LESSON 1: UNDERSTANDING ART: DEFINITION, ASSUMPTION, and NATURE OF ARTS &

CREATIVITY
UNDERSTANDING ARTS

What comes first to your mind upon hearing the word “arts”? For sure, the first thing that
comes to mind is a painter, sculptor, calligraphy artist, fashion designer and so on. However,
these are just some of what art can produce! Art goes beyond our ordinary understanding.
Our ideas about art seem to be restricted but not art itself! Art is seen from the tiniest
matter create down to the largest matter an artist can create!

On a daily basis, you basically perform art: from waking up in the morning arranging your bed,
cooking your breakfast, designing your bike/motorcycle, dressing up, putting blush on/make-
up, gardening, designing your phone, doing household chores, and many more!

A wrong view of art corresponds to a wrong view of one’s self to become an artist on our own;
though it varies from specialization. As argued by Beuys (2015), everyone is an artist. For
Beuys “artist” was the word to describe the main point of what it signified to be a human
being: the deep need and fundamental ability to create and be creative.

I. DEFINITION OF ART

From the very first-time art was applied by the human, it has faced several struggles as far as
its definition is concerned. It can be said that whether art can be defined has been a matter
of controversy. As art appears to be subjective, there is no one universal definition of it. The
definition of art has changed from time to time and it still continues to change as humanity
and culture also change. However, for us to understand to understand what art means, let us
look at the origins of the word itself!

The original classical definition is derived from the Latin word "ars" (meaning "skill" or "craft").
This word refers to one’s ability or skill innate in each of us to create a work of art using his
mind (imagination, concepts, and creativity) and heart (emotions or feelings).

Moreover, it came from the Aryan root word “ar”, meaning to put together. The term gives a
thought about art being a process of putting concepts, medium, and creativity together to
achieve a desired effect. Also, two Greek verbs are derived from “ar”: artizein which means
to prepare; arkiskein which means everything that is artificially made or composed by man.
Hence, art means preparing for anything that is originally composed by man. Hence, based on
its origin, we could say that art refers to one’s ability or skill of putting materials, ideas,
imagination together by the works of human hands with the aid of any present media of art.

Further, Estolas et. al. mentioned that art covers those areas of artistic creativity that seek
to communicate beauty primarily through senses. It applies to such activities that expresses
aesthetic ideas by the use of skill and imagination in the creation of objects, environment,
and experiences which can be shared with others. We are involved in art when we compose a
melody, paint a poster, write poems, dance gracefully, sing songs, plan a task, or even
construct a house artistically.
According to Lumen, art is a wide spectrum of human activities involving the creation of
visual, aural, or performative artifacts—works of art—that exhibit the author's inventive or
technical talent and are intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.
Lumen clarified this idea by emphasizing that art encompasses a wide range of human
actions.

The term art encompasses many meanings such as ability, process, and product. Art concerns
itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of a sensuous medium –
color, sound, bronze, body, words, and film. As asserted by Machlis (1963), 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.

People have created art from generation to generation. And, as part of an artist's motivation
to make a piece of art, it is replicated, patronized, and even recognized by governmental
organizations in terms of preservation, so that future generations might be proud of our very
own artists or artisans. It lives on because it is liked and enjoyed.

Furthermore, as we surround ourselves with beautiful objects, they become an important part
of our daily lives. Furthermore, art is present in the majority of the items and noises we
encounter on a daily basis. The beauty of art is that it allows us to express ourselves not just
via writing poems or stories, but also through painting, sculpting statues, and composing
music.

Art appreciation in the humanities is being able to look at a work of art and form a wise
opinion of the work. Before someone can throw a comment or view towards any artwork,
he/she will give a time or so to engage with the artwork through his/her heart and mind
attempting to figure out what the artist tries to convey. And when the art work seems so
unappealing in the first glance, there appreciation will be imposed. Interpretation precedes
appreciation. Appreciation takes place only when the mind convicting the heart is highly
involved. It is also having the knowledge, background, and understanding of the universal and
timeless qualities that comprise all works of art.

Appreciating a work of art does not just mean responding emotionally to it. Meaning, we
don’t appreciate by the basis of emotion alone. It implies an intellectual involvement with
what is to be appreciated, be it a painting, a novel, or a musical composition. To learn to
appreciate any one of the arts, we must understand what goes into its making: its elements or
components and how these are put together in a pattern of relationships, and becoming the
units which is the work of art itself. We can hardly appreciate that which we cannot
understand.

From the above definitions, the essential requirements of art are:

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.
LEARNING ACTIVITY

A. IDENTIFACTION

________1. The original classical definition of art derived from this Latin word which means
meaning "skill" or "craft".
________2. It came from this Aryan root word meaning to put together.
________3. It means everything that is artificially made or composed by man.
________4. concerns itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of
a sensuous medium – color, sound, bronze, body, words, and film
________5. They mentioned that art covers those areas of artistic creativity that seek to
communicate beauty primarily through senses.
________6. He emphasized that art covers broad activities in the daily life of humanity.
________7. It refers to one’s ability or skill of putting materials, ideas, imagination together
by the works of human hands with the aid of any present media of art.
________8. It is being able to look at a work of art and form a wise opinion of the work.
________9. One of art’s requirements in which it has to be created originally and inventively
by human hands.
________10. One of art’s requirements in which it has to be a new creation and not
duplicated.

B. ESSAY

11-15. Some would have their own artwork crafted in their very skills, concepts, and
creativity and it seems so “unappealing” to you, how will you respond on this matter?

16-20. As a (referring to your field) student, how do you see studying Arts Appreciation
subject would influence your course and future endeavors?

II. ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

There are many generalizations in art, even though there are many assumptions in reality.
Because man can transmit his individuality and way of life through art, there are principles
and grounds for appreciating a form of art.

A. 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 urge to develop this language appears to
be widespread, and art can be a powerful cultural force. Art knows no bounds and transcends
cultures, ethnicities, and civilizations. It is timeless because it exists outside of our own
lifetime.

Furthermore, according to Chey's article "Art is Universal, Society is Local," "art is supposed to
be a mirror of individuals and their social situation." Art has a specific impact on every social
setting by offering a unique distinction/recognition.
He added, “art unifies differences and brings awareness.” At this point, Chey is stressing out
that an art is considered as universal when a work of art is able to unite people from all
throughout the world, cutting across different cultures, races, socio-economic, political, and
religious background, and bring awareness to them whether in their minds, emotions, or both.

As added by an article written by Eger named “Art is a Universal Language”, said that art
serves so superbly as a universal language – as means toward understanding the history,
culture, and values of other peoples. Mankind will know itself as citizens of a rich and truly
global society as human beings build virtual bridges into unknown cultural territory – and
there learn, share dreams, and creatively work together. With this, mankind will know itself
as citizens of a rich and truly global society.

To stress out this assumption, art is “one of the main means of communication that can
connect the world and reflect on cultural, political, and social dynamics.”

B. Art is not nature

Art is entirely created by humans. It is a product of man's thoughtful talent and

craftsmanship, which is subjected to process and planning. Art is artificial since it is merely a
copy of reality or perhaps an appropriation of nature. It is a visual depiction of ideas,
thoughts, and feelings expressed in a creative and artistic manner. Art made by God is divine,
while art created by humans is shallow or fleeting. Artists create works of art to celebrate 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.

Regardless, Ortiz et al. "Art is not natural; art is created by man," al asserted. A work of art is
created by humans, and while it may resemble nature, it can never replace it. Nature has
long served as a source of inspiration for artists, and great artists have drew inspiration from
it, yet they have never been able to create an exact replica of a natural object. Their goal
has never been to describe the physical appearance of objects, but rather to convey how they
felt or thought about them.

Bascara and Avillanoza stated that art’s greatest achievement is that it creates a permanent
impression of the passing scene, unlike a plant when uprooted will not always stay fresh for it
will die.

