Arts Appreciation BS PRELIMS

MT
Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

LESSON 1 | What Is Art: Introduction and Assumptions

Learning Outcomes Despite the seemingly overflowing instances of arts

around people, one still finds the need to see more and
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
experience consciously more, whether or unconsciously.
1. understand the role of humanities and arts in One whose exposure to music is only limited to one
man's attempt at fully realizing his end: genre finds it lacking not to have been exposed to more.
2. clarify misconceptions the art; One, whose idea of a cathedral is limited to the locally
3. characterize the assumptions of arts; and available ones, finds enormous joy in seeing other
4. engage better with personal experiences of and prototypes in Europe. Plato had the sharpest foresight
in art when he discussed in the Symposium that beauty, the
object of any love, truly progresses. As one moves
through life, one locates better, more beautiful objects
TOPIC OUTLINE
of desire (Scott, 2000). One can never be totally content
I. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?
with what is just before him. Human beings are drawn
II. ASSUMPTIONS OF ART
toward what is good and ultimately, beautiful.
A. Art is Universal
B. Art is not Nature This lesson is about this yearning for the beautiful, the
C. Art Involves Experience appreciation of the all- consuming beauty around us,
V. LET'S WRAP IT UP
and some preliminary clarifications on assumptions that
people normally hold about art.

I. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES?

OVERVIEW
For as long as man existed in this planet, he has
Art is something that is perennially around us. Some cultivated the land, altered the conditions of the fauna
people may deny having to do with the arts but it is
and the flora, in order to survive. Alongside these
indisputable that life presents us with many forms of
necessities, man also marked his place in the world
and opportunities for communion with the arts. A bank
through his works. Through his bare hands, man
manager choosing what tie to wear together with his
constructed infrastructures that tended to his needs,
shirt and shoes, a politician shuffling her music track
like his house. He sharpened swords and spears. He
while comfortably seated on her car looking for her
employed fire in order to melt gold. The initial meaning
favorite song, a student marveling at the intricate
of the word "art has something to do with all these craft.
designs of a medieval cathedral during his field trip, and
a market vendor cheering for her bet in a dance The word "art comes from the ancient Latin, ars which
competition on a noontime TV program all manifest means a "craft or specialized form of skill, like carpentry
concern for values that are undeniably, despite or smithying or surgery" (Collingwood, 1938). Art then
tangentially, artistic. suggested the capacity to produce an intended result
from carefully planned steps or method. When a man
wants to build a house, he plans meticulously to get to
what the prototype promises and he executes the steps
to produce the said structure, then he is engaged in art.
The Ancient World did not have any conceived notion of
art in the same way that we do now. To them, art only
meant using the bare hands to produce something that
will be useful to one's day-to-day life.

Ars in Medieval Latin came to mean something different.

It meant "any special form of book-learning, such as
grammar or logic, magic or astrology (Collingwood, 1938)
Figure 1. A Medieval Cathedral
It was only during the Renaissance Period that the word
reacquired a meaning that was inherent in its ancient

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

form of craft. Early Renaissance artists saw their activities person, then, is tasked to participate, if not, totally
merely as craftsmanship, devoid of a whole lot of partake in this long tradition of humanizing himself.
intonations that are attached to the word now. It was
II. ASSUMPTIONS OF ART
during the seventeenth century when the problem and
idea of aesthetics, the study of beauty, began to unfold A. ART IS UNIVERSAL
distinctly from the notion of technical workmanship,
which was the original conception of the word "art." It Literature has provided key works of art. Among the
was finally in the eighteenth century when the word has most popular ones being taught in school are the two
evolved to distinguish between the fine arts and the Greek epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Sanskrit
useful arts. The fine arts would come to mean "not pieces Mahabharata and Ramayana are also staples in
delicate or highly skilled arts, but 'beautiful"' arts" this field. These works, purportedly written before the
(Colingwood, 1938). This is something more akin to what beginning of recorded history, are believed to be man's
is now considered art. attempt at recording stories and tales that have been
passed on, known, and sung throughout the years. Art
has always been timeless and universal, spanning
generations and continents through and through.

Figure 2. Cave Paintings

"The humanities constitute one of the oldest and most

important means of expression developed by man"
(Dudley et al., 1960). Human history has witnessed how
man evolved not just physically but also culturally, from
cave painters to men of exquisite paintbrush users of the
present. Even if one goes back to the time before written
records of man's civilization has appeared, he can find
cases of man's attempts of not just crafting tools to live Figure 3. Ibong Adarna

and survive but also expressing his feelings and In every country and in every generation, there is always
thoughts. The Galloping Wild Boar found in the cave of art. Oftentimes, people feel that what is considered
Altamira, Spain is one such example. In 1879, a Spaniard artistic are only those which have been made long time
and his daughter were exploring a cave when they saw ago. This is a misconception. Age is not a factor in
pictures of a wild boar, hind, and bison. According to determining art. An"...art is not good because it is old, but
experts, these paintings were purported to belong to old because it is good" (Dudley et al., 1960). In the
Upper Paleolithic Age, several thousands of years before
Philippines, the works of Jose Rizal and Francisco
the current era. Pre-historic men, with their crude
Balagtas are not being read because they are old.
instruments, already showcased and manifested earliest
Otherwise, works of other Filipinos who have long died
attempts at recording man's innermost interests,
would have been required in junior high school too. The
preoccupations, and thoughts. The humanities, then, pieces mentioned are read in school and have remained
ironically, have started even before the term has been to be with us because they are good., They are liked and
coined. Human persons have long been exercising what adored because they meet our needs and desires.
it means to be a human long before he was even aware Florante at Laura never fails to teach high school
of his being one. The humanities stand tall in bearing students the beauty of love, one that is universal and
witness to this magnificent phenomenon. Any human pure. Ibong Adarna, another Filipino masterpiece, has
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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

always captured the imagination of the young with its moviemaker's perception of reality, be a reinterpretation
timeless lessons. When we recite the Psalms, we feel in or even distortion of nature.
communion with King David as we feel one with him in
This distinction assumes that all of us see nature,
his conversation with God. When we listen to a
perceive its elements in myriad, different, yet ultimately
kundiman or perform folk dances, we still enjoy the way
valid ways. One can only imagine the story of the five
our Filipino ancestors whiled away their time in the past.
blind men who one day argue against each other on
We do not necessarily like a kundiman for its original
what an elephant looks like. Each of the five blind men
meaning. We just like it. We enjoy it. Or just as one of the
was holding a different part of the elephant. The first was
characters in the movie Bar Boys thought, kundiman
touching the body and thus, thought the elephant was
makes one concentrate better.
like a wall. Another was touching the beast's ear and was
The first assumption then about the humanities is that convinced that the elephant was like a fan. The rest were
art has been crafted by all people regardless of origin, touching other different parts of the elephant and
time, place, and that it stayed on because it is liked and concluded differently based on their perceptions. Art is
enjoyed by people continuously. A great piece of work like each of these men's view of the elephant. It is based
will never be obsolete. Some people say that art is art for on an individual's subjective experience of nature. It is
its intrinsic worth. In John Stuart ll's Utilitarianism (1879), not meant, after all, to accurately define what the
enjoyment in the arts belongs to a higher good, one that elephant is really like in nature. Artists are not expected
lies at the opposite end of base pleasures. Art will always to duplicate nature just as even scientists with their
be present because human beings will always express elaborate laboratories cannot make nature.
themselves and delight in these expressions. Men will
continue to use art while art persists and never gets
depleted.

