NATURE OF ARTS
ART AS VIEWED BY PHILOSOPHY
Why should we study humanities?
What is Philosophy?
Humanities came from the Latin word " humanus"
which means human, cultured and refined.
Explains all aspect of human existence
To be human is to show characteristics of rationality,
benevolence, and care.
To be cultured and refined is to show good tastes
and manners indicative of good, proper education.
Aesthetics
The philosophical study of beauty and taste.
PHILOSOPHERS
PLATO
Fundamental Principles of the Humanities
ARISTOTLE
Human nature is inherently good
KANT
Individuals are free and are capable of making
choices
WHAT IS ART?
PLATO (428 – 347 BCE)
Human potential for growth and development is
virtually unlimited
1. Art is imitation
2. Art is dangerous.
Self-concept plays an important role in growth and
development.
ARISTOTLE ( 384- 322 BCE)
Individuals have an urge for self-actualization
What is good and beautiful?
Reality is defined by each person
Imitation:
Individuals have a responsibility to both themselves
and to others
1. Things and event which have been
or still are
The word art comes the Aryan root ar, means “ to
join” or “ put together”
Latin term “ sars, artis” mean everything that is
artificially made or composed by man.
2. Things which are said to be seen
are probable
3. Things which essentially are
Immanuel Kant ( 1724-1804)
Art particularly refers to the skilful arrangement or
composition of some common but significant qualities
of nature such as sounds, colors, lines, movements,
words, stone, and wood to express feelings, thoughts,
imaginations, and dreams in an amazing, meaningful
and enjoyable way ( Adams, 2002).
Functions of Art
The human
need for
expression
The social need
for display,
celebration
and
communication
The physical
needs for
functional
objects.
Beauty
Taste can be:
Subjective
Universal
Artist and Artisans
To express
himself
To share to
others
The Art Forms
To make life
better
Painting
Music
Sculpture
Dance
Architecture
literature
Theatre
PART 2
❖ MYTHOLOGY
SUBJECT AND CONTENT
Art Subject Defined
Subject
⮚ Refers to what the work represents
❖ DREAMS AND FANTASY
⮚ It could be a person, an object, a scene or an
event.
⮚ Some artworks have subject and others do not
Representational or Objective Arts
❖ TECHNOLOGY
⮚ The artworks that have subjects
Non- representational or Non- objective Arts
⮚ Do not have subjects
Source of Subject
⮚ Art is human expression and the artists’
choice of subject are clues to their inner world
which tells viewers how their art should be
interpreted.
Ways of Presenting the Subject
Naturalism
•
In Greek (Hellenistic) art, gods and heroes,
looked and behaved like human beings. Greek
deities were almost always depicted in
idealized human form. In other words, one
would immediately recognize that these
images were imitated from the human figure.
•
In fine art panting, "naturalism" describes a
true-to-life style which involves the
representation or depiction of nature
(including people) with the least possible
distortion or interpretation. There is a quasiphotographic quality to the best naturalistic
paintings: a quality which requires a minimum
amount of visual detail.
The ff. are the source of artists’ inspiration for their
works:
❖ NATURE
❖ PEOPLE
❖ HISTORY
Venus De Milo Ignudi detail from the Sistine Chapel Ceiling
❖ LEGENDS
Realism
•
This depicts the artist’s attempt of portraying
the subject as it is.
•
Naturalism is often confused with "realism", a
true-life style of art which focuses on social
realities and observable facts, rather than the
ideals and aesthetics.
b. Elongation
Potato Eaters by Vincent Van Gogh
`
- the subject is stretched vertically and/ or
some parts lengthened to give the impression of
thinnes.
The Gleaners
The Stone Breakers
c. Mangling
Naturalism vs Realism
- This may not be common in paintings but
may be popular in other art forms (sculpture, theatre
and film).
- Artists show subject as cut, lacerated,
mutilated or hacked with repeated blows.
Abstraction
•
Abstract means “to move away or to separate
from”.
•
moves away from reality
•
Abstract art is art that does not attempt to
represent an accurate depiction of a visual
reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms
and gestural marks to achieve its effect
d. Cubism
- use of figures: cone, cylinder, sphere, square,
cube, circle in place of real pictorial elements
Symbolism
•
A symbol is defined as visible sign of
something invisible such as an idea or quality.
•
A message the artist may be trying to convey
aside from what is obviously observed.
•
This adds a mysterious quality to the artwork
that invites viewers to uncover.
Very Embarrassing Father and Son
a. Distortion
- form of abstraction results when the figures
have been so arranged that its proportion differ
significantly from reality.
- the subject is misshapen or twisted out.
•
This style of art depicts the emotions aroused
by objects and events
•
Subjects presented involve chaos, sadness,
tragedy and defeat.
Mona Lisa (LDV)
The “Creation of
Adam” segment on
the Sistine Chapel
ceiling (Michelangelo)
Fauvism
•
Literally means “wild beasts”
•
The fauves did not express ethical,
philosophical or psychological themes but
painted pictures of comfort, joy and pleasure.
•
Use bright colors
Futurism
•
Artists of this movement wanted their work to
capture the speed and force of the modern
industrial society.
•
Highlight the technologies of modern life
Surrealism
•
It emphasized the activities of subconscious
mind.
•
Attempt to show man’s inner mind and how
he may perceive his outside world.
•
Deep, true and ugly part of human nature
Expressionism
•
Expressionists believe that man needs
spiritual rebirth for him to correct defects that
ruin the society.