C. Art involves experiences

Art is a depiction of our experiences. It demands taking part. According to Dewey, “art
denotes a process of doing or making.” One’s work in an artmaking comes in different
application such as laying of pigments, molding of clay, chipping of marble, constructing of
buildings, singing of songs, playing roles on stage, 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. To engage at art also means to engage with the artist’s concept, emotion, or even
experiences. When we use our heart and mind to connect with the art, there will we only see
the significance of the artwork to the artist.

Ortiz, et. al. enumerates three major kinds of experience involved in the artistic activity:

1. Art usually starts as an experience which the artist wants to communicate.

2. The act of expressing this experience—that of creating the art object or form—is itself
another kind of experience.

3. Finally, when the work is done, there is the artist’s gratifying experience of having
accomplished something significant.

"The artist always starts with an experience which is a kind of discovery... lt surprises him-
that is what is usually called an intuition or an inspiration. The joy of his discovery is his
starting point,” said by Joyce Cary. This discovery may be the perception of something
interesting in the natural world such as the colors of a tropical sunset, the geometric design
of a flower, pattern of an object, or the rhythm of the falling rain. Or it may be an awareness
of something in the nature of man, in his relationship with other human beings, or in his very
relationship with his God.

However, there is still another kind of experience that is associated with art. This refers to
what an onlooker or listener undergoes when he perceives the work of art. The perception
may kindle an experience which is similar or related to that which the artist tried to express.
It goes without saying that art must be directly seen or heard in order to be enjoyed or
appreciated. No amount of reading about a painting or sculpture can take the place of
actually seeing it. Listening to a lecture on music is of very little value unless one also hears
the music itself; and reading a play is not a fair substitute for seeing it actually performed.

A varying combination of sensory, emotional, and intellectual responses is involved in

experiencing art. For example, some people looking at a painting experience a kind of
delight similar to that which one feels when s/he sees an awesome beach sunset, cute kitten,
or digital graphic art and so on. This is largely a sensory response. It is the same kind of
response many people have when they hear some upbeat, techno dance music. They would
feel like dancing. They do not seem to need a deeper understanding of what the artist has
tried to express and how he has managed to achieve his purpose, although, of course, such
understanding would further enhance their enjoyment.

Sometimes our emotional response springs from our identifying ourselves with the people
portrayed in the work of art. This is especially true when we watch a play or a movie. We go
through what Samuel Taylor Coleridge described as "the willing suspension of disbelief" and
accept as real what is happening on the stage or on the screen. We may even assume the role
of one of the characters and go through the same range of emotions the he goes through. This
identification with the characters is known as empathy. Thus, when one character has a
tragic experience, we cry with pity for him, and we also feel fear and sorrow with him,
because we virtually live the same life he lives. Of course, when the lights are turned on at
the end of the performance, we go back to our former selves, relieved to note that the
experience was something we had only vicariously gone through.
Some works, on the other hand, delight the mind primarily.

These are works whose unique arrangements of elements, apart from subject matter,
stimulate the intellect more than they do the emotions. Our reaction to art is personal and
individual. We tend to respond to works of art according to the level of our expectation.
Thus, we like some works and we don't like others, simply because they don't reveal to us
what we feel they should. We cannot escape from our personal preferences. And when we
look at art, we do so with a prejudiced eye. Our reaction would be colored, too, by the ideas
of our time about particular aspects of art. Each generation tends to prefer one style of art to
another.

Appreciating a work of art does not just mean responding emotionally to it. It implies an
intellectual involvement with what is to be appreciated, be it a painting, a novel, or a
musical composition. To learn to appreciate any one of the arts, we must understand what
goes into its making: its elements or components and how these are put together in a pattern
of relationships, and becoming the units which is the work of art itself. We can hardly
appreciate that which we cannot understand. For example, we cannot like (or dislike) a haiku
(Japanese poem of 17 syllables) if we do not understand Japanese at all.

In certain circumstances, our capacity to appreciate art is hampered by our inability to

comprehend the artist's language or his presentation of an entirely new perspective.
However, if we want to understand the aesthetic truth that he is attempting to impart, we
must try to comprehend his presentation. We may not agree with his stance entirely, but the
work of art will prompt us to consider our own thoughts on the subject.

Whatever response we have to a work of art, we cannot fail to experience a sense of awe at
the object's existence. We look at its form and complexity, we consider the insight expressed,
and we think of the artist's talent as something extraordinary, almost magical, even divine.
And the wonder of it all is that the artist is first and foremost a man, just like all of us.

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Go outdoors (e.g. a garden, farm, beach, mountain, etc.) and observe the natural
things that you would come across (plants, animals, rocks, corals, soil or water
formation, sky, etc.). Next, take a photo of one natural thing that you see as
beautiful. Then print the photo and paste it to a short coupon bond. Add a caption or
a title under the photo.
III. NATURE OF ARTS

A. Art as expression

Out of man's need to express himself, art has grown. Art is an expression made visible
by a form in which people using their minds and heart engage with a certain art piece.
As asserted by Bostic, art is an expression in which the artist is an expresser
translating a product of his creativity and imagination into a work of art in order to
create meaning at its essence.

1. What does art express?

“Real art is the expression of the vision and feelings of one human” as stated by Frank
Goodyear, Jr. This is true since an artist is usually gifted with a special sensitivity
towards the world around him. He sees the world in a different way compared to the
ordinary eye. His perception is not only of surface appearances, but of forces that lie
underneath- hidden realities which we, ordinary laymen, do not usually notice until
they are "framed" for our attention and consideration in works of art. It is the
discovery of these realities that the artist expresses in his art.

Furthermore, art is an expression of feeling, belief, and character. The art is not
limited to the revelation of feelings alone. According to Ortiz, et.al., the personal and
social values of the artist and his penetrating psychological insights into human reality
are also conveyed through the arts. Art in any given period simultaneously reflects two
things: the genius of its creator as well as the sensibility or the characteristic values
and attitudes toward important aspects of life held by the society in which the work of
art was born.

2. Why does art express?

Camic beautifully once said, “art expresses as a result of humans continually searching
for meaning, making meaning out of lived or observed experiences, and attempting to
connect to other humans.” In the past and in the present, art continuously strives to
establish an understanding of the unknown, to name the unnamed, to mark the
ordinary, and to dignify our existence.

Sometimes it is not the artist's main intention to communicate. It is enough for him to
express himself, to relieve himself of tension. He finds satisfaction merely in having
created a new form.

3. How does art express?

Art expresses, and the expression is contained within a form. The form, regardless of
whether it is static or dynamic, is what captures the expression-the artist's inner
truths. According to Gillis, these truths must connect with the artist's experience-her
 or his lived or observed experience in order for the art to communicate the expression
authentically.

B. Art as a form of creation

Ortiz, et.al. says that man has been led by an innate craving to create objects that are
delightful to perceive. In this sense, creation means the act of combining or re-
ordering already existing materials so that a new object is formed. Sometimes, the art
object may be the result of a cooperative activity by a team of artists (not just one
person) motivated by a common goal, as in the production of a play or a movie.

On the other hand, as stated by Gaut and Livingston, there is a richer, evaluative
sense of "creation", in which mere "making" does not suffice for the creation of
something. For example, a manager of a factory who, showing a visitor around,
announced proudly, "here we create plastic spoons," would sound pretentious. Why? It
is because factories merely "make" products which may be final consumer goods such
as plastic spoons. Factories do not create products; they manufacture and mass
produce products. In making plastic spoons, it does not involve a significant degree of
creativity, such as is needed in painting the Mona Lisa. Rather, a routinized making is
involved. This implies that creating art is more profound, involves careful planning and
attention, and expression of self in the highest order.

“Art is a planned activity”, says Ortiz. Unlike the spider when it weaves its web, the
artist does not put his materials into shape instinctively (at least, most artists do).
Rather, he thinks out a design, selects his materials, and arranges them according to
his design. To be sure, he may not be wholly original; no artist really is. But he would
be producing something that never existed before. Sometimes, the finished product
may not turn out as he had originally envisioned it to be. Creation involves constant
correction and redirection, depending on the demands of the material and the
challenges it poses.