B. ART IS NOT NATURE

In the Philippines, it is not entirely novel to hear some

consumers of local movies remark that these movies
produced locally are unrealistic. They contend that local
movies work around certain formula to the detriment of
substance and faithfulness to reality of the movies. These
critical minds argue that a good movie must reflect
reality as closely as possible. Is that so?
Figure 4. The Elephant and the Blind Men

Paul Cézanne, a French painter, painted a scene from

Once this point has been made, a student of humanities
reality entitled Well and Grinding Wheel in the Forest of
can then ask further questions such as: What reasons
the Château Noir. The said scene is inspired by a real
might the artist have in creating something? Why did
scene in a forest around the Château Noir area near Aix
Andres Bonifacio write "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa?
in Cézanne's native Provence. Comparing the two, one
What motivation did Juan Luna have in creating his
can see that Cézanne's landscape is quite diferent from
masterpiece, the Spoliarium? In whatever work of art,
the original scene. Cézanne has changed some patterns
one should always ask why the artist made it. What is it
and details from the way they were actually in the
that he wants to show?
photograph. What he did is not nature. It is art.
C. ART INVOLVES EXPERIENCE
One important characteristic of art is that it is not nature.
Art is man's expression of his reception of nature. Art is Getting this far without a satisfactory definition of art can
man's way of interpreting nature. Art is not nature. Art is be quite weird for some. For most people, art does not
made by man, whereas nature is a given around us. It is require a full definition. Art is just experience. By
in this juncture that they can be considered opposites. experience, we mean the "actual doing of something"
What we find in nature should not be expected to be (Dudley et al., 1960). When one says that he has an
present in art too. Movies are not meant to be direct experience of something, he often means that he knows
representation of reality. They may, according to the
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 Arts Appreciation BS PRELIMS
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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

what that something is about. When one claims that he perception is of primacy.
has experienced falling in love, getting hurt, and One can read hundreds of reviews about a particular
bouncing back, he in effect claims that he knows the movie, but at the end of the day, until he sees the movie
(sometimes) endless cycle of loving. When one asserts himself, he will be in no position to actually talk about
having experienced preparing a particular recipe, he in the movie. He does not know the movie until he
fact asserts knowing how the recipe is made. Knowing a experiences it. An important aspect of experiencing art
thing is different from hearing from others what the said is its being highly personal, individual, and subjective. In
thing is. A radio DJ dispensing advice on love when he philosophical terms, perception of art is always a value
himself has not experienced it does not really know what judgment. It depends on who the perceiver is, his tastes,
he is talking about. A choreographer who cannot his biases, and what he has inside him. Degustibus non
execute a dance step himself is a bogus. Art is always an disputandum est (Matters of taste are not matters of
experience. Unlike fields of knowledge that involve data, dispute). One cannot argue with another person's
art is known by experiencing. A painter cannot claim to evaluation of art because one's experience can never be
know how to paint if he has not tried holding a brush. A known by another.
sculptor cannot produce a work of art if a chisel is foreign
Finally, one should also underscore that every
to him. Dudley et al. (1960) affirmed that "[a]ll art
experience with art is accompanied by some emotion.
depends on experience, and if one is to know art, he
One either likes or dislikes, agrees or disagrees that a
must know it not as fact or information but as
work of art is beautiful. A stage play or motion picture is
experience."
particularly one of those art forms that evoke strong
A work of art then cannot be abstracted from actual emotions from its audience. With experience comes
doing. In order to know what an artwork is, we have to emotions and feelings, after all. Feelings and emotions
sense it, see or hear it, and see AND hear it. To fully are concrete proofs that the artwork has been
appreciate our national hero's monument, one must go experiences.
to Rizal Park and see the actual sculpture. In order to
III. Let's Wrap It Up
know Beyoncé's music, one must listen to it to actually
experience them. A famous story about someone who Humanities and the art have always been part of man's
adores Picasso goes something like this: Years ago, growth and civilization. Since the dawn of time, man has
Getrude Stein was asked why she bought the pictures of always tried to express his innermost thoughts and
the then unknown artist Picasso. '1 like to look at them, feelings about reality through creating art. Three
said Miss Stein" (Dudley et al, 1960). At the end of the day, assumptions on art are its universality, not being
one fully gets acquainted with art if one immerses nature, and its need for experience. Art is present in
himself into it. In the case of Picasso, one only learns every part of the globe and in every period time. This is
about Picasso's work by looking at it. That is precisely what is meant by its universality. Art not being nature,
what Miss Stein did. not even attempting to simply mirror nature, is the
second assumption about art. Art is always a creation of
the artist, not nature. Finally, without experience, there
is no art. The artist has to be foremost, a perceiver who is
directly in touch with art.

Figure 5. Pablo Picasso

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 Arts Appreciation BS PRELIMS
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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

LESSON 2 Art Appreciation: Creativity, Imagination, and Expression

Learning Outcomes shoes to buy, we carefully examine all possible choices

within our budget and purchase the one that satisfies
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
our beauty and practical standards. We are able to
1. differentiate art from nature distinguish what is fine and beautiful from what is not
2. characterize artistic expression based on and what is good quality from poor. This gives us a role
personal experiences with art; in the field of art appreciation.
3. discuss the nature of art's preliminary
I. ART APPRECIATION AS A WAY OF LIFE
expression; and
4. categorize works of art by citing personal Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous French philosopher of the
experiences. twentieth century, described the role of art as a creative
work that depicts the world in a completely different
light and perspective, and the source is due to human
TOPIC OUTLINE
freedom (Greene, 1995). Each artwork beholds beauty of
I. ART APPRECIATION AS A WAY OF LIFE
its own kind, the kind that the artist sees and wants the
II. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN ART MAKING
III. ART AS A PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION, viewers to perceive. More often than not, people are
IMAGINATION AS A PRODUCT OF ART blind to this beauty and only those who have developed
IV. ART AS EXPRESSION a fine sense of appreciation can experience and see the
V. DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTS EXPRESSIONS art the same way the artist did. Because of this,
A. Visual Arts numerous artworks go unnoticed, artists are not given
B. Film enough credit, and they miss opportunities. It
C. Performance art sometimes takes a lifetime before their contribution to
D. Poetry Performance the development of art is recognized. Hence, refining
E. Architecture one's ability to appreciate art allows him to deeply
F. Dance
understand the purpose of an artwork and recognize the
G. Literary art
beauty it possesses (Collins & Riley. 1931)
H. Theater
I. Applied arts In cultivating an appreciation of art, one should also
exercise and develop his taste for things that are fine and
beautiful. This allows individuals to make intelligent
OVERVIEW
choices and decisions in acquiring necessities and
It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty luxuries, knowing what gives better value for time or
on a daily basis. However, not every beautiful thing that money while taking into consideration the aesthetic and
can be seen or experienced may truly be called a work of practical value (Collins& Riley, 1931). This continuous
art. Art is a product of man's creativity, imagination, and demand for aesthetically valuable things influences the
expression. No matter how perfectly blended the colors development and evolution of art and its forms.
of a sunset are and no matter how extraordinarily
Frequenting museums, art galleries, performing arts
formed mountains are, nature is not considered art
theaters, concert halls, or even malls that display art
simply because it is not made by man. Not even
exhibitions that are free in admission during leisure time
photographs or sketches of nature, though captured or
will not only develop an understanding of the art, but will
drawn by man, are works of art, but mere recordings of
also serve as a rewarding experience. Learning to
the beauty in nature (Collins &Riley, 1931). An artwork
appreciate art, no matter what vocation or profession
may be inspired by nature or other works of art, but an
you have, will lead to a fuller and more meaningful life
artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he
(Collins & Riley, 1931).
perceives as beautiful and incorporates them in creating
his masterpiece.

Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but

surely, all are spectators of art. In deciding what pair of

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

II. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN ART MAKING III. ART AS A PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION,
IMAGINATION AS A PRODUCT OF ART
Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often
used to solve problems that have never occurred before, Where do you think famous writers, painters, and
conflate function and style, and simply make life a more musicians get their ideas? Where do ideas in making
unique and enjoyable experience. In art, creativity is creative solutions begin? It all starts in the human mind.
what sets apart one artwork from another. We say It all begins with imagination.
something is done creatively when we have not yet seen
German physicist Albert Einstein who had made
anything like it or when it is out of the ordinary. A
significant and major contributions in science and
creative artist does not simply copy or imitate another
humanity demonstrated that knowledge is actually
artist's work. He does not imitate the lines, flaws, colors,
derived from imagination. He emphasized this idea
and patterns in recreating nature. He embraces
through his Words:
originality, puts his own flavor into his work, and calls it
his own creative piece. "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For
knowledge is limited to all we now know and
Yet, being creative nowadays can be quite challenging.
understand, embraces the entire world, and all there
What you thought was your own unique and creative
ever will be to know and while imagination understand."
idea may not what it seems to be after extensive
research and that someone else has coincidentally Figure 7.
devised before the idea in another part of the world. For
Imagination is not constrained by the walls of the norm,
instance, the campaign ad "It's More Fun in the
but goes beyond that. That is why people rely on
Philippines" used by the Department of Tourism (DOT)
curiosity and imagination for advancement. Through
boomed popularity in 2011, but later on it was found out
imagination, one is able to craft something bold,
that it was allegedly plagiarized from Switzerland's
something new, and something better in the hopes of
tourism slogan "It's More Fun in Switzerland," back in
creating something that will stimulate change.
1951. In DOT's defense, former DOT Secretary Ramon
Imagination allows endless possibilities.
Jimenez Jr. claimed that it was "purely coincidental."
Thus, creativity should be backed with careful research In an artist's mind sits a vast gallery of artworks. An
on related art to avoid such conflicts. artwork does not need to be a real thing, but can be
something that is imaginary (Collingwood, 1938). Take
for example a musician who thinks of a tune in his head.
The making of this tune in his head makes it an
imaginary tune, an imaginative creation, an imaginary
art (Collingwood, 1938). It remains imaginary until he
hums, sings, or writes down the notes of the tune on
paper. However, something imaginary does not
necessarily mean it cannot be called art. Artists use their
imagination that gives birth to reality through creation.

In the same way that imagination produces art, art also

inspires imagination Imagine being in an empty room
surrounded by blank, white walls, and floor. Would you
be inspired to work in such a place? Often, you will find
coffee shops, restaurants, and libraries with paintings
hung or sculptures and other pieces of art placed around
the room to add beauty to the surroundings. This
craving and desire to be surrounded by beautiful things
Figure 6. "It's More Fun in the Philippines"
by The Misadventures of Maja dates back to our early ancestors (Collins &Riley, 1931).
Cave walls are surrounded by drawings and paintings of
animals they hunted: wild boars, reindeers, and bison
(Figure 8). Clays were molded and stones were carved

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

into forms that resemble men and women; burial jars technique in expression. This makes people's art not a
were created with intricate designs on them. These reflection of what is outside or external to them, but a
creative pieces were made not only because they were reflection of their inner selves.
functional to men, but also because beauty gave them
V. DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTS EXPRESSIONS
joy (Collins & Riley, 1931).
There are countless ways of expressing oneself through
art. The following list includes, but is not limited to,
popular art expressions

A. VISUAL ARTS

Creations that fall under this category are those that

appeal to the sense of sight and are mainly visual in
nature. Artists produce visual arts driven by their desire
to reproduce things that they have seen in the way that
they perceived them (Collins &Riley, 1931). We will not be
too strict on the definition since there are other artistic
Figure 8. Thomas Quine, "Cave Paintings
disciplines that also involve a visual aspect, such as
IV. ART AS EXPRESSION performance arts, theater, and applied arts, that will be
discussed in detail later on. Visual arts is the kind of art
There may have been times when you felt something is form that the population is most likely more exposed to,
going on within you, you try to explain it but you do not but its variations are so diverse they range from
know how. You may only be conscious about feeling this sculptures that you see in art galleries to the last movie
sort of excitement, fear, or agitation, but you know that you saw.
just one word is not enough to describe the nature of
what you truly feel. Finally, you try to release yourself Some mediums of visual arts include paintings,
from this tormenting and disabling state by doing drawings, letterings, printing sculptures, digital imaging,
something, which is called expressing oneself and more.
(Collingwood, 1938). Suppose this feeling is excitement.
It is frustrating to contain such feeling, so you relieve it
by expressing through shouting or leaping in
excitement. An emotion will remain unknown to a man
until he expresses it.

Robin George Collingwood, an English philosopher who

is best known for his work in aesthetics, explicated in his
publication The Principles of Art (1938) that what an
artist does to an emotion is not to induce it, but express
it. Through expression, he is able to explore his own
emotions and at the same time, create something
beautiful out of them. Collingwood further illustrated
that expressing emotions is something different from
describing emotions. In his example, explicitly saying l
Figure 9. John La Farge, "Camellia in Old Chinese Vase on Black
am angry" is not an expression of an emotion, but a mere
Lacquer Table
description. There is no need in relating or referring to a
specific emotion, such as anger, in expressing one's
emotion. Description actually destroys the idea of
expression, as it classifies the emotion, making it
ordinary and predictable. Expression, on the other hand,
individualizes. An artist has the freedom to express
himself the way he wants to. Hence, there is no specific

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

B. FILM D. POETRY PERFORMANCE

Film refers to the art of putting together successions of Poetry is an art form where the artist expresses his
still images in order to create an illusion of movement. emotions not by using paint, charcoal, or camera, but
Filmmaking focuses on its aesthetic, cultural, and social expresses them through words. These words are
value and is considered as both an art and an industry. carefully selected to exhibit clarity and beauty and to
Films can be created by using one or a combination of stimulate strong emotions of joy, anger, love, sorrow, and
some or all of these techniques: motion-picture camera the list goes on. It uses a word's emotional, musical, and
(also known as movie camera), animation techniques, spatial values that go beyond its literal meaning to
Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), and more. narrate, emphasize, argue, or convince. These words,
Filmmaking simulates experiences or creates one that is combined with movements, tone, volume, and intensity
beyond the scope of our imagination as it aims to deliver of the delivery, add to the artistic value of the poem.
ideas, feelings, or beauty to its viewers. Some poets even make poems out of their emotions
picked up from other works of art, which in turn produce
The art of filmmaking is so complex it has to take into
another work of art through poetry.
account many important elements such as lighting,
musical score, visual effects, direction, and more. That is E. ARCHITECTURE
why in famous film festivals and awards such as the
Metro Manila Film Festival and Oscars, a long list of As discussed, art is the pursuit and creation of beautiful
categories is considered to recognize excellence in the things while architecture is the making of beautiful
art of filmmaking. buildings. However, not all buildings are beautiful. Some
buildings only embody the functionality they need, but
C. PERFORMANCE ART the structure, lines, forms, and colors are not beautifully
expressed. Thus, not all buildings can be considered
Performance art is a live art and the artist's medium is
architecture. Take, for example, the Grand Théâtre de
mainly the human body which he or she uses to perform,
Bordeaux (Figure 11) where the functionality of the
but also employs other kind of art such as visual art.
theater remains, but the striking balance of the lines,
props, or sound. It usually consists of four important
colors, and shapes completes the masterpiece.
elements: time, where the performance took place, the
Buildings should embody these three important
performer's or performer's body, and a relationship
elements plan, construction, and design-if they wish to
between the audience and the performer(s) (Moma
merit the title architecture (Collins& Riley, 1931).
Learning, n.d.). The fact that performance art is live
makes it intangible, which means it cannot be bought or
traded as a commodity, unlike the previously discussed
art expressions.

Figure 11. The Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

Figure 10. Performance Art

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

F. DANCE

Dance is a series of movements that follows the rhythm

of the music accompaniment. It has been an age-old
debate whether dance can really be considered an art
form, but here we primarily describe dance as a form of
expression. Dancing is a creative form that allows people
to freely express themselves. It has no rules. You may say
that choreography does not allow this, but in art
expression, dancers are not confined to set steps and
rules but are free to create and invent their own
movements as long as they deem them graceful and
beautiful.

