SAN JOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

San Jose, Malilipot, Albay

GE 6: ART APPRECIATION
Module 1: Introduction to Art Appreciation

Name: Sheena Mae B. Arciga

Course/Year/Block: BSED Science 3A

What is Art? Introduction and Assumptions

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. Why do people have difficulty in coming up with a single definition of art?

Answer: There is difficulty in coming up with one unified definition for the word
art because art is subjective and depends on the appreciation or insights of the
audience or viewer. And also because art is the expression of man’s
imaginations and I do believe art is as boundless and limitless as man’s
imagination.

b. “Art is subjective. It depends on how one perceives the art work.” To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

Answer: I do believe that art is subjective and therefore depends on how one
perceives the artwork. Although the insights of the artists and what they want
the audience to see also affect the interpretation of an artwork, the significance
one individual puts into an artwork still depends on one’s personal opinion
depending on how they see the artwork and their personal interpretation of its
meaning and value.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. How can we see art in our everyday lives?

Answer: I do believe that art is everywhere around us, it could be the graffiti
on the street walls of populated cities. It could be found in natural landscapes
and sceneries. Or even in the structure of buildings and stadiums. It could even
be found in the dresses and suits sported by people walking down the streets
of metropolitan cities. Some people find art in the retro houses which stand
strong for such long times. So how can we see art in our everyday lives? I think
we must first have the heart to appreciate every little thing around us because
art is everywhere but we often overlook them as something common or
ordinary.

b. If you were an artist, what kind of artist would you be? Are there specific themes
or messages that you would want your art to contain?

Answer: If I were an artist, I think I’d be a painter because painters capture

moments and makes them everlasting. I am especially interested in Chinese
and Japanese paintings. I think I’m drawn towards paintings expressing
solitude and longing for a long forgotten moment of happiness, or paintings
depicting nostalgia and sentimentality.
III. ANSWER KEY
a. If you were an artist, what kind of artist would you be?
 Answer: If I were an artist, I think I’d be a painter because painters capture
moments and makes them everlasting.

b. Why is art not nature?

Answer: Art is man’s expression of his reception of nature. Art is man’s way of
interpreting nature.

c. Why is art ageless and timeless?

Answer: Art has been crafted by all people regardless of origin, time, place,
and that it stayed on because it is liked and enjoyed by people continuously. A
great piece of work will never be obsolete.

d. Why does art involve experience?

Answer: A work of art then cannot be abstracted from actual doing. In order to
know what an artwork is, we have to sense it, see or hear it, and see AND hear
it.

Art Appreciation: Creativity, Imagination, and Expression

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. In the present context, why is being creative becoming more of a challenge?

Answer: I believe it’s a result of the great number of work of arts produced for
several centuries that we now face a time when people no longer want to take
risks and explore new ways of artistic expression. In other words, our ways of
making art is now established and has solid foundations that we become
complacent and no longer strive and make efforts in discovering beyond what
we are used to making and seeing.

b. In what ways can imagination produce art? In what ways can art inspire
imagination?

Answer: Imagination produces art in a way that an artist puts into a work of art
his ideals and the things he has conceived in his mind bringing his imaginations
into the art that he produces be it a painting or performing arts or sculptures. At
the same time, such work of arts inspires other artists to imagine more than
what has been currently conceived by other artists developing new sides of
stories depicted in paintings and other art works.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. If given a chance, what art field are you going to explore? Why?

Answer: The art field that I want to explore is the field of visual arts specially
watercolor paintings. Because watercolor paintings results to surreal images of
fairy tale-like sceneries using elegant strokes of brushes as seen in Chinese
paintings.

b. How can you utilize the arts to express yourself, your community, and your
relation to others?
 Answer: I think whenever I paint or create things, I always see the influence of
my surroundings to what I create. As an aspiring artist, I often express myself
through the works that I make as it is one of the ways that I release pent up
stress. Of course the community and the relations I have with others also fuel
my desire to create more works that will depict my experiences as well as the
culture I am immersed in.

Functions and Philosophical Perspectives on Art

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. Does art necessarily have an end?

Answer: I think art will have an end, not until everything ceases to exist only
then will art end. Because earth in itself is also a work of ark made by some
kind of unseen all powerful force, even if man dies and artists are no more, art
will still remain. But the question is, who will appreciate art, if humans are no
more?

b. When an artist creates a work of art, does he have an end in mind?

Answer: I think it depends on the intent of the artist, some artists create
something only to express themselves regardless of what effects the work has
on the people who has seen them. But some artists create something to
influence people and create societal change and these artists probably did not
see or does not have an end in mind as to what extent the effect it has on the
people and the community.

c. Do all artworks have a function? Does the function make an object a work of
art?

Answer: I don’t think all artwork has to have a function for it to be called a work
of art. Although adding function to the artwork does make it more valuable, it
does not necessarily make something a work of art just because it has some
use to it. Some works of art do not have functions and yet are still considered
master pieces.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. What art form/artwork has changed something in your life? Why?

Answer: I think the art form that has changed something in my life is the art in
the form of fiction stories depicting life, its tragedies and triumphs. Because as
I read through these works, pictures of scenes often play in mind almost like
movies in theatres, only that these images in my mind are more intuitive as if I
am the one experiencing those joys and pains.

b. Do you think that art can be a catalyst for change?

Answer: I do think that art can inspire change in the society. As what our
ancestors have done, using art and symbolism to produce change in the
government, in politics and many other areas of our society. To criticize
ideologies that are already outdated, opening the eyes of people to the need
for reform.
 Subject and Content

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. What are the hurdles of accessing art in terms of its subject and content?