IV. CREATIVITY IN ART MAKING

A. What is creativity?

According to Harper, an individual artist's creativity is his or her manner of pursuing

conceptual means to disrupt the norm and think beyond the box. When you combine
creativity with perseverance, you get art, which is the outcome of both creativity and
continual effort. Motivation, in addition to its role in the creation of art, must be a
component of the creative process. "There cannot be art without creativity, but
creativity can exist without art," Harper added.

Moreover, creativity as defined by the Oxford Dictionary is the use of imagination or

original ideas to create something. It also refers to the quality of being inventive. It is
the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality wherein people can engage
 with it in different factors such as heart and mind. Creativity involves two processes:
thinking, then producing. Thus, it can be surmised that creativity requires an output, a
product of one's imagination and thinking.

Lastly, in his book “the Courage to Create” by Rollo May, creativity is the process of
bringing something "new" into being. However, there is a common misunderstanding
that equates creativity with originality. In fact, there are very few absolutely original
ideas. Most of what seems to be new is simply a bringing together of previously
existing concepts in a new way.

B. Why is creativity necessary in art making?

According to L.R Borges (a professional creative/award-winning designer), the quality

of a work of art is closely tied to the artist's creativity, because creativity is the power
that will push the artist's work away from the ordinary.

There will be no masterpieces or geniuses of art in our world without originality! For
that reason, there would be no art without ingenuity! As musicality is to music,
creativity is to art. Without the other, neither can exist.

Art does not just happen in art making. There is a creative process involved in making
art. Although there is no one common creative process for all artists, there are five
common steps or phases involved in the artistic or creative process of making art.
(Please take note that these steps don't always progress in exactly this order. It's
possible to cycle back through different steps throughout the creative process.)

1. Inspiration - For different artists, inspiration comes from diverse places.

Perhaps an artist is inspired by a film or a work of high art; perhaps it is something in
nature or a personal experience. Ideas might appear out of nowhere. The main point is
that artists should be inspired to make art on a regular basis.

2. Percolation - This is the period of time that passes after an artist has had an
idea but before he begins to create art. It can manifest in a variety of ways.
Sometimes this entails refining an idea through sketches (and discarding just as many)
or aesthetic experimentation. Sometimes it's simply a matter of allowing an idea to
germinate. An artist may conceive an idea several years before executing the piece of
art that it inspired. This is because the creative process might take as long as it takes
to create art.

3. Preparation - Preparation is sometimes mistaken with "percolation," although

it is a more active and focused process. Once the artist has decided on his direction
and inspiration, the next step is to figure out how to make it happen. Preparation
includes gathering and organizing supplies as well as sketching up a plan for the art
creation.
 4. Creation - Finally, it's time to make it happen! Creation is the time during
which the artist is solidly on his path. He has his pen to paper, his brush to canvas. He
is creating. The process of creation can vary depending on one's personal
temperament, his artistic style and his medium. For some, the process of creation is
actually quite short and much of the work has been done in the previous phases - for
instance, a simple line drawing. While it might take minutes to complete the drawing,
the thought and time developing that idea was the more time-consuming part of that
project.

5. Reflection - After an artist completes a work of art, regardless of its final

destination, it is common for the artist to reflect on it. Everyone's reflection will be
distinct. For some artists, a low-grade post-creative depression sets in, leaving them
feeling empty and "spent." For others, there is relief: "It's done! I can move on to the
next thing!" For others, there are regrets: "I wish I had made this line longer, I wish I
had made that part of the composition blue."

We can see now that the creative process of generating art contains a lot of creativity
from beginning to end, thanks to the five identified phases. As a result, creativity is
crucial in the creation of art. And, while creativity has been defined and viewed in a
variety of ways, it is still vital in the creation of art because it is a way of life that
values originality and draws unexpected connections between seemingly incongruous
concepts.

C. When can you say that a person is creative?

By employing the imagination as a major tool, creative people create new tools,
painted images, music, dance moves, and so on. In essence, an artist, or a creative, is
someone who is committed to uniqueness and authenticity. S/he puts something fresh
into the world that will benefit people in some way. He is prone to turning his creative
work into a form of output that displays his or her artistic hands and personal
viewpoints. A creator, on the other hand, is not required to make art.

On the other hand, Robert Weisberg says that "creative" refers to novel products of
value, as in "the airplane was a creative invention” in his book, "Creativity: Beyond the
Myth of Genius".

"Creative" also refers to the person who produces the work, as in "Picasso was
creative." " Creativity," then refers both to the capacity to produce such works, as in
"How can we foster our employees' creativity?" and to the activity of generating such
products, as in "Creativity requires hard work". Hence, in his argument, a creative
person has both the capacity to produce novel products of value and actually generate
such products.

Robert Franken claims in his book "Human Motivation" that being creative requires the
ability to see things in new ways or from alternative perspectives. You must be able to
develop fresh options or alternatives, among other things. Tests of creativity look at
not only how many alternatives people can come up with, but also how unique those
possibilities are.

Creativity is a quality that is highly valued, but not always well understood. Studies
have shown that creative individuals are more spontaneous, expressive, and less
controlled or inhibited. They also tend to trust their own judgment and ideas-- they
are not afraid of trying something new.
Professor Oyvind Martinsen of the Bl Norwegian Business School has also performed
research to create a personality profile for creative persons. The study included 481
participants from various backgrounds. The sector is made up of numerous groups of
people who are more or less creative. Martinsen used a variety of exercises to map the
participants' personality traits and measure their creative abilities and capabilities.
Martinsen's research reveals seven key personality features that distinguish creative
people:

1. Associative orientation: Imaginative, playful, have a wealth of ideas, ability to be

committed, sliding transitions between fact and fiction.

2. Need for originality: Resists rules and conventions. Have a rebellious attitude due
to a need to do things no one else does.

3. Motivation: Have a need to perform, goal-oriented, innovative attitude, stamina

to tackle difficult issues.

4. Ambition: Have a need to be influential, attract attention and recognition.

5. Flexibility: Have the ability to see different aspects of issues and come up with
optional solutions.

6. Low emotional stability: Have a tendency to experience negative emotions,

greater fluctuations in moods and emotional state, failing self-confidence.

7. Low sociability: Have a tendency not to be very considerate, are obstinate and
find faults and flaws in ideas and people. Among the seven personality traits,
associative orientation and flexibility are the factors that to the greatest extent
lead to creative thinking. "Associative orientation is linked to ingenuity. Flexibility
is linked to insight," says the professor. The other five characteristics describe
emotional inclinations and motivational factors that influence creativity or spark
an interest in creativity. Hence, from the above discussion, we could conclude that
a person is considered as creative when he possesses the common characteristics
mentioned above.

LEARNING ACTIVITY
Create any artwork of your own preference. Do vlogging or any means of documenting
the process of your art creation applying the 5 creative process discussed in your
module.

LESSON 2. FUNCTIONS OF ART

Everywhere we gaze our eyes to, there will we see different forms of art that are
being created by artists every single day. Each artist, in consonance to their views and
purposes, pours his/her passion to create a work of art that can be said full of intent
on their behalf. Across different forms of art we encounter daily, flow different
functions out of it. Let’s learn about the different functions of art.

I. PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

Everywhere we look, we will witness many forms of art created by artists on a

daily basis. Each artist pours his or her love into creating a work of art that can be
considered to be full of intent on their behalf, in accordance with their views and
purposes. Different functions flow from various forms of art that we encounter on
a daily basis. Let's look at the various functions of art.

1. Utilitarian

Art pieces that were made to perform certain functions to make our lives
comfortable fall under this classification. An example is a Japanese raku bowl
which is used in the tea ceremony.

Designing a functional object should conform with the taste of the user and be
pleasing to his eyes. An object is made for a certain function and it should be
made in such a way that it can perform its function. Functions change
according to form, and if there are many functions, there will be many forms.

A chair is designed 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 to fulfill a particular purpose.