Figure 13. William Shakespeare

H. THEATER

Theater uses live performers to present accounts or

imaginary events before a live audience. Theater art
performances usually follow a script, though they should
not be confused with literary arts. Much like in
filmmaking. theater also considers several elements
such as acting, gesture, lighting. sound effects, musical
score, scenery, and props. The combination of these
elements is what gives the strongest impression on the
audience and the script thus becomes a minor element.
Similar to performance art, since theater is also a live
Figure 12. Olga Spessiva in Swan Lake Costume performance, the participation of the viewer is an
important element in theater arts. Some genres of
G. LITERARY ART
theater include drama, musical, tragedy. comedy, and
improvisation.
Artists who practice literary arts use words-not paint,
musical instruments, or chisels-to express themselves Figure 14. Macbeth
and communicate emotions to the readers. However,
I. APPLIED ARTS
simply becoming a writer does not make one a literary
artist. Simply constructing a succession of sentences in
Applied arts is incorporating elements of style and
a meaningful manner is not literary art. Literary art goes
design to everyday items with the aim of increasing their
beyond the usual professional and other technical forms
aesthetical value. Artists in this field bring beauty, cham,
of writing. It focuses on writing using a unique style, not
and comfort into many things that are useful in everyday
following a specific format or nom. It may include both
life (Collins &Riley, 1931) Industrial design, interior design,
fiction and non-fiction such as novels, biographies, and
fashion design, and graphic design are considered
poems Examples of famous literary artists and their
applied arts. Applied is often compared to fine arts,
works include The Little Prince by academic, journalistic,
where the latter is chiefly concerned on aesthetic value.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Romeo and Juliet by
Through exploration and expression of ideas,
William Shakespeare.
consideration of the needs, and careful choice of
materials and techniques, artists are able to combine
functionality and style.

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VI. LET'S WRAP IT UP

Art is a product of a man's creativity, imagination, and

expression. An artwork may be inspired by nature or
other works of art, but an artist invents his own forms
and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful and
incorporates them in creating his masterpiece. Perhaps
not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely, all
are spectators of art, which gives us all a role in the field
of art appreciation. Refining one's ability to appreciate
art allows him to deeply understand the purpose of an
artwork and recognize the beauty it possesses.

Creativity is what sets apart one artwork from another. A

creative artist does not simply copy or imitate another
artist's work. He does not imitate the lines, flaws. colors,
and patterns in recreating nature. While through
imagination, an artist is able to craft something bold,
something new, and something better in the hopes of
creating something that will stimulate change. In the
same way that imagination produces art also inspires
imagination. Lastly, through expression, an artist is able
to explore his own emotions while at the same time,
create something beautiful out of it. Expressing
emotions is something different from describing
emotions. Description actually destroys the idea of
expression, as it classifies the emotion, making it
ordinary and predictable Expression, on the other hand,
individualizes the artist. Some forms of art expression
include visual arts, film, performance art, poetry
performance, architecture, dance, literary arts, theater
arts, and applied arts.

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LESSON 3 Functions and Philosophical Perspectives on Art

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to

1. distinguish between directly functional and indirectly functional art:

2. explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspectives on the art
3. realize the function of some art forms in daily life and
4. apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetics in real life scenarios.

TOPIC OUTLINE
I. FUNCTIONS OF ART
A. Personal Functions of Art
B. Social Functions of Art
C. Physical Functions of Art
D. Other Functions of Art
II. DOES ART ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FUNCTIONAL?
III. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART
A. Art as an Imitation
B. Art as A Representation
C. Art as A Disinterested Judgment
D. Art as A Communication ff Emotion
IV. LET'S WRAP IT UP

OVERVIEW
Figure 15. Aristotle

Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that every particular

Moreover, the telos and function of a thing are both
substance in the world has an end, or telos in Greek,
related to a thing's identity What makes a table a table
which translates into "purpose. Every substance, defined
is the fact that it does perform its function and thereby
as a formed matter, moves according to a fixed path
reaching its telos. If a table does not have a surface on
toward its aim. A seed is bound to become a full-grown
which we can put on our books or our plates and glasses,
plant. A cocoon can look forward to flying high when it
then it ceases to be a table. The same goes for the
morphs into a butterfly. A baby ill eventually turn into a
human being. What makes a human being a human
grown man or woman.
being, according to some schools of thought, is his
This telos, according to Aristotle, is intricately linked with capacity for thinking, his supposed function. Without
function. For a thing to reach its purpose it also has to this function, the human being ceases to be a human
fulfill its function. Man, in Aristotle's view of reality, is being. The telos, the function, and the "whatness" of a
bound to achieve a life of fulfillment and happiness, or in thing are all interconnected.
Greek, eudaimonia. All men move toward this final end.
In contemporary life, the connection between the end,
However, happiness, the supposed end of man, is linked
the function, and the whatness" of a thing has become
with his function, which is being rational. One can only
closer and more interlaced, suggesting sometimes that
be happy when he is rational. This means that to
the end is the function and vice versa, and that they
Aristotle plants can never be happy because they are not
determine what kind of thing a thing is. When one sees
rational, as well as tables and chairs. Man's natural end,
a new kitchen appliance in the department store, one
telos, is connected with his function, which is his
tries to know first what functions the appliance has. After
rationality.
knowing these functions, then one can claim to know
the purpose of the appliance and then begins to realize
what appliance one is holding in his arms.

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Does art necessarily have an end? When an artist creates literature, one can only look at the value of the product
a work of art, does he have an end in mind? What of art in and for itself. A poem is beautiful regardless of
function does an artwork perform? Does it have any its possible ramifications in the society. Joyce Kilmer's
purpose? Do all artworks have a function? Does the Trees has maintained its popularity through the years
function make an object a work of art? This lesson is an regardless of its application or practical benefit. This
attempt to clarify these questions. definitely is not to say that paintings and literary works
can never have any function. The two masterpieces of
I. FUNCTIONS OF ART
our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Noli Me Tangere
When one speaks of function, one is practically talking and El Filibusterismo served as a catechist for Filipino
about the use of the object whose function is in revolutionaries to gather strength in rejecting the
question. An inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry oppressive forces of the Spaniards in the Philippines in
on what art is for. Alternatively, the answer to the the nineteenth century. The novels accrued value and as
question "what is it for" is the function of whatever it in a consequence, function. This function as it turns out,
the question refers to. Suppose one asks, what is the may be over and beyond its literary worth. They are
Rizal monument for? Why was it erected in Rizal Park or functional "in so far as they are designed to accomplish
what then was called Luneta or Bagumbayan? Is it for some definite end" (Dudley et al., 1960). In the case of
pure sentimental value? Is it for its aesthetic value? Or Rizal's novels, they spelled out a country's
does it send a message to those who witness it? In this independence. They continue to be treasured even a
string of questions, the inquirer is hoping to get the hundred years after their supposed functions.
function of the piece of art in Rizal Park.

When it comes to function, different art forms come

with distinctive functions There is no one-to-one
correspondence between an art and its function. Some
art forms are more functional than others. Architecture,
for example, as an art is highly functional just like most
applied arts. A building as a work of art is obviously made
for a specific purpose. The Taj Mahal, a massive
mausoleum of white marble built in Agra was
constructed in memory of the favorite wife of the then Figure 16. Jewelry-making in Malaysia

emperor, Shah Jahan. On the other hand, jewelry- Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are classified
making as an art is known by its product. The name of into three:
the art in these applied arts is basically denoted by its
specified function. In this and other such functional a) personal (public display or expression)
b) social (celebration or to affect collective
name of the art on the identification of individual works behavior)
(Dudley et al., 1960), Other examples are paintings, c) physical (utilitarian)
poems, and statues. The name of the art basically points
Let us try to understand each of these three.
toward the direction of the product or its function.
A. PERSONAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
On the other end of the spectrum, one can only think of
painting and literature as forms of art that have the least The personal functions of art are varied and highly
to do with purely practical values. When one examines subjective. This means that its functions depend on the
and thinks of a painting or a work of literature such as a person-the artist who created the art. An artist may
poem or a novel, one looks at the value of the art in itself create an art out of the need for self-expression. This is
and not because of what it can do and benefit us. Unlike the case for an artist who needs to communicate an idea
practical arts where the value of the art (in pottery, to his audience It can also be mere entertainment for his
jewelry-making, architecture, among others) in question intended audience. Often, the artist may not even intend
lies in the practical benefits one gains from it (a pot, a to mean anything with his work.
jewelry, or a house or building), with painting and

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An art may also be therapeutic. In some orphanages and

home for abandoned elders, art is used to help residents
process their emotions or while away their time.
Recently, the use of adult coloring books to de-stress has
been apparent too, now with a-lot of designs being sold
in bookstores nationwide. These all fall under personal
functions of art.

