CHAPTER 1 In this module, you shall be able to have a basic introduction of what the course is all about. Primarily, you will get to know what is the technical definition of the term ‘art appreciation’ and what is its significance as a part of your course undertaking. It is said that through art we are able to open up the perception and mindset of individuals as we listen to various interpretations of a particular art. In this case, the various assumptions and nature of art will also be tackled. You will then find out how people can have multiple associations and perceptions, to the point of neglect, on art. As you reach the final part of this module, you are to look into the philosophical significance of art as stated by classic thinkers who established a prominent figure in the society. Through this, you will also know that art has a profound communicative function as it contains cognitive, social and moral substance which you may be able to find out through the Gestalt Principles. Ultimately, you will find out that through art, people are able to [Untitled image of a woman with colors on her face]. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3IQ2DP9 communicate their feelings, their infinitely varied ideas, and most intimate thoughts. Take that deep breath and buckle up as you enter the world of art, and most of all, enjoy! Course Learning Outcomes: CLO 1 Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of arts in general, including their function, value and historical significance CLO 2 Analyze and appraise works of art based on aesthetic value, historical context, tradition, and social relevance CLO 3 Create their own works of art and curate their own production or exhibit. CLO 4 Utilizing art for self-expression and for promoting advocacies. COL 5 Discover and deepen their identity through art with respect to their nationality, culture, and religion. 1 LESSON 1 What is Art Appreciation Art is a necessary component of our existence. It pervades every part of our lives and selves. We will be discussing the topic of art appreciation in this course. The phrase "art appreciation" refers to the understanding of the universal and timeless elements that distinguish all great art. It's commonly used to describe the study of visual art forms or the introduction of basic visual literacy principles. It refers to the analysis of an artwork's form for public audiences in hopes of improving their appreciation of such works of art. It can be studied independently from its subject matter, symbolism, or historical background. Art appreciation can be personal and influenced by personal inclinations for aesthetics and form, or it can be objective and based on a number of design features and principles, as well as cultural and social acceptance. Most contemporary art commentators and art historians avoid to use this word because they believe it implies that art appreciation requires insufficient critical thought. This should never be treated lightly, as we are constantly surrounded by art in our everyday lives and exemplify art in its purest form. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this lesson, you are expected to be able to achieve the following: A. Appreciate the role of art in an attempt to fully realize man’s end B. Clarify misconceptions of art Let Us Engage on This! Reflect and respond to the comprehension questions based on the following quotation. Do this in your worksheet: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Thomas Merton 1. What is the message of the quotation? 2. Do you agree with the statement of Merton? 3. Cite a specific life experience where you found and lost yourself in art. Paintings, sculptures, architecture, design, and, more recently, digital art, all fall under the umbrella of art among others. Art can be enjoyed by everybody, and because it is subjective, different art forms appeal to different people. Art appreciation, on the other hand, refers to the study and appreciation of the various art forms to which we are exposed. It can be very subjective, based on an individual's preferences and personal tastes, or objective, based on factors such as the piece's design and mastery. 2 A closer investigation into the piece's context, historical implication, and background, as well as a study of its roots, is part of art appreciation. Art is derived from the Latin word ars, which means "trade or specialized type of skill, such as carpentry, smithy, or surgery." Art encompasses varied genre and color. Its basic goal is to present a message and inflict a thought from its audience Taggart, J. [Digital image]. (n.d.). https://norsubayawan.com/elearning/ An artist’s ultimate goal is to produce an art that can speak and connect to its audience on an intimate level and is to be interpreted in various ways. Given that there is an influx of styles and trends at a rapid pace in the dynamic world of art, an artist absolutely needs to connect to its target audience in the most effective way. An artwork aims to tap the subconscious of any person who sees and experience it. There are various reasons why art appreciation is so significant in one’s life. It is an avenue to study about the time period and history of the art piece when it was created. In another perspective, an artist oftentimes reflects their own struggles and