2. Public display

Some artists are commissioned by cities to display their art works (such as a
painting) for a certain physical purpose or function. For example, Ben Cab, a
famous Filipino artist, may be commissioned by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
 to display his drawings and paintings in their building as part of their
foundation anniversary celebration.

Paintings and buildings can both be symbols, but buildings also serve a physical
function. An architect's design of a building is determined by its operational
function. For example, a place of worship requires a big hall, while a hotel
requires privacy. Further, many aesthetic decisions are influenced by
technology and materials. The high-speed elevator, the steel-frame skeleton,
and light curtain wall construction enable us to build in ways inconceivable just
a few generations ago.

Other examples of art works under this classification are monumental art such
as the Washington Monument. It is an obelisk on the National Mall in
Washington, D.C. in the United States, built to commemorate George
Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first
President of the US.

3. Expression

Visual images preceded written language as a means of communication.

However, art goes beyond communication of information; it also expresses a
whole dimension of human personality- our inner, or psychological, states of
being. Art is more than standard symbols and signs (although symbols are used)
because the forming of elements like lines, colors, textures, transmit
subliminal meanings beyond the basic information. These elements give
existence to the artist's intentions and meanings. Vincent Van Gogh is often
seen as a good example of psychological expression.

II. SOCIAL FUNCTIONS

Art, which is the quality, production, and expression of what is beautiful, or more
than ordinary significance, is closely related to every aspect of social life. Under
this function, artworks can be categorized into two types: those used for public
display and celebration, and those art works used to affect the collective behavior.

a. Art used for public display and celebration (public art)

Public art or art in public spaces can take a wide range of forms, sizes, and
scales-and can be temporary or permanent. Public art can include murals,
sculpture, memorials, integrated architectural or landscape architectural work,
community art, digital new media, and even performances and festivals.

Sometimes having specific pieces of art in a community can perform the social
function of elevating that community's status. A Calder stabile (a type of
stationary abstract sculpture, developed by the 20th-century American artist
 Alexander Calder), for example, can be a community treasure and point of
pride.

Public art is often site-specific, meaning it is created in response to the place

and community in which it resides. It often interprets the history of the place,
its people, and perhaps addresses a social or environmental issue. One of the
important attributes of public art is the way that it celebrates the creativity,
imagination and skills of artists while also encouraging ordinary citizens to
develop their own innate capacity for imagination and exploration. These are
vital qualities for promoting creative individuals, communities and cities.

Being public, the art is free and accessible to everyone. Public art creates a
heightened awareness (in the viewer) of the people and the broader context of
what's around them. Today, viewers may capture a photo of the public art on
their smart phone and share the work and the experience with others,
extending the reach of public art beyond the site. Whatever the form, public
art instills meaning a greater sense of identity and understanding of where we
live, work, and visit-creating memorable experiences for all.

b. Art used to affect the collective behavior

i. Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life, as

opposed to one person's point of view or experience. Art tends to influence
the collective behavior of people for a cause. Collective behavior is
important because it is an indicator of change and as a result, new order
comes into being. For example, political art (skewed to whatever message)
always carries a social function. The fur-covered Dada teacup, useless for
holding tea, carried a social function in that it protested World War I (and
nearly everything else in life).

Moreover, art that depicts social conditions performs social functions. The
Realists figured this out early in the 19th century. Dorothea Lange (and,
indeed, many other photographers) often photographed people in conditions
we'd rather not think about.

Further, social behavior is influenced by many works of art. This is

manifested by the way we think, feel, and act. Advertisements which
announce, describe, and present something in media greatly influence the
social behavior of an individual. By making a repetitious announcement using
catchy words and tunes and employing striking designs and lively colors,
people are inclined to patronize certain products or services.

III. PERSONAL FUNCTIONS

The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to explain. There are
many types of personal function, and they are subjective. Therefore, they vary
from person to person.

An artist may create out of a need for self-expression, or gratification. S/he might
have wanted to communicate a thought or point to the viewer. Perhaps the artist
was trying to provide an aesthetic or beautifying experience, both for self and
viewers. (For example, an artist ' s painting serves to decorate houses and other
buildings.) Further, an art piece might have been meant to "merely" entertain
others. Sometimes a piece isn't meant to have any meaning at all.

IV. OTHER SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF ART

1. Cultural

Art reflects a society's cultural ideas, values, and concerns, either collective or
individual. Cross-cultural studies of art show that it represents different
worldviews, religious beliefs, political ideas, social values, kinship structures,
economic relations, and historical memory. For example, paintings, sculptures,
and architectural works form part of a country's material culture, while songs,
dances, dramas, and literary pieces are embodiments of a nation's non-material
culture.

2. Historical

In his book "Introduction to the Humanities", Menoy says that paintings,

sculptures, architectural works, and other art forms serve to record historical
figures and events. Paintings of royalty, sculptures of national heroes, and
tombs of rulers not only commemorate but also celebrate historical greats. In
the Philippines, the Our Lady of EDSA shrine is a proof of Filipinos' love of
peace and freedom as it reminds those who pass by EDSA of the bloodless
revolution in Philippine history.

3. Religious

In his book "Art and Religion", Bychkov says that historically, most religious
traditions-from aboriginal cultures to world religions used the arts. At the same
time, historically most of what we now call "art" was religious objects or
depicted religious themes. Generally, the arts, due to their strong emotional
impact and ability to act immediately and directly upon our perception, prior
to conceptual thinking, can enhance any area of experience, including religious
experience.

Art and beauty are immediately pleasing but the reasons for this are unclear.
This means that the rules and principles of art are beyond us or transcend us:
possibly indicating the presence of a higher principle (e.g., the divine) in the
 universe. The arts are used for these purposes by most religious traditions, but
specifically in the Christian tradition by the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic
traditions.

For example, the first Greek paintings and sculptures were those of gods and
goddesses. The first great architectural works were built for religious purposes:
the pyramids were built to entomb the pharaohs, the mausoleum of Rome
served as a cemetery; and the churches and mosques were constructed for
religious worship.

With the creation of the various forms of art, man now lives in comfort and
happiness. They provide him with shelter, clothing, food, light, medicine,
beautiful surroundings, pleasure, self -gratification, personal therapy, personal
ornamentation, entertainment, and other necessities and conveniences of life.

You, the viewer, are half of the equation in assigning a function to art. These
personal functions apply to you, as well as the artist. It all adds up to
innumerable variables when trying to figure out the personal functions.

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Choose one from the 4 mentioned functions of art. Under the preferred/chosen
function, find an object that best represents it and take a photo of it. For
example, under Physical function, you may take a picture of a furniture, window,
table, etc. At that, use a hashtag referring to the kind of function you have
chosen: #socialfunction #physicalfunction etc.
LESSON 3: CLASSIFICATIONS OF ART

Arts are classified into two general divisions which are:

 Fine or Aesthetic arts

 Utilitarian or Practical arts

A. FINE ARTS or AESTHETIC ARTS

The concept behind the term fine art pertains to an art form practiced mainly for
its aesthetic value and its beauty ("art for art's sake") rather than its functional
value. In its core, fine/aesthetic arts are made primarily for aesthetic enjoyment
through the senses, involving the usage of one’s visual and auditory. Fine art is
rooted in drawing and design-based works such as painting, printmaking, and
sculpture. In addition, several references regard Fine/Aesthetic arts as “indirectly
functional arts”. Moreover, it is often contrasted with "applied art" and "crafts"
which are both traditionally seen as utilitarian activities.

1. Music

“Music is generally perceived as the most universal of all art forms.”

 https://
pixabay.com/
photos/piano-sheet-
music-music-
keyboard-1655558/

It
is
an

art in pertinence to combining vocal and instrumental sounds for beauty of

form or emotional expression. It is simply an art based on the organization
of sounds in time. Both are humanly engineered; both are conceptual and
auditory, and these factors have been present in music of all styles and in
all periods of history, throughout the world. Music performs an integral role
in our society.

Our world cannot be imaginable if there is no music in it. Some would argue
that music is one of what makes the world go round. It provides every
human a sense of entertainment, a source of communication and
interaction, emotional release, and it accompanies activities ranging from
dances to religious ceremonies.

