Module 1
Arts and Humanities
Humans defined – comes from the Latin word HUMANU means: Human,
cultured, and refined.
“man is the measure of all things” implying humanities emphasizes dignity
and worthiness of man and recognizes creative and expressions – Estolas,
Josefina V.(2008)/
To be human: rationality, kindness, and tenderness.
Scholasticism – metaphysics and religion.
Humanities meant primary philosophy and theology.
19th century witnessed a certain loss of prestige.
A work of art as the record of a particular artist’s vision. He has selected
something he has seen, felt, or thought and has recorded it in an
arrangement of design, color, line, mass, tones, or words which satisfies his
aesthetic purpose. Hence, it is the product of his unique personality.
The genius of Leonardo da Vinci, died in 1519s age:67.
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Mona Lisa
Man in red chalk.
Vitruvian man
Portrait of Ginevra de Benci
The last supper
Scope of art
Humanities branch of learning stems from humanism in 13th century.
These include visual arts (painting, sculpture and architecture), auditory
arts (music and literature) and performing arts (drama and dance)
considered as part of humanities. ( Gayeta, Macario, G. et. al. 2010)
Factors Affecting Art Style
A number of factors determine a particular style.
1. Historical Factors - When an artist searches for new perceptions Early
Gothic begins in French art about 1150, in German art about 1230. The
Renaissance in Italy starts around 1400, some eighty years earlier than the
corresponding period in the north. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables depicts
the French Revolution. Rizal’s novels, Juan Luna’s “Spolarium” depicts
Filipino Oppression by the Spaniards.
2. Geographical Factors - Artists are conditioned by their
nationality. artistic expression may be typically Dutch, French, or
English. More particularly, in Italy they may be Florentine, Roman, or
Venetian; in Germany, south German or north German.
3. Political Factors - In France, from the mid-seventeenth through the
eighteenth century, art was the servant of king and court. Hence, personal
vanity and frivolous rivalry were motivating factors.
4. Psychological factors - Works produced by the artists are affected by
their psychological make-up or frame of mind. Edward Munch’s “The Sick
Child” shows an effect of his unfortunate childhood experience. Vincent Van
Gogh painted Starry Night which was painted while Vincent was in asylum
and his behavior was very erratic at that time due to the severity of his
attacks.
5. Sociological Factors - With social and economic change, At different
periods, art has been subject to the church, the nobility, and the
wealthy middle class, as in seventeenth-century commercial Holland.
6. Ideational Factors - Spiritual movements such as Christianity, the
Renaissance, Humanism, the Counter Reformation, and the Enlightenment.
The famous Bernini arcade in front of St. Peter’s, which was built during
the Counter Reformation, not only flings out its mighty arms to embrace the
faithful. Sigmund Freud proposed ideas that have influenced surrealist
painters. The idea that the human body is the most beautiful figure to
present as an art subject gave rise to the school of thought called nudism.
7. Technical Factors - The importance of technique has been
overemphasized in the past. Modern piano technique with its cult of the
virtuoso could not exist before the modern piano was perfected.
8. Economic Factors - The availability of financial and other resources
plays an important role in the life of an artist. An abstract painter may shift
to realism if his paintings do not sell - Van de Bogart, Doris (1970)
Module 2
Nature of art and art appreciation
What is art?
1. Art is derived from the Latin word “ars”, meaning ability or skill.-J.V.
Estolas
2. Art is taken from the Italian word “artis,” which means
craftsmanship, skill, mastery of form, inventiveness, and the associations
that exist between form and ideas, between material and technique. A. Tan.
3. Art is a product of man’s need to express himself.- F. Zulueta
4. Art is concerned itself with the communication of certain ideas
and feelings by means of sensuous medium, color, sound, bronze, marble,
words, and film.- C. Sanchez
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the beauty of the
world.-Plato.
6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind-one which demands
for its own satisfaction and fulfilling, a shaping of matter to new and
significant form.- John Dewey.
7. Art is the skillful arrangement or composition of some common
but significant qualities of nature such as colors, sounds, lines, movements,
words, stones, wood, etc., to express human feelings, emotions, or thoughts
in a perfect meaningful and enjoyable way.- Panizo and Rustia.
Art appreciation - the ability to interpret or understand man-made arts
and enjoy them either through actual and work-experience.
Assumptions of Art - Assumptions on something means to put it to a test
as to think whether it is true or not.