social challenges. In this way, we will be able to comprehend such societal happenings by putting ourselves in the point of view of an artist. Basically, we will be able to relate ourselves to the concerns of the artists. It is said that art is intended to elicit understanding and communication with its audience. In this approach, we tap our emotions and memories when we encounter a work of art. Art appreciation enables a conversation and understanding that there are several approaches in the interpretation of art by listening to the various ideas and opinions about it. Art has been an avenue for people to convey and express things that seems impossible to say or describe ourselves. Through its visual medium, we are able to feel joy, sadness, rage, and grief. That is why our interpretation is so crucial as a final piece in art appreciation. Through our perspective, an art work comes to life and shifts with every person who encounters it. Basically, art appreciation and analysis are significant part in our lives for the reason that it helps us value art in terms of how it connects to us and what it means to us as an individual. It highlights the background and history of the work of art as well as the artist’s biographies. It also looks into the design, technique, and expertise to critically examine it. Most of all, art appreciation promotes analysis and critical understanding, enabling us to go beyond what meets the eye. 3 Let Us Do This Practice! A. Choose ONE artwork under each given category that you are familiar with. Criticize each using the guide questions provided. Do this on your worksheet. a. Movie b. Novel c. Poem d. Music e. Architectural Structure f. A piece of clothing Guide questions a. What is it about? What is it for? b. What is it made of? c. What is its style? d. Why does this art is ageless and timeless? e. Why does this art involve experience? f. How good is this art? B. Using your mobile phone, take five pictures of different objects that you consider as an example of art. Paste them on your worksheet. C. How is art related to history? 4 LESSON 2 Assumptions and Nature of Art The assumptions and nature of art will be taken into account in this lesson. Several prominent people have had differing perspectives on what actually art means in the concept of society and life for many centuries. Art, as previously described in the first lesson, is one that is constantly present. Many people refuse to acknowledge having anything to do with the arts, although it is undeniable that life provides us with several forms and opportunities for artistic interaction. Let us delve deeper into this subject, understanding that this is a diverse undertaking. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this chapter, you are expected to be able to achieve the following: A. B. C. D. Characterize the assumptions of art; Engage better with personal experiences of and in art; Characterize artistic expression based on personal experiences; and Discuss the nature of art. Let Us Engage on This! Briefly answer this on your worksheet: In one of your encounters with art through museum visits, musical, and plays among other, have you ever felt disconnected from an artwork? Was there a point in time you did not understand what message the art was trying to convey? Explain why you think you did not understand the art. Sometimes art can be a complicated and confusing thing where we cannot make a connection or make meaning out of it. Perhaps it is better to fully understand how art is perceived based on the different assumptions about it. [Digital images of paintings that are mostly abstract]. (n.d.). https://brainly.ph/question/11304548 5 ASSUMPTIONS OF ART Art is Universal People and their social backgrounds mirror art. Art also bring forth awareness and unity among our cultural and individual differences. Countries all around the world makes use of art in order to foster mutual understanding and for cultural exchange between people. Regardless of form, all artistic creations have the same capacity to connect with anybody. We lose sight of its possibility to communicate with us when we disregard its mere existence. This reflects our political, social, and cultural processes which is why art is the most important form of communication. People, tradition, culture, unity, freedom, harmony, and understanding should all be represented through art. There is always art in every country and in every generation. Many people believe that the only things that are deemed artistic are those that were created a long time ago. This is a misunderstanding. The works of Jose Rizal and Francisco Balagtas are occasionally read in the Philippines because they are still relevant up to this day. Florante at Laura never ceases to inspire high school learners the universal and pure beauty of love. Another Filipino masterpiece is the Ibong Adarna, which unceasingly captures the wild imaginings of the youths with its everlasting and golden lessons. The Noli Me Tangere is one of the highly acclaimed novels of Dr. Jose Rizal Manebog, J. (2013). [Photograph of the book cover of Noli Me Tangere]. https://bit.ly/3HWZtIl We feel one with King David when we read the Psalms because we are one with him in his communication with God. Art is Not Nature Art is not art unless someone thinks about it and comprehends it, just as nature requires the lack of thinking to be nature. The sight from the summit of a mountain isn't art until you've seen it or taken pictures of it. Nature and Art, on the other hand, are both incredibly special and unique things that may borrow elements from one other but can never be the equivalent. 