To tune in their own taste of music, people have many different means. At
that, each of us have our own genres in music dependent on our personality
and perception. Music can be a barely perceived background or a totally
absorbing experience. Our response to a musical performance or an artist is
subjective and rooted in deep feeling. To evaluate performances and
deliveries of music, it’s up to the listeners. Alert and repeated listening will
enhance our ability to compare performances and judge music so that we
can fully enjoy it.

2.
Painting
 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/painting

With the creation of certain aesthetic qualities, painting is the expression

of ideas and emotions in a two-dimensional visual language. In view of
painting’s elements such as shapes, lines, colors, tones, and textures are
used in various ways to produce sensations of volume, space, movement,
and light on a flat surface. In order to represent real or supernatural
phenomena, to interpret a narrative theme, or to create wholly abstract
visual relationships, these respective elements are combined into
expressive patterns.

Further, a painting in an image (artwork) created using pigments (color) on

a surface (ground) such as paper or canvas. The pigment may be in a wet
form, such as paint, or a dry form, such as pastels. Usually, it depicts
various intrinsic values of man through imaginative aggregation of lines and
color. It expresses the artist’s perceptions and feelings on a particular
selected subject.

The artist’s selection of a subject comes from an understanding and

interpretation of his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This is revealed
through his pen or brush, giving the subject its meaning for the art lover to
enjoy.

3. Sculpture

“Three-dimensional art made by one of four basic processes: carving,

modelling, casting, constructing.”
 https://samsoriginalart.com/a-very-brief-history-of-sculpture/

Sculpture refers to the art of producing statues, materials, and ornaments

from stone, metal, wood, or other materials by carving, shaping or molding,
welding, and construction. Moreover, it is called the “three-dimensional
art”, which possesses mass and volume, made by one of four basic
processes: carving, modeling, casting, and constructing.

These four basic processes as given definition by Tate are as follow:

A. Carving is a sculptural technique that involves using tools to shape a

form by cutting or scraping away from a solid material such as stone, wood,
ivory or bone.

B. Casting involves making a mould and then pouring a liquid material,

such as molten metal, plastic, rubber or fibreglass into the mould. A cast is
a form made by this process. Many sculptures are produced by the artist
modelling a form (normally in clay, wax or plaster). This is then used to
create a mould to cast from. A mould can be cast more than once, allowing
artists to create editions of an artwork.

C. Modelling is an additive process. This means a soft material is worked by

the artist to build up a shape or form (rather than scraping or material
away as in carving). At that, unlike carving, soft materials such as clay and
wax can be changed and reworked. Modelling a maquette can also often be
the first step in the creation of a finished sculpture.

D. Constructed sculpture in various forms became a major stream in

modern art, including in movements such as constructivism or techniques
like assemblage. Artists have used techniques including bending, folding,
stitching, welding, bolting, tying, weaving, and balancing to construct
sculptures from a wide variety of materials and found objects.

4. Architecture
https://www.barkerassociates.co.uk/service/architecture/most-recognised-architectural-styles

Britannica Encyclopedia defined Architecture as the art and technique of

designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with
construction. The practice of architecture is employed to fulfill both
practical and expressive requirements, and thus it serves both utilitarian
and aesthetic ends. Although these two ends may be distinguished, they
cannot be separated, and the relative weight given to each can vary widely.

Moreover, architecture refers to the science and art of designing and

building houses, churches, bridges, and other structures. Here are some
many kinds of architecture:

 Grand Architecture in terms of skyscrapers and mansions;

 Small architecture like houses;
 Permanent architecture;
 Temporary architecture includes the sheds, bodegas which are used
for seasonal harvests;
 Complex structures like the Cultural Center of the Philippines; and
 Simple structures like the sabungan

However, the most important type of architecture is the domestic, because

this refers to our houses! The purpose of architecture is to satisfy the
fundamental human need for shelter just as art intends to benefit or satisfy
humanity.

5. Literature
 http://bookfestivalscotland.com/types-of-literary-arts-and-their-
understanding/

To get right of its very heart, literature is a written work of any single
body. Literature is writing which is considered to be an art form. It is used
to refer to all written account, though living at or belonging to the same
time definitions extend the term to include text that are spoken or sung. As
stated by Julian Barnes, “Literature is a process of producing grand,
beautiful, well – ordered lies that tell more truth than any assemblage of
facts.” Moreover, literature points out to written works especially those
considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. It is deemed to be a process
in which its result is verifiable in the communication of thought and feeling
through consciously-organized language. The three essential elements of
literature are intellect, senses, and emotions.

The main literary forms are fiction, drama, and poetry.

a. Fiction has to do with shaping or making a narrative or story where

nothing existed before. Bernard Malamud wrote, "each work of fiction
brings an entire world into life". Some of the earliest fictions are fables and
parables which are short tales with a moral lesson.

Contemporary forms of fiction are horror, spy, romance, suspense, science

fiction, etc. The short story is a brief fictional narrative that attempts to
dramatize or illustrate the effect or meaning of a single incident or small
group of incidents in the life of a single character or small group of
characters.

b. Poetry is literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness

of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and
arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm (Britannica).

Forms of poetry are lyric (short poem with a central pictorial image written
in an uninflected voice or both direct and personal), epic (long, narrative
poem recited publicly), and dramatic monologue (a character address
another character/ reader).

c. Drama is literature meant to be performed on stage by actors. There

are two forms of drama: tragedy and comedy. Tragedy in drama begins and
ends with the qualities found in the main character who is the hero. The
hero stands in conflict with forces larger than himself. Meanwhile, comedy
is the countervailing force to tragedy. In general, it is a play that makes us
laugh at our flaws and ultimately forgive ourselves from our foibles.

6. Dance
 http://bailesdelasfilipinas.blogspot.com/2013/02/folk-dance.html

Dance is a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece
of music. It is poetry in movement. Dancing involves moving rhythmically to
music using prescribed movements or gestures. Human movement can be
used as a form of expression and is presented in a social, spiritual, or
performed setting. The performer or dancer is the only medium used in
dancing

Regardless of form or style and function, dance entertains and

communicates more eloquently than language or music. Dance is a visual
and auditory feast and often uses costumes, props, and music. Dance is a
rich mine of ethno-historical information.

7. Drama & Play

Often presented through performance and dialogue in a theatre, stage,

radio or television, in the form of play, mime, opera, ballet, and so forth,
drama refers to a type of fictional or non-fictional work. Written as prose
or poetry, it is a literary composition aiming to act a story or to portray a
character, having conflict, tension and various other types of emotions.

Nonetheless, play can be understood as the dramatic work, characterized

by direct interaction between the characters. It is designed for theatrical
performance, which is arranged into dialogue, acts and scene. It is meant
 for a particular audience, i.e. it can be a stage play, screenplay or radio
play.

https:// time.com/
5737234/best- theater-
2019/
 Drama and play are two different entities. Though in the surface they might
appear the same, but they have differences from each other. Drama is used
in the sense of literary composition while play is used in the sense of
theater. The main core is that, a play is a subset of drama. Further, the
most significant difference between these two entities is that drama refers
to a literary composition, developed with an aim of theater performance, in
front of the audience; whereas, play implies a dramatic work which
includes dialogue amidst the characters, and performed in a theater

There are different types of drama. These are as follow:

Comedy: Drama which has humour and sarcasm, are comedy. The
components of comedy are clever wordplay, lighthearted tone, happy
ending, offbeat characters, comical misunderstanding and so forth.

Tragedy: The type of drama having a sad ending or tragic events, such
as disaster, pain or even death of the main character is called a
tragedy.

Tragicomedy: It is the hybrid form of tragedy and comedy. It has a

serious script, which is demonstrated in a humorous manner. It is
characterised by an ambiguous theme and it neither has a happy ending
nor a comical one.

Farce: An extremely comic dramatic work of fiction that uses ridiculous

yet amusing behaviour. It is characterized by non-sensical and
unrealistic situations.