Figure 18. A Japanese Raku Bow

D. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF ART

Music as an art is also interesting to talk about in relation

to function. Music in its original form was principally
functional. Music was used for dance and religion. Unlike
today, when one can just listen to music for the sake of
music's sake, the ancient world saw music only as an
Figure 17. An Adult Coloring Book instrument to facilitate worship and invocation to gods.
Music also was essential to dance because music assures
B. SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
synchronicity among dancers. Moreover, music also
Art is considered to have a social function if and when it guarantees that marches, in the case of warriors, were
addresses a particular collective interest as opposed to a simultaneous.
personal interest. Political art is a very common example
Today, music has expanded its function and coverage.
of an art with a social function. Art may convey message
Music is listened to and made by people for reasons that
of protest, contestation, or whatever message the artist
were foreign to early civilizations. There is now a lot of
intends his work to carry. Often, art can also depict social
music that has no connection whatsoever to dance or
conditions. Photography., as an art form, delivers this
religion. Serenade is one example. People compose
kind of function by taking photos of subjects in
hymns of love to express feelings and emotions. Music is
conditions that people do not normally take a look at or
also used as a wonderful accompaniment to stage plays
give attention to. Pictures of poverty may carry
and motion pictures. Interestingly, a piece of music can
emotional overtones that may solicit action or
mean a multitude of meanings to different people, a
awareness from their audience. Moreover, performance
proof that as an art, music has gone a long way.
art like plays or satires can also rouse emotions and rally
people toward a particular end. In these and more, the Sculpture, on the other hand, is another functional art
social function of art is apparent. form that has long existed for various purposes. Just like
music, from the early days of humanity, sculptures have
C. PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
been made by man most particularly for religion. People
The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot and erect status for the divine. In the Roman Catholic world,
understand. The physical functions of art can be found the employment of sculptures for religious purposes has
in artworks that are crafted in order to serve some remained vital, relevant, and symbolic.
physical purpose. A Japanese raku bowl that serves a Sculptures were also made in order to commemorate
physical function in a tea ceremony is an example. important figures in history. Jose Rizal's monument in
Architecture, jewelry- making, and even interior design Rizal Park and Andres Bonifacio's Monumento in
are all forms of arts that have physical function. Caloocan are common examples. In the University of the
Philippines, the iconic statue Oblation by Guillermo E.
Tolentino has remained a pillar of the university and
constant reminder of the need to offer oneself NA up
selflessly for the country. Coins are also manifestations of
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sculpting's function. Every coin in the Philippines

features a relief of a famous hero or personality. Recently,
the Central Bank of the Philippines produced special,
commemorative coins for certain personalities like Pope
Francis and the Jesuit, Horacio de la Costa.

Figure 20. A Spanish House in the Philippines

II. DOES ART ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FUNCTIONAL?

Figure 19. Pope Francis Commemorative Coin

While it has been shown that most arts are functional,
still there are some which are not. The value of a work of
Another art form that readily lends itself to multiple art does not depend on function but on the work itself.
functions is architecture. In fact, architecture might be The plays of Aeschylus and the poetry of Robert Frost
the most prominent functional art form. Buildings are and Edgar Allan Poe are still counted as examples of
huge, expensive, and are not easily constructed and great works of art despite their not having a known
replaced. Unlike other forms of art like pots, furniture, function. In those whose functions are ascertained,
poetry, or even paintings, buildings take so much time however, it is a different story. A functional object cannot
to erect and destroy. A lot of investments are put into be claimed to be beautiful unless it can perform its
making megastructures like the pyramids of Giza, the function sufficiently Consider a house that cannot even
acropolis, or the great cathedrals of the Middle Ages. protect its resident from the nasty weather outside or a
One cannot simply dismiss taking into consideration the spoon that spills the food on it. Adequate performance
function of a building before construction. of function partly determines the beauty of a design in
these functional art forms.
It is also in architecture where one can find the intimate
connection of function and form. In planning out an Despite these, efficiency cannot be mistaken as beauty.
architectural structure, one has to seriously consider the While it certainly determines beauty in some works of
natural conditions like topography and climate of the art, an efficient functional object is not necessarily
place of erection and the social conditions such as the beautiful. Art demands so much more than mere
purpose of the building itself. In the Philippines, climate efficiency. What then really comprises beauty and art?
is a huge factor in building a house. Spanish colonial What makes something truly beautiful? What really
houses were designed to allow for air to circulate inside makes a work of art? What really is art?
the house. Large windows were staples then. Capiz
shells were also utilized to allow for light to enter the III. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART
house even if the windows were closed. Moreover, social
A. ART AS AN IMITATION
conditions, such as purpose, play a huge role in
architecture. To Christians, a church is primarily a place Plato (2000) in his masterpiece, The Republic,
of worship and assembly. Regular ceremonies, where particularly paints a picture of artists as imitators and art
members of the church are expected to come regularly, as mere imitation. In his description of the ideal republic,
are held inside the church. A huge, spacious church Plato advises against the inclusion of art as a subject in
therefore is necessitated by this social condition. Indeed, the curriculum and the banning of artists in the
whenever art serves a particular function, the form has Republic. In Plato's metaphysics or view of reality, the
to be determined by the function. things in this world are only copies of the original, the
eternal, and the true entities that can only be found in
the World of Forms. Human beings endeavor to reach
the Forms all throughout this life, starting with formal
education in school. From looking at "shadows in the
cave," men slowly crawl outside to behold the real

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entities in the world. For example, the chair that one sits B. ART AS A REPRESENTATION
on is not a real chair. It is an imperfect copy of the perfect
"chair in the World of Forms. Much is true for "beauty in Aristotle, Plato's most important student in philosophy,
this world. When one ascribes beauty to another person, agreed with his teacher that art is a form of imitation.
he refers to an imperfect beauty that participates only in However, in contrast to the disgust that his master holds
the form of beauty in the World of Forms. Plato was for art, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in
convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief in revealing truth. The kind of imitation that art does is not
copies and discourage men to reach for the real entities antithetical to the reaching of fundamental truths in the
in the World of Forms. world. Talking about tragedies., for example, Aristotile
(1902) in the Poetics claimed that poetry is a literary
representation in general. Akin to other art forms, poetry
only admits of an attempt to represent what things
might be. For Aristotle, all kinds of art, including poetry,
music, dance, painting, and sculpture, do not aim to
represent reality as it is. What art endeavors to do is to
provide a vision of what might be or the myriad
possibilities in reality. Unlike Plato who thought that art
is an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle conceived
of art as representing possible versions of reality.