6 A French painter, Paul Cezanne, painted a scene from reality entitled Well and Grinding Wheel in the Forest of the Chateau Noir (1904). The said scene is inspired by real scene forest near Cezanne’s native province. In comparing the painting and the original scene. Cezanne changed some patterns and details quite different from the original scene from the way they were actually in the photograph. What he did is not nature. It is art. The landscape in question was inspired by a real forest near Cezanne's home province. When comparing the artwork to the original scenario, there are a few things to keep in mind. Cezanne altered numerous patterns and elements that were considerably different from the actual setting from as they appeared in the image. He did not act in accordance with nature. arbi. (n.d.). [Photograph of the Well and Grinding Well in the Forest of the Chateau Noir]. https://bit.ly/3sJ48ZL Art Involves Experience For others, getting this far without a sufficient definition of art may seem strange. Most individuals don't need a thorough definition of art. Art is nothing more than a personal experience. When we speak of experience, (Dudley et.al., 1960) we mean the “actual doing of something” and it is confirmed that experience is contingent to art. So, if a person is truly aware and understand art, a person must know it as an experience not as a fact. Then a work of art can't be separated from the act of making it. We must make sense, see, and hear an artwork in order to understand it. Art is highly personal, individual, and subjective. Our own judgement is a fundamental component of perceiving it. Understanding of art is always a value judgment in philosophical terms. Depending on who the perceiver is, his preferences, biases, and what he possesses on the inside. Let us Engage on This! Ponder on the following quotation and write your reflection on your worksheet. “The role of art as a creative work is to depict the world in a completely different light and perspective”- Jean Paul Sartre 7 NATURE OF ART Art is fundamentally a non-symbolic mode of communication that serves as a key counterbalance to language. While practically any language necessitates extensive training in the way the information is encoded into the symbols it utilizes, art can be communicated with little or no prior indoctrination. The ability to communicate without using words allows you to experiment with visual-emotional correlations. Certain colors, especially when combined or contrasted with other colors, can elicit specific feelings. Making art necessitates the presence of an artist. On a daily basis, one might notice beauty. However, not every beautiful thing which can be seen or felt is actually a work of art. Art is the result of man's creativity, imagination, and emotion. Although not everyone could be an artist, everyone can appreciate art. We can tell what is fine and lovely from what isn't, as well as what is of good quality and what isn't. As a result, we have a place in the sphere of art appreciation. Each piece of art depicts beauty in its own unique way, the type that the artist sees and wants the audience to see. The Role of Creativity in Art Making Creativity necessitates a willingness to think outside the box. Creativity is what distinguishes one work of art from another. When can we say that something is creative? When it is out of the ordinary When there is originality When we have not seen anything like it When it is not just a copy or imitation of someone’s work Nowadays, being creative can be quite challenging. Let Us Engage on This! Ponder on the following quotation and write your reflection on your worksheet. “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”- Albert Einstein Art Forms Emotions can be expressed in various ways through art. As a result, people's work is a representation of their inner selves rather than what is observed based on the outside. Visual Arts- Visual arts are works of art that are primarily visual in nature and appeal to the sense of sight. Artists create visual arts because they want to recreate what they've seen in the same way they saw it. Performance arts, applied arts, and theater are examples of other artistic disciplines that include a visual component. Paintings, drawings, lettering, printing, sculpting, and digital imaging are some examples of visual arts mediums. 