Opera: A dramatic work in which speaking is replaced with singing or

instrumental accompaniment is called as opera.

Melodrama: Melodrama, as the name suggests, is the exciting dramatic

composition overstated characters and sensational events aim to call for
the senses of the viewers.

Musical Drama: A musical drama is one in which the dramatist combines

songs, dialogue, acting and dance, to narrate the story.

B. UTILITARIAN OR PRACTICAL ARTS

Practical arts refer to an art or craft that serves ordinary or human needs. Examples of
this are woodworking and needlework. Meanwhile, Useful arts are concerned with the
skills and methods of practical subjects such as manufacture and craftsmanship. The
phrase has now gone out of fashion, but it was used during the Victorian era and
earlier as an antonym to the performing arts and the fine arts. These are intended for
practical use or utility.

Forms of Practical Arts or Useful Arts are as follow:

1. Industrial art

Industrial art is an area of general education that deals with technology and
industry. Industrial arts courses provide opportunities for students to study,
observe, experiment, and work with industrial tools, machines, materials, and
processes. It deals with the changing of raw materials into some significant
products for human consumption.

Examples of industrial arts are shell-craft, bamboo-craft, and leather-craft,

shoe-making, pottery-making, woodworking, rattan craft, and manufacture of
automobiles and home appliances.

2. Applied or Household art

Household art is one of the arts or techniques (such as cooking, sewing, baby
care) concerned with the maintenance and care of a household. Meanwhile,
applied art refers to the application (and resulting product) of artistic design to
utilitarian objects in everyday use. Applied art embraces a huge range of
products and items, from a teapot or chair, to the walls and roof of a railway
station or concert hall, a fountain pen, or computer mouse.

For the sake of simplicity, works of applied art comprise two different types:
standard machine-made products which have had a particular design applied to
them, to make them more attractive and easy-to-use; and individual,
aesthetically pleasing but mostly functional, craft products made by artisans or
skilled workers.

3. Civic art

Civic art refers to the sum total of the architecture, public spaces, monuments,
urban design, and landscape of a city, but it is far more than the sum of the
parts. Civic art is place making into art that creates timeless civic values and
helps define cultures. The chief materials for civic arts are plants, trees,
shrubs, flowers, vines, and ground cover. It is a branch of landscape
architecture.

4. Commercial art

Commercial art refers to graphic art created specifically for commercial uses,
especially for advertising, illustrations in magazines or books, or the like. This
is used to promote sale or acceptance of products, services, or ideas.
5. Graphic art

Graphic art is the fine and applied arts of representation, decoration, and
writing or printing on flat surfaces together with the techniques and crafts
associated with them. It also refers to any of the fine or applied visual arts
based on drawing or the use of line, as opposed to color or relief, on a plane
surface, especially illustration and printmaking of all kinds. It includes the
processes and products of the printing industry like silk-screen printing, contact
printing, blue printing, letterpress, and lithography.

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Among the 7 categories of Fine Arts/Aesthetic Arts, choose one you would like
to review. For example, you have chosen music, choose one song that you want
to review. Describe its tune, beat, rhythm, instruments used, and most
importantly its message on its lyrics.

Under the Utilitarian/Practical Arts, choose one who actually makes such art.
Interview him/her about his/her creation or artwork, creativity, history, and
continuity in the said category.

MODULE 2
LESSON 1: SUBJECT AND CONTENT OF ART
LESSON 2: CONTENT IN ART

MODULE 2: SUBJECT AND CONTENT

LESSON 1: SUBJECT OF ART

Whatever you see around is a work of art. Each is designed according to what the
artist purposes in his heart. It may seem puzzling how the artist put each piece
together and just finished his work of art. But there will be a wider picture of what
the artist desires to point out. All of the tiniest details the artist has in mind, he
pours it out with his whole heart to create something that will perfectly embody or
represent it. In art, that is referred to as the subject. At this lesson, we will learn
to unveil the facets of an art’s subject.

The matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist is referred as the

subject of the art. The subject of art is varied. This may refer to any person,
object, scene, or event described or represented in a work of art. It is anything
under the sun. The subject could be make-believe, imaginary, and invented.
Subjects can also be real events, like the devastations brought about by super
typhoons entering the Philippines or catastrophic tsunamis hitting many Asian
countries.
However, some arts have subjects while others do not. The arts that have subjects
are called representational or objective arts; whereas, those that do not have
subjects are non-representational or non-objective arts.

I. SUBJECT TYPE

A. Representational or Objective Art

They are those arts that depict objects that are commonly recognized by most
people. They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective manner, something that is
real. They use “form” and are concerned with “what” is to be depicted in artwork.

They attempt to portray the subject as it is. The artists would try to be as
objective as possible. Painting, sculpture, the graphic arts, literature, and the
theater arts are generally classified as representational arts, although some
paintings and sculptures are without subjects.

B. Non-representational

Music, architecture, and many of the functional arts are non-representational arts.
Some musical compositions have subjects, though. They are generally referred to
as program music (music that imitates natural sounds, sets a mood, or narrates a
story).

The non-objective arts do not present descriptions, stories or references to

identifiable objects or symbols. Rather, they appeal directly to the senses
primarily because of the satisfying organization of their sensuous and expressive
elements.

Some contemporary painters have shifted their interest to the work of art as an
object in itself, an exciting combination of shapes and colors that fulfills an
aesthetic need without having to represent images or tell a story. Many modern
paintings have a purely visual appeal; so difficult that literal oriented spectators
cannot appreciate them.

Traditional sculpture and painting usually have subjects. When looking at a

painting or a statue, one expects to recognize the subject, to know what it is or
what it shows- a man, a dog, a landscape. Somehow, most people expect to see
recognizable images in a work of art and their enjoyment of it comes not from
their perception of its "meaning" or composition, but from the satisfaction they get
out of recognizing the subject.
II. SOURCE OF SUBJECT

a. Nature

Next to animals and people and their activities, nature as landscapes has been the
common subject of the arts. It has been the most common inspiration and subject.
Landscapes and seascapes have been the favorite subjects of Chinese, Japanese,
and some Filipino painters. They would observe nature, meditate lengthily on its
beautiful and restful mood, and apply pigments on canvass in varying texture and
colors.

Today, contemporary painters seem to be more fascinated to scenes in cities.

Squatters along railroad tracks, traffic jams, clogged esteros, historical spots, and
high-rise buildings have caught their interest and they paint several kinds of
cityscapes.

b. History

Important historical events in communities, events impacting a whole country or

nation, or a region in the world are common subjects of art works. This is such a
common theme that the term, "history paintings" was introduced by the French
Royal Academy in the 17thcentury to refer to paintings that depict history.
Although initially used to describe paintings with subjects drawn from ancient
Greek and Roman (classical) history, classical mythology, and the Bible; towards
the end of the eighteenth century, history painting included modern historical
subjects such as the battle scenes painted by artists Benjamin West and John
Singleton Copley.

Historical history paintings, the most straightforward category of history paintings,

embrace all pictures depicting an event or a moment in history, or a historical
figure who embodies a clear message. Examples include "Battle of San Romano"
(1438-55) by Paolo Uccello, "School of Athens" (1509-11) by Raphael, and
"Guernica" (1937) by Pablo Picasso.

c. Greek and Roman mythology

Myths are stories developed to explain unaccountable phenomena in the world.

Greek and Roman mythology are rich sources of art subjects. Paintings that include
a picture illustrating a mythical story, fable or legend are called mythological
paintings. Popular themes included legends surrounding Greek gods (e.g. Ares,
Aphrodite, Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus), or mythical stories of Roman deities (e.g.
Apollo, Diana, Juno, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune and Venus).
Examples include: "Jupiter and lo" (1533) by Correggio, "Allegory with Venus and
Cupid" (1540-50) by Bronzino, "Judgment of Paris" (1635) by Rubens, and
"Abduction of the Sabine Women" (1634-5) by Nicolas Poussin.

d. Judea-Christian tradition

The Holy Family, Madonna and Child, The Lord Jesus Christ angels, saints, and
religious objects are commonly used subjects during the Medieval and Renaissance
Periods. Up to today, many artists still use these as their subjects. Religious history
paintings fall under this category. These involve any type of picture with a
religious narrative - including Christian, Catholic, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish,
or tribal religion.