In the Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular

Figure 21. Plato purposes. First, art allows for the experience of pleasure.
Experiences that are otherwise repugnant can become
Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two
entertaining in art. For example, a horrible experience
reasons: they appeal to the emotion rather than to the
can be made an object of humor in a comedy. Secondly,
rational faculty of men and they imitate rather than lead
art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its
one to reality. Poetry and painting, the art forms that
audience things about life; thus, it is cognitive as well.
Plato was particularly concerned with, do not have any
Greek plays are usually of this nature.
place in the ideal state that Socrates (as the protagonist)
in Plato's dialogue envisions. First, Plato is critical of the C. ART AS A DISINTERESTED JUDGMENT
effects of art, specifically, poetry to the people of the
ideal state. Poetry rouses emotions and feelings and In the third critique that Immanuel Kant wrote, the
thus. clouds the rationality of people. Poetry has a "Critique of Judgement," Kant considered the judgment
capacity to sway minds without taking into of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can
consideration the use of proper reason. As such, it leads be universal despite its subjectivity. Kant mentioned
one further away from the cultivation of the intellect that that judgment of beauty, and therefore, art, is innately
Plato campaigned for. Likewise, Socrates is worried that autonomous from specific interests. It is the form of art
art objects represent only the things in this world, copies that is adjudged by one who perceives art to be beautiful
themselves of reality. As such, in the dialogue, Socrates or more so, sublime. Therefore, even aesthetic judgment
claimed that art is just an imitation of imitation. A for Kant is a cognitive activity.
painting is just an imitation of nature, which is also just
Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
an imitation of reality in the World of Forms.
However, Kant advanced the proposition that even
The arts then are to be banished, alongside the subjective judgments are based on some universal
practitioners, so that the attitudes and actions of the criterion for the said judgment. In the process, Kant
members of the Republic will not be corrupted by the responded to the age-old question of how and in what
influence of the arts. For Plato, art is dangerous because sense can a judgment of beauty. which ordinarily is
it provides a petty replacement for the real entities that considered to be a subjective feeling, be considered
can only be attained through reason. objective or universal. How is this so? For Kant, when one
judges a particular painting as beautiful, one in effect is
saying that the said painting has induced a particular

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feeling of satisfaction from him and that he expects the it makes accessible feelings and emotions of people
painting to rouse the same feeling from anyone. There is from the past and present, from one continent to
something in the work of art that makes it capable of another. In making these possibly latent feelings and
inciting the same feeling of pleasure and satisfaction emotions accessible to anyone in varied time and
from any perceiver, regardless of his condition. For Kant, location, art serves as a mechanism of cohesion for
every human being. after perception and the free play of everyone. Thus, even at present, one can commune with
his faculties should recognize the beauty that is inherent early Cambodians and their struggles by visiting the
in a work of art. This is the kind of universality that a Angkor Wat or can definitely feel for the early royalties of
judgment of beauty is assumed by Kant to have. So, different Korean dynasties by watching Korean dramas.
when the same person says that something is beautiful, Art is what allows for these possibilities.
he does not just believe that the thing is beautiful for
him, but in a sense, expects that the same thing should
put everyone in awe.

Figure 23. Cambodia's Angkor Wat

IV. LET'S WRAP IT UP

Art has remained relevant in our daily lives because most

of it has played some form of function for man. Since the
dawn of the civilization, art has been at the forefront of
giving color to man's existence. The different functions
Figure 22. Immanuel Kant of art may be classified as either personal, social, or
physical. An art's function is personal if it depends on the
D. ART AS A COMMUNICATION OF EMOTION
artist herself or sometimes still, the audience of the art.
There is a social function in art if and when it has a
The author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Leo
particular social function, when it addresses a collective
Tolstoy, provided another perspective on what art is. In
need of a group of people. Physical function, finally. has
his book, What is Art (2016) Tolstoy defended the
something to do with direct, tangible uses of art. Not all
production of the sometimes truly extravagant art, like
products of art have function. This should not disqualify
operas, despite extreme poverty in the world. For him,
them as art though. As mentioned, and elucidated by
art plays a huge role in communication to its audience's
some of the most important thinkers in history, art may
emotions that the artist previously experienced. Art then
serve either as imitation, representation, a disinterested
serves as a language, a communication device that
judgment, or simply a communication of emotion.
articulates feelings and emotions that are otherwise
unavailable to the audience. In the same way that
language communicates information to other people
art communicates emotions. In listening to music, in
watching an opera, and in reading poems, the audience
is at the receiving end of the artist communicating his
feelings and emotions.

Tolstoy is fighting for the social dimension of art. As a

purveyor of man's innermost feelings and thoughts, art
is given a unique opportunity to serve as a mechanism
for social unity. Art is central to man's existence because

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Ms. Joan R. Doyo | GE AA | 2022 - 2023 | 2nd Semester 2B

LESSON 4 Subject and Content

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. differentiate representational art and non-representational art

2. discuss the difference between an artwork's subject and its content
3. identify the subject matter and content of specific examples of art: and
4. enumerate the sources of the subjects of some of the most recognizable works of art in Philippine art history

TOPIC OUTLINE
I. LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS that selective perception renders one or two details
II. TYPES OF SUBJECTS more prominent than others, prompting the viewer to
A. Non-Representational Art and Abstract Art focus on some details as essential or as standouts. Even
III. SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT the disposition or mood of the viewer, his education, his
A. Nature background, and his exposure to varying contexts
B. Greek and Roman Mythology contribute to what information is taken in and how they
C. Religion
are interpreted. To herd all of these into coherence and
D. History
intelligibility, the relationships of visual details
IV. CONTENT IN ART
presented, the ideas and feelings that they cull, and
V. LET'S WRAP IT UP
other springs of information may be consulted.

In most cases, there are clues that mediate between the

OVERVIEW
artwork and the viewer, allowing the viewer to more
In the Philippines, which is predominantly a non- easily comprehend what he is seeing. These clues are
museum-going public, looking at art has always been a the three basic components of a work of art: subject,
tricky business. This is true not only for novices, but also form, and content. These components are largely
at times, confronts the long-time art aficionados. One of inseparable from each other and usually related to each
the major hurdles that spoils an individual's other.
engagement with an artwork is the notion that in order
In this chapter, subject and content will be discussed,
to appreciate it, one must be able to extract a specific
while form will be better examined in Chapter 6. To
image, isolate the artist or maker's intention, and
differentiate them briefly, subject refers to the visual
unearth a particular meaning. Failure to do so
focus or the image that may be extracted from
automatically implies a failure of comprehension and
examining the artwork, while content is the meaning
therefore, failure of the experience. This, however,
that is communicated by the artist or the artwork.
relegates art engagement and therefore appreciation to
Finally, the development and configuration of the
the very few who had training and instruction in
artwork-how the elements and the medium or material
producing and in reading art. This should not be the
are put together-is the form. In simpler terms, the
case.
subject is seen as the "what"; the content is the "why; and
The primary stage of engaging with art is its perception. the form is the "how.
Looking at art is much like any instance of taking in
information or stimulus that originates from the world
around us. For most art forms, the beginning of
engagement is through looking at the artwork. The eyes
play a big role in mechanically making a vision possible.
However, like any tool, it is but one component. What
makes the difference is the awareness in the process of
looking where subjectivity is essential in navigating
through the artwork. Subjectivity is illustrated in the way

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I. LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS who Mona Lisa is, it is clear that the painting is of a
woman that is realistically-proportioned; only the upper
In the field of the sciences, experimentation is the key to
torso is shown; a beguiling and mysterious smile is
proving a hypothesis or a larger theory. Often, an
flashed; and that the background is a landscape-
experiment is done multiple times to further prove the
probably a view from a window. Pushing it even further,
reliability of an outcome. Therein, empirical or
one can even imagine a scene in which Leonardo da
observable data in the form of visible or tactile qualities,
Vinci alternates between applying dabs of paint on the
events or occurrence, yielding an output or by-product
canvas and looking at the sitter in order to capture her
must follow after a step or a series of processes. In the
features for the portrait.
arts, there are also observable qualities that the artwork
holds that will point to its subject, and sometimes even On the other hand, seeing a painting that has nothing in
to its content. In order to flesh out what the subject of it but continuous drips of paint or splotches of colors
the artwork is, it is important to first look at the either confounds the viewer or is readily trivialized as
constituent figures that are perceivable on the surface of something that anyone with access to materials can
the canvas or the sculpture, and the manner in which easily make. The works of Jackson Pollock, who is known
the artist chose to depict those figures. From these, the for his "action paintings." are often subjected to these
type of subject can then be inferred. remarks. Using large-scale canvasses that were usually
laid out on the floor or resting on a wall, Pollock tilted his
II. TYPES OF SUBJECTS
paint can and allowed paint to drip. Assisting it with
One of the most iconic and recognizable paintings all movement, he used other implements such as
over the world is the "Mona Lisa" done by Leonardo da hardened brushes, knives, sticks, and trowels to add
Vinci. Some questions are often raised regarding this detail, texture, and dimension to his paintings. There
artwork, like "Who is Mona Lisa? "Why was Leonardo da were no clear figures that jot out from the canvas; there
Vinci compelled to paint her?" But as scholars attempt were only drips and splashes. This kind of work can be
to solve the true identity of the sitter, it is relevant to note subsumed under the category of non-representational.
that there is a consensus that the Mona Lisa-whoever As the opposite of the previously discussed type of
she is-is based on a real person. subject, non-representational at is also often termed
non-figurative art.