1. Art is universal. In every country and in every generation, there is always
art.
2. Art is not nature. Art is made by man, whereas nature is given around
us, God’s creation. Art therefore, is man’s way of interpreting nature.
3. Art involves experience. By experience, we mean the “actual doing of
something” (Dudley et. al. 1960) it also affirmed that art depends on
experience
Understanding Arts - In a more specialized sense, art applies to
activities that express aesthetic ideas by the use of skill and imagination in
the creation of objects.
1. Art as a skill or Mastery. The term art is used to simply refer to skill
or mastery
2. Art as a process or a product of a creative skill. arranging the
aesthetic elements in artistically interesting and appealing manner.
3. Art as a universal language. The language of art is diverse. has its
own artistic elements such as literature, music and theatre.
4. Art as a representation of reality. Art is a reflection or a mirror of
reality.
5. Art reflects the characteristics of a period. presented in idealized
“flat” forms. The focus on the material world is shown in the “threedimensional” reality of landscapes. During medieval period.
6. Art shows the manner of existence of the people of long ago. We
gain awareness that the people during the Old Stone Age lived in caves and
that they manifested their artistry by drawings and sketching.
Creativity, Imagination, and Expression
Module 3
Subject and functions of art
The Functions of Art - To find meaning in art, it must have or serve a
utilitarian purpose and be capable of serving the purpose for which it was
designed.
The non-motivated purposes of art are those that are integral to being
human, transcend the individual, or do not fulfil a specific external purpose.
1. Basic human instinct for harmony, balance, rhythm. internal
appreciation of balance and harmony and therefore an aspect of being
human beyond utility.
2. Experience the mysterious. may often come unmotivated as one
appreciates art, music and poetry.
“ The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the
source of all true art and science.”- Albert Einstein
3. Expression of the imagination. provides a means to express the
imagination in non-grammatic ways.
4. Ritualistic and symbolic functions. In many cultures, art us used in
rituals, performances and dances as a decoration or symbol. have no specific
utilitarian purpose.
Motivated Functions of Art - refer to intentional, conscious actions on the
part of the artists or creator. may be to bring about political change, to
comment on an aspect of society.
1. Communication. Art, at its simplest, is a form of communication. have
an intent or goal directed toward another individual. Emotions, moods,
and feeling are also communicated through art.
EX: Illustrative arts, scientific illustration, Maps
2. Art as entertainment. Art may seek to bring about a particular
emotion or mood, for the purpose of relaxing or entertaining the
viewer.
EX: industries of Motion Pictures and Video Games.
3. The Avante-Garde. Art for political change. One of the defining
functions of early twentieth-century art has been to use visual images to
bring about political change.
Dadaism, Surrealism, Constructivism, Abstract Expressionism.
4. Art as a “free zone”. removed from action of the social censure. its
critical and liberating. (Social inquiry, activism, subversion,
deconstruction. etc...)
5. Art for social inquiry, subversion, and/or anarchy. similar to art for
political change. subversive or deconstructivist. question society without
any specific political goal.
EX: Graffiti on public viewable walls, buildings, buses, trains, and bridges
usually without permission.
may also be illegal when they break laws.
6. Art for social causes. used to raise awareness for a large variety of
causes.
EX: ocean conservation, women empowerment, raise awareness about
pollution, etc.
7. Art for psychological and healing purposes. used by art therapists,
psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists as art therapy.
EX: The Diagnostic Drawing Series
8. Art for propaganda or commercialism. Art is often utilized as a form
of propaganda, and thus can be used to subtly influence popular conceptions
or mood. manipulate the viewer into a particular emotional or
psychological response toward a particular idea or object.
9. Art as a fitness indicator. the ability of the human brain by far
exceeds what was needed for survival in the ancestral environment.
The subject of art - ask is “What is it?” or “What does it show” Somehow,
they expect to see recognizable images in these works of art. perception of
the “meaning” or composition.
The subject of art refers to any person, object, scene, or event described or
represented in a work of art.
Content is the communication of ideas, feelings and reactions connected to
the subject.
The factual meaning is the literal statement or the narrative content.
The conventional meaning refers to the special meaning that a certain
object or color has for a particular culture.
The subjective meaning is any personal meaning consciously or
unconsciously conveyed by the artist using a private symbolism.
2 types of subjects in arts:
1. Representational or objective arts - arts that have subject. Painting,
sculpture, the graphic arts, literature, and other theatre arts
2. Non-representational or non-objective arts - do not present descriptions,
stories, or references to identifiable objects or symbols.