Good examples include: "Descent from the Cross" (Deposition) (c.1435-40) by Roger
van der Weyden, and "The Avignon Pieta" (1454-6) by Enguerr and Quarton.

e. Sacred oriental texts

Sacred oriental texts are works of art from Eastern Asian countries such as China,
Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and India that are adored for god worship. These are texts
that religious traditions see as essential to their faith or practice.

Examples of these are:

• Buddhist art: "Mandala of Chandra, God of the Moon" from Nepal (Kathmandu
Valley, Buddhist art)
• Bhutanese art: "Bhutanese thanka of Mt. Meru and the Buddhist Universe"19th
century (Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa, Bhutan)
• Chinese art: "Panorama Along the River During the Qingming Festival", an 18th-
century reproduction of the 12th century original by Chinese artist Zhang Zeduan
• Indian art: "Balustrade-holding Yaksha" , Madhya Pradesh, India, Shunga period
(2nd-1st century BCE)

f. Other works of art

Subjects of some art works are based on actual art works by other artists.
Renaissance painters paid tribute to Greek art, ideas circulated within the 19th-
century French art scene, and the art movement, Dada, hijacked the course of art
history, mocking and inverting everything that came before it. Some of these art
works are a homage to some art works, some are parodies, some are responses,
and a few seem to function as all three.

An example of this is Edouard Manet's painting, Olympia. This piece caused an

uproar when Manet debuted this painting at a Paris salon in 1865. But it wasn't the
subject's nudity that scandalized viewers - it was her steely, straight ahead gaze
and details like the flower and shawl that suggest she's a courtesan.

The image has been taken up by a number of artists over the years, including Paul
Gaugin, whose 1892 painting, Spirit of the Dead Walking shows a subject who is, in
the words of Dr. Jeanne S.M. Willette, "flipped over opposite of Manet's Olympia,
denied the autonomy and the confrontation of the courtesan of the Salon of 1865."

Interestingly, Manet wasn't the first artist to paint a reclining nude staring straight
back at the viewer. Olympia takes cues from Titian's Venus of Urbino, which dates
back to 1538. But apparently no one in Renaissance Italy had a problem with this
depiction, because its subject was a goddess. In fact, the painting is thought to
have been created as a sort of romantic instruction manual for the Duke of Urbino's
young wife-to-be.

III. KINDS OF SUBJECT

The following are the kinds of subject of art:

a. History

Historical events are among the favorite subjects of painters. The "Spoliarium" and
the "Blood Compact" of Juan Luna and the "Christian Virgins Exposed to the
Populace" of Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo are examples of such subjects.

b. Still life

Still life is a painting of a group of inanimate objects or non-living things placed on

a table or arranged in an indoor setting. This could be flower and fruit
arrangements, vegetables, kitchen utensils, glasses, cups, plates, and even
bottles. Its availability and capability to be organized makes still life a good
subject of painting.

c. Animals

Animals have been presented by artists from almost every period and place. In the
ancient times, animals played a big role in man's survival (hunting and gathering).
The earliest paintings discovered in several caves in Europe were those of animals.

The vigor and grace of animals in motion have captured the imagination of many
painters and sculptors. For example, carabaos, cows, and horses in the rural areas
have been the favorite subjects of Filipino artists. Likewise, the Maranaws'
legendary bird, sarimanok, is their prestige symbol and is mounted on a pole and
positioned prominently during their festivities. On the other hand, among
Christians, the dove is used to symbolize the Holy Spirit, the fish and the lamb as
symbols of Jesus Christ, the phoenix to symbolize the Resurrection, and the
peacock to symbolize immortality through Christ.

d. Figures

The human body (whether nude or clothed), and its form, structure, and flexibility
is a common subject of art. The grace and ideal proportions of the human form
were captured in religious sculpture by the ancient Greeks. To them, physical
beauty was the symbol of moral and spiritual perfection; thus they portrayed their
gods and goddesses as possessing perfect human shapes. And because they are fond
of athletics, they also represented healthy and graceful athletes in their art works.

A favorite subject among painters is the nude female figure as this was described
in the paintings of Botticelli ("Birth of Venus", Goya ("Naked Maja"), Ingres
("Odalisque"), and Manet ("Olympia").

e. Landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes

Man's physical environment, whether natural or man made has been a common
choice of subject among artists. Any of the land forms (e.g. volcano, mountain,
hill, valley, plain, plateau, cliff) can be the subject of a landscape painting.

While any of the water forms, such as the ocean, sea, river, lake, brook, pond,
waterfalls can be the subject of a seascape painting. Lastly, an aerial view of a
city or a portion of it, skylines, and traffic jams can be the subject of a cityscape
painting.

f. Everyday life

Artists are observant and show a deep concern about life around them. Many have
depicted people going about their usual ways, performing their usual tasks in their
paintings. Among these are representations of rural folk, vendors, musicians, and
children. These are called genre paintings. Anita Magsaysay-Ho, a Filipina painter,
have painted women doing their farm chores, and Vicente Manansala, a popular
Filipino painter, has painted candle vendors.

g. Dreams and Fantasies

Artists, especially the surrealists, have tried to depict dreams, as well as the
grotesque terrors and apprehensions that lurk in the depths of the subconscious.
A dream may be of a lifelike situation; it can thus be realistically represented.
Unless the artist tells us, we would not know that his work was based on dreams.
But if the picture suggests the strange, the irrational, and the absurd, we would
right away classify it as a fantasy or a dream picture, although the artist may not
have gotten the idea from a dream at all, but from the workings of his
imagination.
IV. METHODS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

The following are the methods of how to present the subject of art:

a) Realism

Realism is the method of presenting subjects as they appear in real life. The
images presented in realistic art are done in such a way that it is like our visual
experience of reality. The manner of presenting the subject depends to a large
extent on the interest, imagination, creativity, and purpose of the artist. Since no
art is even a duplicate of nature, even when the artist chooses a subject from
nature, he selects, changes and arranges details to express the idea he wants to
convey. When objects are depicted in the way they would normally appear in
nature, the presentation is said to be realistic. (For example, if an apple is the
subject, it is shown as is with either a red or green color.)

From the strict sense of the word, no work of art is truly realistic, because it is
physically difficult to have an accurate copy of what exists in the natural world.
Another level of reality where the artist has utilized very detailed elements from
nature that employ photographic touches that bring us closer to nature itself is
referred to as naturalistic, rather than realistic. An example of realistic art is
Grant Wood's "American Gothic".

b) Abstractionism

Abstractionism is drawing away from realism. Abstract means that the image has
been dramatically changed so that there is little or no association to
representational forms. An abstractionist draws away from reality as he creates his
artwork. His product is a departure from what is present in real life.

For example, when an artist becomes so interested and engrossed in one phase of
a scene that he does not show the subject at all as an objective reality, but only
his idea of it, or his feeling about it, this is referred to as abstraction. This is a
technique of simplifying and reorganizing objects and elements according to the
artist's creative expressions.

Some abstract works, enough of a likeness, have been retained to represent things.
Sometimes the original objects have been reduced to simple geometric shapes and
they can be rarely identified unless the artist has named them in his title. One of
the earliest abstract paintings is that of Wassily Kandinsky wherein he used various
colors to express emotion rather than to represent reality.

c) Surrealism
Surrealism is beyond realism. It is presenting the subject as if the subject does not
form part of the real world, but belongs to the world of dreams and fantasy. This
method was influenced by Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychoanalysis.

d) Symbolism

Symbolism is presenting the subject symbolically, that is, the artist shows his
subject as it appears in real life, but he intends to let it represent something. For
example, Guillermo Tolentino's "Oblation", a sculpture of a naked man with arms
outstretched wide and his face towards the sky, is symbolic of academic freedom.

e) Fauvism

Fauvism is optimistic realism. It is presenting the real life subject with the use of
bright colors suggesting comfort, joy, and pleasure. The colors bright red, yellow,
orange, purple, and the like are used instead of blue, black, gray, green, and
brown. For example, a tree trunk is colored orange instead of brown.