Figure 26. Jackson Polock, detail of "Number 1A" (1948). Oil and enamel
paint on canvas Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) Collection. Photo
courtesy of Sharon Mollerus
Figure 25. Leonardo da Vinci, "Mona Lisa" (1503). Musée du Louvre
Collection.
Non-representational art does not make a reference to
Portraits such as the "Mona Lisa" are good examples of the real world, whether it is a person, place, thing, or
what is called representational art. These types of art even a particular event. It is stripped down to visual
have subjects that refer to objects or events occurring in elements such as shapes, lines, and colors that are
the real world. Often, it is also termed figurative art, employed to translate a particular feeling, emotion, and
because as the name suggests, the figures depicted are even concept.
easy to make out and decipher. Despite not knowing

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It is in this light that representational works are often representational. As a guide, an artwork, depending on
favored because they are easier to recognize. Viewers the degree of distortion or abstraction, may be judged
find a greater degree of comfort when what they see as leaning more toward one over the other. Abstract art
registers as something familiar. They then continue to is in itself a departure from reality, but the extent of that
process this understanding. sometimes even becoming departure determines whether it has reached the end of
confident enough to share their insights to others. It can the spectrum, which is non-representationality-a
be argued then that an artist is faced with a strong complete severance from the world.
persuasion of creating works that veers toward
A proponent of non-representational art was Russian
representational art. However, it is not simply an issue of
artist Vasily Kandinsky. Although his chosen art form was
assumed preference; rather, it cuts across matters
paintings, he likened non-representational art to music,
relating to prevailing themes, norms, and practices of
an art form that he was also very keen to. He asserted
specific historical moments.
that with sounds, musicians are able to evoke imagery in
A. NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART their listeners or audiences. Object-free, he alludes to the
AND ABSTRACT ART sounds and spiritual experiences that music makes
possible in his paintings. It is therefore not surprising
that a lot of his paintings are inspired by music and are
titled as impression, improvisation, and composition.

III. SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT

When hit with a wall or a block, the writer is often

advised to look back and take from what he knows. From
there, a well and wealth of materials may be drawn. But
for artists, where do they source the subjects of their
paintings? What do they paint?

For non-representational art, a higher level of

perceptiveness and insight might be required to fully
grasp the feeling, emotion, or concept behind the work.
It is perhaps easier to infer where the subject matter
comes from if the artwork is an example of
representational art. From the figure(s) depicted in the
artwork, there is already a suggestion as to its
Figure 27. Pablo Picasso, "Head of a Woman, Mougins (1962). Metal cut-
inspiration.
out, folided and painted Musée National Picasso-Paris.

One source of confusion is the notion that non- However, in discussing the sources and kinds of subject
representational art is the same as abstract art. This is in artworks, it is important to note that these two are
essential to discuss because it introduces the fact that often inextricably related. Often, even a singular source
representational art and non-representational art is not of inspiration can yield multiple translations. A good
a clear-cut divide; rather, they exist in a spectrum. An starting point is, of course, the nature.
abstract work of Pablo Picasso is a great example to A. NATURE
illustrate this. Although he is more known for his
paintings, he also dabbled into other works including There is nothing more rudimentary than human
sculptures. Cut metal that is hinged on a metal base, interaction with the physical world around the artist.
there is a palpable distortion of the image-whatever it is Early childhood often revolves around getting to know
-seems to be melting. Even without reading the title not just the body and what it can do, but also in getting
from the caption, mere seconds of looking at the accustomed to a multitude of sensory prompts around
combination of lines, shapes, and colors of the sculpture the artist especially those situated in his environment.
will point to a head of a woman. Even with the
Artists throughout history have explored diverse ways of
abstraction of the image, this work is arguably
representing nature: from plants to animals; the

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qualities of bodies of water and the terrain of B. GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
landmasses, and even the perceivable cycles and
changing of seasons. Often, these depictions are seen as Greek and Roman mythology were also ripe with
expressions of the sacred or the profane, sired by reality references: from episodes that transport the viewer to
or supplemented by the artist's imagination. One artist heroic encounters of Achilles and Aeneas; warnings
who was attuned with nature was Vincent van Gogh. He about man's folly like the vanity of lcarus; the wit and
saw art and nature as inseparable, often finding solace cunning of Odysseus; the beauty of Aphrodite and the
and happiness in painting in it (working in the middle of athleticism of Myron. From narrations in literature,
unspoiled fields) and painting from it (landscapes). In a artists, on the other hand, gave faces to Greek and
letter to his brother Theo, he wrote ...if I felt no love for Roman deities or the gods and goddesses whose fates
nature and my work, then would be unhappy" (Van are seemingly as tragic as those of men. Some of the art
Gogh Museum, 1882). forms they took on were wall paintings or frescos and
sculptural works such as busts, statuaries, and ceramics
and pottery, among others.

Figure 28. Vincent van Gogh "Die Ebene von Auvers (Wheat Fieids Near
Auvers) (1890). Ol on canvas Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere Collection

Other artists with a considerable number of landscapes

and seascapes are Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Paul
Figure 30. "Discobolus" (Roman, 2nd Century AD), after a Greek original
Cézanne, and JMW Turner. In the Philippines, National by the sculptor Myron of 450-440 BC. British Museum Collection,
Artists for Painting Fernando Amorsolo and Fabian de la London.
Rosa gained prominence from their painted rural scenes
C. RELIGION
such as women in the fields gathering harvest.

Breaking nature into smaller parts is Jan van Kessel the Another integral aspect of human life is the distinct
Elder who did numerous still lives and small-scale, highly relationship with a higher controlling power. If the belief
detailed studies, and scientific illustrations of flowers, system of Greeks and Romans was polytheism with a
insects, shells, fruits, garlands, and bouquets. multitude of gods and goddesses, the Judeo-Christian
tradition stems from a belief in a lone creator of the
universe or what is called monotheism. This tradition
had an immense influence in Western civilization
especially in art. Guided by a host of styles and
techniques, various media and art forms were also
experimented with: paintings, frescos, church
architecture (over-all plan of the space, stained glass
windows, tabernacles, and altars), sarcophagus, icons
and other carvings, vestments, tapestry illuminated
manuscripts, and other sacred scriptures, among others

Commissioned by Pope Julius l1, the intricate fresco that

lines the Sistine Chapel was created by Michelangelo.
Figure 29. Jan van Kessel, "A Cockchafer, Beetie, Woodlice and Other
Insects, with a Sprig of Auricula'" (early 1650s). Ol on copper. Musoum of The immense detail and vast surface he had to cover had
Art and Archaeology. University of Oxford Collection. him working on it from 1508 to 1512.

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Figure 31. Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel (1508-1512)

Unlike in Islam for example, practicing Jews and

Christians were allowed to depict their God and other
Figure 32. Interior of Westminster
important biblical figures: laying visual foundations in
inculcating the faith. But perhaps the influence of this Proceeding from a kind of a hybrid between literature
tradition is most intriguingly manifested in the and sacred text is India's miniature paintings. In Central
architectural marvels that are spread out all over the India, the kind of art that was produced was deeply
world. rooted in Vedic texts such as Upanishads, Puranas, and
other important texts like the Sanskrit epics
The formative years of church architecture can be traced
Mahabharata and Ramayana. Indian artists had a wide
in the fourth and fifth century but different styles and
array of materials to work with in showcasing not just
plans were developed since then. Prevailing ideas and
their artistry and skill. The significance of these paintings
philosophies became resources that were used by
rests on its ability to foster devotion and the observance
architects to reimagine what the church should look like.
of a code of ethics through the visualizations of heroic
For instance, Gothic churches were characterized by
narratives. These paintings were small but were highly
three things: soaring heights (ceilings), volume (flying
pictorial, stylized, and employed a good contrast of
buttresses and ribbed vaults), and light (bright stained-
colors. Some artists also included verse from the epics as
glass windows, airy and pleasant interiors). Gothic style
part of the cartouche which added interest and
architecture is often attributed as the brainchild of
meaning to the paintings.
Abbot Suger. There is a definitive sense that pointed to
the feeling of awe on the part of the believer and the
perceived majesty and power of God-all of which
happened during the time when religion was at the
heart of everyday life. This echoes her belief that "art was
central to religious experience."