Answer: The hurdles of accessing art in terms of its subject and content lies in
the fact the viewers of such works of art have varying perceptions of what the
content is all about. Such interpretations will also be affected by the inspiration
of artist in making the artwork. Thus, interpreting an artwork and giving meaning
to its content is not as easy as it seems because we cannot take the meaning
of an artwork at face value.

b. Where do artists source their subjects?

Answer: I think the source of an artist’s inspiration lies in the environment and
experiences that he is a part of. It could be nature, beliefs, traditions and
interactions with others.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. Why do you think that in the Philippines, people are not engaged in art
activities?

Answer: As someone who once dreamed of becoming an artist, I know just

how arduous the path one must traverse in order to become a full-fledged artist.
Especially in our country where one must find a stable high paying job in order
to survive day to day living. Although highly renowned artists do get paid large
sums for remuneration, up and coming artists have to endure long days of not
getting commissioned works, living off of small savings earned from small scale
exhibits. And even before becoming an expert in one’s personal style, one must
spend lots of money for buying art materials which are quite pricey. So for a
country which does not put significance and support in honing young
generations of artists, it’s no wonder very few engaged with art activities.

b. How important is perception in engaging in art?

Answer: Perception is important when engaging in art because it is the

perception of both the artist and the viewer that contributes to the meaning of
the art piece and determines the value we put towards that work of art.

III. ANSWER KEY

a. What are the hurdles of accessing art in terms of its subject and content?

Answer: The notion that in order for one to appreciate art, one must be able to
extract a specific image and derive a certain meaning from the work.

b. Where do artists source their subjects?

Answer: Artists can source their subjects from nature, religious connections,
and history.

c. Name an example of an artwork and speculate on the content of the artwork

based on its factual, conventional, and subjective meanings.

Answer: Spoliarium
  Factual Meaning: Spoliarium is a Latin word referring to the
basement of the Roman Colosseum where the fallen and dying
gladiators are dumped and devoid of their worldly possessions.
The paintings show how once the gladiators die, for the
entertainment of Rome, they’re just dumped there and the
spectators just take their possessions while their loved ones cry
and mourn.
 Conventional meaning: The majority of the color scheme is
black and brown shades with the rest is subtle touches of blue,
red, and white. The choice of color effectively contributes to the
painting’s realism and naturalism and the tragedy it depicts.
 Subjective Meaning: The painting shows Juan Luna’s socio-
cultural and political views and also his affections. Juan Luna
used this as a form to indiscreetly tell the suffering of the
Filipino’s from the Spaniards as they also sort of treat them like
the Roman gladiators.

Artists and Artisans

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. What makes the art world a complex system?

Answer: Based from the readings, I can say that the reason why the art world
is a complex system is because artists and artisans work not as an individual
but rather as a group of people interacting with one another and dedicating
themselves to improving the type of style and art that they are drawn to. The
differences in cultural and socio economic views of the artists and artisans also
contribute to the complexity of the art world.

b. Why does the process of creating an artwork have an anarchic dimension to

it?

Answer: The process of creating an artwork does not have controlling rules or
principles to give order as to how it is particularly created because the creation
of an artwork is dependent on the kind of inspiration the artist has in creating
his artwork. By not putting conventional rules when creating artworks, the
artists are able to fully express their creativity in making a piece of art.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. How relevant still are the awards National Artists and GAMABA, not only to the
art world, but also to the Filipino society as a whole?

Answer: Awards given by authorities in the world of art here in the Philippines
are still very relevant in today’s society. Through these awards and recognition,
Filipino artists are encouraged to do more and be better at their own craft and
it is very important because it allows for conservation and enrichment of our
cultures and traditions through representations and depictions in the works of
Filipino artists.

b. What do you think is the role of the artist in the 21st century society?

Answer: I think the role of 21st century artists in today’s society is to preserve
the rich traditions we have as a country as well as to create innovative ways in
 creating new styles of artworks that will introduce the Philippines to the world
as a country of awe-inspiring artists.

c. Analyze and critique state-sponsored recognition for artists and cultural

workers. What do you think are some of the considerations that must be
addressed with regard to these?

Answer: Although recognition for artists and cultural workers do give them the
inspiration to do better in the craft that they are doing, without the proper
financial and institutional support provided to them, it will be for naught. As
artists struggle to stay afloat and try their best to encourage the young
generation to use their talents and abilities in enriching and spreading the
stunning culture of the Philippines, they do need the support of the government
by putting up funds and support groups to support them in continuing their
works as cultural ambassadors of art in the country.

Elements and Principles of Art

I. DISCUSSION POINTS
a. In two-dimension artworks such as paintings, cite the elements and principles
of art that when utilized in the composition of the artwork, will help simulate or
suggest the three-dimensional space.

Answer: In two-dimensional artworks such as painting, the element of art that

helps in simulating a three-dimensional space is the element of perspective.

b. How can hybrid artworks expand imagination?

Answer: Hybrid Artworks expand imagination by encouraging experimentation

and innovations in art. Making it possible to use any kind of material or medium
that often result to new ideas and concepts.

II. PROCESSING QUESTIONS

a. To what extent does the knowledge of the principles of art relevant to the
knowledge of the elements of art?

Answer: Knowledge in both principles and elements of are still very relevant
as it helps us to understand how an artwork was created and how to create a
better artwork that depicts the emotions and meanings we wanted to express
through the use of various techniques utilizing the principles and elements of
art.

b. What is the relevance of combined arts and hybrid art in the 21st century?

Answer: Combined arts and hybrid arts are relevant in the 21st century in a
sense that these forms of art give freedom to the artist as to how they can better
express their thoughts through their artworks without particular limitations or
conventions on the use of subjects and symbols. In other words, these forms
of art encourage creativity and freedom of expression.