8 Film- The skill of piecing together sequences of static images to create the appearance of movement is known as filmmaking. Filmmaking is both an art and a business that concentrates on its cultural, aesthetic, and social value. The following are the techniques in film-making process: a. motion picture camera, b. animation techniques, c. computer generated imagery (CGI). It intends to bring feelings, ideas, and beauty to its viewers, filmmaking stimulates or creates experiences that are beyond our imagination. Performance Art - Performance art is live art in which the artist's medium is primarily the human body, but he or she may also incorporate other forms of art such as visual art, sounds, props, into the performance. The elements of performance arts: a. setting, b. time, c. performer’s body, d. relationship between the audience and performer. Performance art is intangible, it cannot be purchased or traded like a commodity. Music- Music is a collection of coordinated sound or sounds. Making music is the process of putting sounds and tones in an order, often combining them to create a unified composition. People who make music creatively organize sounds for a desired result, like a Beethoven symphony or one of Duke Ellington's jazz songs. Music is made of sounds, vibrations, and silent moments, and it doesn't always have to be pleasant or pretty. It can be used to convey a whole range of experiences, environments, and emotions. Architecture- Architecture is the creating of beautiful buildings, whilst art is the quest and creation of beautiful things. Nonetheless, not all buildings are attractive because some only provide the functionality required, that is whe the framework, lines, shapes, and colors are not well-designed. Important elements of architecture are: a. plan, b. construction, c. design. Buildings should embody these three significant elements if they aim to merit the title architecture. Dance- Dance is a set of gestures that are choreographed to the beat of the music. Dancing is a method of expression that enables individuals to express themselves freely. Dancers are not restricted to defined routines and regulations in art expression, but they are free to create and design their own routines as long as they are graceful and beautiful. Literary Art-. Literary artists utilize language to express themselves and communicate feelings to their audience. Being a writer is not the same as being a literary artist. Professional, journalistic, academic, and other technical kinds of writing are not the only forms of literary art. It has its own style and does not adhere to any particular format or standard. Novels, poems, and biographies are examples of fiction and nonfiction. 9 Theater- Live performers offer tales or visuals of events in front of a live audience in theater. Theater art is distinguished from literary art by the fact that it is usually performed according to a script. Acting, gestures, scenery, lighting, props, sound effects, and musical score are all considered in theater, just as they are in filmmaking. Theater, like performance art, is a live performance. Musicals, comedies, tragedies, and improvisation are examples of genres. Applied Arts- The goal of applied arts is to provide aesthetic value to ordinary objects by blending style and design. Artists in this discipline infuse beauty, charm, and comfort into a variety of common objects. Industrial design, fashion design, interior design, and graphic design are all examples of this. Let Us Do This Practice! A. Respond to the following questions comprehensively. Do this in your worksheet. 1. 2. 3. 4. If you were an artist, what kind of artist would you be? What art field will you explore? Why is art not nature? How can you utilize the arts to express yourself, your community, and your relations to others? B. Using the table below, write down examples of the different art forms studied in the module. Provide ways on how these art forms express and unmask creativity from the artist. Do this in your worksheet. Types of Art Expression Example What medium was used in the form of art? Visual Arts Film Performance Art Music Architecture Dance Literary Art Theater Applied Arts 10 How does this show the artist’s creativity? LESSON 3 Philosophical Importance of Art It is alleged that one of the main purposes of art is its cognitive function. Art is a medium in the acquisition of truth. Art has even been called as the form of highest available knowledge to mankind. Science, art, and philosophy differ on the subject matter of their concern as well as the medium in which they transform, reflect, and express such subject matter. In a sense, philosophy like art, depicts man, in his world, reflects a reality in relation to man, and their relationship with other people in their day to day interactions with the world. In this lesson, you will get to know that art can be able to communicate political, spiritual, philosophical, or depict beauty, and express emotion. It can be a source of pleasure, to convey ideas, and explore perception all through the analysis and critics by renowned individuals who established their philosophical pillars in art. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this lesson, you are expected to be able to achieve the following: A. Explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspectives of art; B. Apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetics in real life scenario Art as an Imitation In Plato's book, "The Republic," he paints a picture of artists as imitators whereas art as mere imitations In his account of the ideal republic, Plato advises not to include artistic subjects in the curriculum or ban artists in the republic. In Plato's metaphysical or real-life view, things in this world are only copies of the original, eternal, and true entity found only in the World of Forms. Plato's philosophy asserts that there are two realms: the physical realm and the spiritual realm. The Physical World is the material stuff we see and interact with on a daily basis; this physical realm is changing and imperfect, as we know all too well. The spiritual realm, however, exists beyond the physical realm. Plato calls this spiritual realm the World of Forms (also called the Realm of Ideas or Realm of Ideals). Plato's Theory of Forms asserts that the physical realm is only a shadow, or image, of the true reality of the Realm of Forms. Plato believed that artists simply strengthened their beliefs in replicating and discouraging men from reaching for real beings in the World of Forms. Plato was deeply skeptical of art and the artist for two reasons: 1. It appeals to emotions, not to people's rational abilities. 