Sources and Classifications of Subject
source their subjects from nature, history, Greek and Roman mythology,
Judeo-Christian tradition, sacred oriental texts, religious connections and
other works of art.
1. Landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes - fascinated with their physical
environment.
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landscapes and seascapes favorite subjects of Chinese
nature, meditation Japanese painters
Philippine countryside Filipino painters like Fernando Amorsolo
painting of pure landscapes without human figures Europeans.
2. Still life’s inanimate objects arranged in an indoor setting, flower and fruit
arrangements, dishes of food pats and pans, musical instruments, and music
sheets.
3. Animals. They have been represented by artists from almost every age
and place. The carabao, The Maranaws have an animal form of sarimanok.
4. Portraits. People have always been intrigued by the human face as an
index of the owner’s character. As an instrument of expression.
5. Figures. The sculptor’s chief subject has traditionally been the human
body, nude or clothed.
6. Everyday Life. Artists have always shown a deep concern about life
around them.
7. History and Legend. History consists of verifiable facts, legends of
unverifiable ones.
8. Religion and Mythology. Art has always been a handmaiden of religion.
9. Dreams and Fantasies. Dreams are usually vague and illogical.
MODULE 4
INTRODUCTION TO AESTHETICS
Main points of modernist aesthetics
1.
Aesthetic experience is non-utilitarian
2.
AE is detached from ordinary self-interested pursuits (is disinterested)
3. Works of art are made to be viewed aesthetically—and so just to be
enjoyed (For no other purpose)
4.
Everyone can appreciate art just by adopting the aesthetic point of view
5. Artists see things in a unique way and creatively find innovative ways of
communicating that vision to us
6. Artists show us how to look at the world, how to understand ourselves,
who we are
7.
Works of art express these unusual ideas of artists
8. Great works of art must be innovative and creative, expressing new
ideas in new ways
9. The history of art is the history of these great innovations by these great
artists
10. Art is not hard to understand—it just requires that we adopt the
aesthetic point of view
Historical Introduction to Aesthetics
The story of aesthetics begins with Hobbe’s claim that all human perception
is self-interested.
Plato - A good example of Plato’s understanding of beauty can be found in
the Symposium. the Form of Beauty that is the object of love.
Plotinus - like Plato, thought that the experience of beauty itself is not a
sensuous experience but an intellectual one. theory of beauty and
consequently In the theory of aesthetic experience.
St. Thomas Aquinas (354-430 AD) - understanding of beauty is not an
unworldly one; he defines beauty as that which pleases when seen.
The 18th century: Taste and the decline of beauty - It is during this
time that philosophers provided the basis for aesthetics in its modern
form.
Baumgarten - the word aesthetics had merely meant “sensibility” or
“responsiveness to stimulation of the senses” in its use by ancient writers.
Kant - theory of beauty can be summarized in a sentence: A judgment of
beauty is a disinterested, universal, and necessary judgment
concerning the pleasure which everyone ought to derive from the
experience of form.
David Bailly painting pointers.
“…vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas…”
“…vanity of vanities; all is vanity…”
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biblical passage taken from Ecclesiastes (1:2)
great Dutch still life and vanitas painter David Bailly.
born in Leiden in 1584
“Vanitas Still Life with a Portrait of a Young Painter”
Completed when he was 66 died 72.
housed in the Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden.
It is a fascinating painting full of symbolism.
To the left self portrait of David in his early twenties.
right hand he holds a maulstick, or mahlstick
his other hand he holds upright on the table a framed oval portrait of
himself.
painting simply reminds us of the transience of life.
portrait of his wife Agneta in her younger days
ghost-like portrait of a woman, en grisaille – painting entirely shade
of grey
standing figure of Saint Stephen bound to a tree, pierced with arrows Saint Stephen and the plague, which killed so many people in Europe,
including Bailly’s wife.
transience of life. Time passes. It cannot be halted. We all must
eventually die.
the young man, the aspiring artist / in shadow and we have the
portrait of the old artist.
Bubble – classic metaphor for the impermanence and fragility of life.
Franz Hals 1626 painting, The Lute Player, and a bearded man maybe
Baillys father or one of his teachers
noteworthy items indicating death such as the skull, the extinguished
candle, the tipped-over Roemer glass, the grains of sand of an
hourglass running down and the wilting flowers.
About the temporality of life