Henry Matisse, the leader of the fauve artists, formed this art movement in the
1900s. Though it was short-lived, many later artists were influenced by Matisse and
his contemporaries.

f) Dadaism

Dadaism is shocking realism. It is presenting the real life subject with the
intention to shock the audience through the exposition of the evils in society.
Derived from the French word dada meaning hobby horse, Dadaism started as a
protest art movement composed of painters and writers whose desire was to
revolutionize the outworn art traditions. Marcel Duchamp, who espoused this
desire, was the best-known Dadaist.

g) Expressionism

Expressionism and other expressionistic art movements seek to communicate on an

emotional level by using distortions of representational images. It is emotional
realism. It is presenting the real-life subject with the intention to express
emotions, pathos, chaos, fear, violence, defeat, morbidity, and tragedy.

Totally abstract and very free in form, it is an art done in any manner, for
example, dripping, throwing colors to fill a space, rolling colored bodies or objects
over a canvas. Edward Munch's "The Scream" is an excellent example of a work that
gives up realism to better communicate an emotional state.

h) Impressionism
Impressionism is realism based on the artist's impression. It is presenting the real-
life subject with emphasis on the impression left in the artist's mind or perception,
particularly the effect of light on the objects used as subject. Going beyond what
is real, the artist may distort color or form. For example, an apple on a table is
presented not as entirely red, but with white areas showing the spots where the
light rays fall upon. Impressionism is a late 19th century style of painting which
puts stress on capture of transient atmospheric effects, use of broken color and
color complementaries to render form, and direct observation of subjects
emphasized.

Painters in this genre include Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas,
Rembrandnt van Rijn, and Vincent van Gogh.

i) Futurism

Futurism is realism in the future. It is presenting a subject that relates not to the
present, but to the future. An example is a painting of a futuristic machine or a
futuristic human being such as an android. In the art of film-making, "Star Wars",
"Star Trek", and "Avatar" are some films considered as futuristic.

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Among the different methods of presenting a subject, choose three and make it.
You may use digital art or tangible medium to create such three artworks.

LESSON 2. CONTENT IN ART

As we learn more about how art affects our lives, it is fascinating to learn why a
particular artist choose to produce such. We will always have a question in our
thoughts about what the artist intends to express simply by gazing at his artwork.
It may appear perplexing how the artist put each element together and completed
his work of art. Any artwork's heart is entirely incorporated in its content.

The content of art is the meaning, message, and/or feeling imparted by a work of
art. This is not the same thing as the subject matter the work depicts. Content is
inextricably linked with form, which refers to the pictorial aspects of art. It is the
mass of ideas associated with each artwork and communicated.
Further, it refers to what the artist expresses or communicates on the whole in his
work. It differs from subject of art which refers to the objects depicted by the
artist. Sometimes, it is referred to as the “impact” or “meaning” of the artwork,
which is equivalent to “theme” in literature. It reveals the artist’s attitude toward
his subject.

I. FACTUAL

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.

For example, in Albrecht Durer's painting "A Young Hare," it is evident that the
object depicted in the painting is, as the title suggests, a young hare. The hare is
painted in a hyperrealist style, similar to a photograph.

The scientific information in the painting is astounding, as is Durer's use of texture

and light to bring his subject to life. He not only highlights the ears and highlights
the tips of each hair across the body, but he also imbues the animal with a warm
golden light that brings the eye to life.

II. CONVENTIONAL

The conventional meaning refers to the special meaning that a certain object or
color has for a particular culture or group of people. For example, the flag is the
agreed-upon symbol for a nation. The Cross is a Christian symbol of faith, while the
wheel is the Buddhist symbol for the teachings of Gautama Buddha.

In Butinone's painting of a mother and a child, the halo around the head of the
mother and her child represents innocence. Halos are often seen in paintings
depicting saints in Christian religion. Further, the brown coat of the mother
symbolizes humility and earthiness, while the white garment worn by the child
represents purity of the soul.

III. SUBJECTIVE

An individual's reaction to an art work is based on and influenced by personal

feelings, tastes, or opinions. Art is created for beauty and emotional reaction
being appreciated by individuals, using personal feelings and tastes to form an
opinion. The individual artist may consciously or unconsciously employ a private
symbolism based on an association of certain objects, actions, or colors with past
experiences, etc.

David Smith's sculpture, "Pillar of Sunday", uses a lot of private symbolism of his
childhood memories related to the events, rituals, foods, and sounds that he
associated with the Sundays of his boyhood. Instead of leaves on a tree, he used
birds and an inscribed heart to symbolize his memories.
 IV. KEEPING THE ART

Contextually speaking, Philippines showcase different cultural and artistic

creations that are originally crafted for respective purposes as well as seasons.
These artworks that are our very own must be recognized most especially by the
younger generations. Our pride for the Filipino artists and artworks must be one of
the priorities in the education sector.

National Pride and Glory

Nations keep art for several reasons. Consider the San Agustin Church (built from
1586-1607), the city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and Banaue Rice Terraces, which was
declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, or the Spoliarium by Juan Luna. In
addition, nations keep art because it is good for the economy and business. The
presence of major archaeological, religious, or architectural sites stimulates the
entire economy, attracts tourists, and generates thousand of local jobs.

Museums and Private Collections

Museums are the repositories of much of the art in most countries and make them
available for public viewing through either permanent or temporary exhibitions. A
museum does not sell works of art, but it essentially holds them in public trust,
and engages in varying levels of education and conservation practices. On the
other hand, private collections are older than museums. Since the earliest times,
rulers, nobles, and priests have collected art and kept it in palaces or temples for
aesthetic pleasure, personal or ritual use, or display of power. Museums often
reflect the cultural milieu of their founding.

Preservation and Restoration

Because art is precious, tremendous human and financial resources are spent to
protecting it from the ravages of time, the environment, industrial byproducts,
and even other humans. Preservation and restoration are mutually essential
components in the ongoing strengthening of the Philippines' culture and arts.

SUMMATIVE TEST

I. JUMBLED WORDS. Arrange the letters to form the correct words for every item
provided. Comprehend each given description to have the correct word for it.
 1. TRA SI OTN TUENAR - art is purely man-made. It is a creation of man
utilizing his thoughtful skill and artistry, which undergoes process and
planning.
2. RAT SI NVIURELAS - art is everywhere; wherever men have lived together,
art has sprung up among them as a language charged with feelings and
significance.
3. TAR SA PXEESISONR - out of man's need to express himself, art has grown.
4. ATR SA A ROMF FO CNITORAE - man has been led by an innate craving to
create objects that are delightful to perceive.
5. CHIRGAP RTA – the fine and applied arts of representation, decoration, and
writing or printing on flat surfaces together with the techniques and crafts
associated with them.
6. NARITUATIIL - art pieces that were made to perform certain functions to
make our lives comfortable fall under this classification.
7. LCSAOI NCUFITSNO - art, which is the quality, production, and expression of
what is beautiful, or more than ordinary significance, is closely related to
every aspect of social life.
8. RPCATCILA STAR - refer to an art or craft that serves ordinary or human
needs.
9. CNOTNET FO RTA - the meaning, message, and/or feeling imparted by a
work of art.
10. UBSTEJC FO THE RTA - the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the
artist.

II. ENUMERATION

1-5. Mention at least 5 methods of Presenting the Subject

6-10. Mention at least 5 Kinds of Subject
11-15. Mention at least 5 Sources of Subject
16-20. Mention the 5 forms of Practical Arts

III. ESSAY PART

1. What are the four assumptions of art? Give a brief explanation of each
assumption. (5 points)
2. Why does art demand expression and creation? (5 points)
3. Why is creativity necessary in art making? (5 points)