2. They imitate rather than make it a reality. Art then is to be banished with the practitioners to ensure that the attitudes and behaviors of the members of the Republic are not compromised by the influence of the art. 11 For Plato, art is dangerous because it represents a trivial alternative to the actual entity that can only be achieved by reason. Art as a Representation Aristotle agreed with Plato's view that art was a form of imitation However, Aristotle saw art as an aid to philosophy in revealing truth. The kind of imitation that art does is not the opposite of achieving basic truth in the world. Unlike Plato, who thought that art was an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle conceived art to represent a possible version of reality. For Aristotle, all art does not seek to portray reality as it is, but to offer versions of what could be, or many possibilities of reality. In Aristotle’s worldview, art serves two specific purposes. Art allows us to experience pleasure. Art is also educational and has the ability to guide and teach our audience about life (perception). Art as a Disinterested Judgement In his Critique of Judgment, Immanuel Kant viewed the judgment of beauty as a cornerstone of art that can be universal despite its subjectivity. Kant realized that judgments about beauty are subjective. However, even subjective judgments are based on a common criterion for the said judgments. How can the assessment of beauty be considered objective or universal? Consider two examples: I like this picture (subjectively); This painting is stunning (objectively). The former is clearly a judgment of taste, while the latter is an aesthetic judgment. To make aesthetic judgments we need to be indifferent. In other words, we should strive to go beyond our personal tastes and preferences so that we can see art from a universal perspective. Art as a Communication of Emotion According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a major role in communicating with the audience's previous experienced emotions. Art conveys emotions, just as language conveys information to others. Art has a unique opportunity to act as a mechanism of social cohesion as a conductor of man's deepest emotions and thoughts. Art is central to human existence, providing access to the emotions of people both from the past and on the present. Let us do this practice! Choose a philosophical stand in art from the ones discussed and draw a cartoon that represent such philosophy. Write a short explanation of your artwork. Do this on your worksheet. 12 LESSON 4 Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception Our brain is very good in filling in blanks in a picture and therefore creating a whole image that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. That is why you see faces in the bathroom tiles, on the clouds, things like side walk cracks, tree leaves and so on. Indeed, our brain is wired to see logic, structure and patterns that can help us make sense of the world around us. A group of German psychologists in 1920s came up with a set of theories that tells us how people perceive the world, this was called the Gestalt Principles. In this lesson, you will find out what are the varied Gestalt Principles and how it affects our daily commune with art. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this lesson, you are expected to be able to achieve the following: A. Explain and discuss the seven Gestalt Principles B. Identify examples of each Gestalt Principle from print, online, and other media sources. Let us engage on this! Look and examine the image below. What can you observe on the image? What does your brain suggest based on what you see? Do this activity in your worksheet. Gizmodo. (n.d.). https://www.usertesti ng.com/blog/gestaltprinciples Fundamentally, Gestalt principles is grounded on the idea that the human brain will try to organize and simplify complex designs and images that has many elements, through the subconscious arranging and rearranging of such parts or elements in order to create a whole. This is done by our brain in order to better understand and make meaning of the world. 13 THE GESTALT PRINCIPLES Figure-Ground The figure-ground principle states that people instinctively perceive objects as either being in the foreground or the background. They either stand out prominently in the front (the figure) or recede into the back (the ground). “This determination will occur quickly and subconsciously in most cases. Figure/Ground lets us know what we should be focusing on and what we can safely ignore in a composition.” Said Steven Bradley, a web designer. Figure-ground perception refers to the tendency of the visual system to simplify a scene into the main object that we are looking at (the figure) and everything else that forms the background (or ground). The concept of figure-ground perception is often illustrated with the classic "faces or vases" illusion, also known as the Rubin vase. Depending on whether you [Rubin vase]. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3IL3pwF see the black or the white as the figure, you may see either two faces in profile (meaning you perceive the white color as the figure and dark color as the ground or background) or a vase in the center (meaning you see the dark color as the figure and white color as the ground or background). Similarity This principle is basically telling us that when we are presented with multiple elements, we group together the things that seems to be similar with each other regardless of their proximity. Consequently, we also tend to think that they perform the same function. The elements can be grouped according to their shape, size, and color. 14 You will see that the squares on the image are equal in space and sizes. But our brain will automatically group them by color even if there is no particular reason for the rhyme and placement in the image. This image is an example of the Similarity Principle. Chapman, C. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3sMNjgN Proximity This principle states that the elements or things we see that are closer to each other are related than the elements or things that are farther from each other. Take a look at the circles on the image. You will observe that the only thing that is separating the group from the right from those on the left is the proximity of the line. And yet, your brain will suggest that the circles on the right are three distinct groups. Chapman, C. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3sMNjgN Proximity is so powerful, it overrides color, shape, and other factors that distinguish a group of elements or objects Bradley, S. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3sMNjgN Common Region This principle is highly related to proximity. It basically states that when we see objects in the same closed region, we perceive them to be grouped together. Look at the image on the left, notice that the elements have the same proximity, color, and shape. But through the added border or visible barrier, it shows the separation of the group. [Smashing Magazine]. (n.d.). https://www.smashingmagazine.com/ 15 Continuity This principle states that the elements that are placed or arranged in a curve or a line are perceived to be more related to each other than those elements not in a curve or a line. In the image on the left, as an example, notice that the red dots in a curved line seem to be more related to the black dots in a curved line than to the red dots in a straight line. This all because your eye follows a line or a curve naturally which makes continuity a stronger signal rather than relatedness through color. [Smashing Magazine]. (n.d.). https://www.smashingmagazine.com/ Closure When we look at certain things with complex arrangement of visual elements, our brain tends to look for a singular and recognizable pattern. When you look at an image that has missing parts, you fill in the blanks so you can make a pattern that is recognizable. For example, the image on the left is just a collection of black shapes, but your mind will tell you it’s a zebra. Your mind gives you a recognizable pattern based on your background experience. Violianskyi, E. (n.d.). https://bit.ly/3CimRhV Focal Point Whatever stands out visually will get the viewer’s attention first, this is what this principle is all about. Based on the image, as an example, the first thing you noticed is definitely the red square because it is different from the black circles around it. It is the first element that gets your attention and then you move towards the other elements around it. [Smashing Magazine]. (n.d.). https://www.smashingmagazine.com/ 16 The Gestalt Principles and the World of Art As an artist, knowing how the human mind works will make it easier for you to direct people’s attention in the right place. These principles hold powers to influence the audiences’ visual perception which allows the artist to direct our attention, get us on our feet to take a specific action, and even create a behavioral change upon us. As an observer of art around the world, you will be able to organize your experience through a manner that is orderly, regular, and recognizable. This will allow you to create meaning out of the chaotic and complicated world we live in. Having a solid understanding of these principles will surely help you better express understanding when you glance up on a particular image or work of art that is of your interest. Let us do this practice! At this point, it is undeniable that art surrounds us. And these forms of art and media suggests the Gestalt Principles in one way or another. Select one Gestalt Principle from the one discussed. From the various art forms and media around you, take a picture of an example of the principle you have chosen. Paste your pictures on your worksheet and explain why it is an example of such principle. 17