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and France turned against Spain. Napoleonic forces

invaded Madrid without much difficulty and the
painting captures the dramatic demise of its people
under a firing squad.

History, as a resource for artists in search of subjects,

brings into consideration events that are familiar and
sometimes even common or shared in world context:
the establishment of nations and states (discovery,
conquests, and colonization), and the resulting
ideologies that they breed (democracy, liberty, freedom,
and rights). These works serve as documentary and
commemorative artworks that illustrate subjects such
as important leaders and figures; events as they were
recorded to have happened; and representations of
ideologies or values.

In the history of art, it is important to remember that the

source and kind of subjects were not merely a product
of the artist's inclination and choice. A closer
Figure 33. "Shah Jahan Receiving Dara Shikoh," Folio from the Late Shah examination of the various art movements and artworks
Jahan Album (circa 1650). Watercolor Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink created within those movements will indicate that
on paper. Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates
notions of freedom and independence, which are
Purchase.
presumed to be enjoyed by artists, were not without
D. HISTORY limits or restrictions. For instance, a particular kind of
subject and the way it is visually translated may be
Historically significant events particularly in the affairs of traced in relation to the art patrons (those who
humanity are abundant references for art production. commission the artworks), the favored artistic style and
From early breakthroughs such as the discovery of fire canons, and more importantly, the norms and trends
and the overthrow of geocentric theory in favor of a sun- prevailing in the artist's milieu.
centered universe, succeeding advancements brought
about by discovery, innovation, and man's incessant During the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, art
search for glory plotted a dynamic course of history. was predominantly representational. During the first
century of their dominance, art came as an aid for
communication -a means of propagating religion to
locals who spoke a different language. The visual arts,
from paintings to early sculptures such as santos and
other votive figures and icons, were created to assist
Catholic ministry. Existing art and craft traditions
persisted, with some augmented and infused with
foreign influences that were not limited to the Spanish
culture through contact.

The momentum that secular (or non-religious) art later

gained in the nineteenth century can also be attributed
to this contact, with the opening of the Suez Canal and
Figure 34. Francisco de Goya, "EI Tres de Mayo" (1814) Oil on canvas. the growth of export economy in agriculture. The
Museo del Prado Collection. consequence of these developments was the rise of the
An example is Goya's El Tres de Mayo which captures the middle class. With their new-found economic and social
death of Madrilenes, the local insurgents during the mobility, patrons of the art were no longer limited to the
Peninsular War. Former allies in the overrun of Portugal clergy, but brought about a demand coming from these

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wealthy ilustrado families. Of interest was the increase in play when engaging with art. When looking at a
demand for commissioned portraits (of an individual or particular painting for example, perception and
an entire family), finding it necessary to document meaning are always informed (and even colored) by a
themselves in light of their elevated status. Wearing the manifold of contexts: what we know; what we learned;
most intricate and elaborate of garbs, significant what we experienced; and the values we stand for. It is
adornments such as jewelry and embroidered therefore expected that meaning may not be singular,
implements, among others, completed the intended. rather, a painting may communicate multiple meanings
narrative. This artistic trend cemented the distinction of to its many viewers. This is what we call subjective
artists such as Simon Flores, Justiniano Ascuncion, and meaning of art.
Antonio Malantic who became the foremost portraitists
of the time. Here, it is evident how during the Spanish
colonial period, the subjects of artworks, even the
manner in which they are translated, were mostly
dictated by the patrons who commission them for
religious and secular art.

IV. CONTENT IN ART

As outlined in the beginning, in discussing works of art,

the subject may simply be referred to as the "what-what
Figure 35. Michelangelo, "Creation of Adam" from the ceiling of the
is readily seen and relates to the artwork, its inspiration, Sistine Chapel
and the many kinds of translation. But apart from what
is made explicit, to recognize and grasp the message of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" can be read using
the artwork, the viewer may sometimes need to go various levels of meaning previously discussed. There,
beyond what is visible. Why was the artwork created in Adam is figured with an aged God, both of them with an
the first place? When this question is asked, we are after arm stretched and their respective index fingers
the meaning or message that is expressed or appearing to be fixed at an impending contact. Apart
communicated by the artwork. One of the foremost from God who is wearing a tunic, everyone else is in the
scholars that expounded on content analysis or how nude. God is afloat, surrounded by drapery and figures
meaning is arrived at is art historian Erwin Panofsky in presumed to be angels and cherubs. Adam on the other
his seminal work Meaning in the Visual Arts (1983). His hand is earth-bound, sitting and reclined, positioned
methodology will be later identified as iconology diagonally parallel to that of God. From a factual
through the interpretation of iconography. perspective, Michelangelo depicted a scene from the
Creation Story, in particular, the creation of man. Apart
To take on the challenge of understanding the content from being a key element of Michelangelo's fresco at the
of art, it must be reiterated that there are various levels ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the subject matter suggests
of meaning. Perhaps the most common is what we call that this is an example of biblical art.
factual meaning. This pertains to the most rudimentary
level of meaning for it may be extracted from the This work is indeed iconic, and this is asserted by the
identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork and conventional meanings attached to it. Here, the specific
understanding how these elements relate to one poses of God and Adam (convex and concave postures,
another. Conventional meaning. on the other hand, respectively) allude to the correspondence of the body
pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the and the commonly held belief that man was created in
artwork using motifs, signs, symbols and other cyphers the image and likeness of God. During this time, the
as bases of its meaning. These conventions are ideals of humanism were underscored and the arts and
established through time, strengthened by recurrent sciences were furthered. It is therefore understandable
use and wide acceptance by its viewers or audience and that the classical canons of the form of the body (ideally
scholars who study them. Finally, when subjectivities are proportioned and muscular) are portrayed, especially by
consulted, a variety of meaning may arise when a Michelangelo who was first and foremost a sculptor.
particular work of art is read. These meanings stem from Here, the view is that the greatness of old civilizations
the viewer's or audience's circumstances that come into such as that of the Greeks and the Romans may not only

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be replicated, but even surpassed. Some art scholars The majority of the public are consumers and not
noted how Michelangelo exhibited just that-an elevated producers of art, and so ensuring he readiness of the
artistry in that the dynamism and energy of the figures public to not only successfully engage with the art, but
in the frescoes in the Sistine chapel are unlike the works meaningfully do so, is the primary function of art
of predecessors. appreciation and education. Throughout this book, it is
hoped that the specialized language of art will unfold for
An interesting overlap between the conventional and
the learning pleasure of the students, enabling the ease
subjective meanings is the proposal from gynecologist
and encouraging the predilection of engaging with art
Frank Lynn Meshberger, whose published essay
through its description, analysis, interpretation, and
appeared in the October 1990 issue of the Journal of
even critique.
American Medical Association. Written was his theory
that an image and a message were hidden in plain sight:
how the silhouette of God, the shroud and the drapery
that trail behind, all seemingly align with the shape of
the human brain. According to Meshberger, the work
can also be aptly called "The Endowment of Adam" for it
brought to light that as God's creation, the most
important qualities imparted to man was intellect. Like
most Renaissance artists, Michelangelo unlocked the
secrets and precision of human anatomy assisting in
dissections during his time. For Meshberger, it was with
his medical background and perhaps exposure to art
and history that allow him to catch the symbol, hidden
in Michelangelo's work.

V. LET'S WRAP IT UP

There is sense of panic when one is confounded with the

question, "What am I seeing?" or rather, "What am I
supposed to see?" Perhaps, addressing this stigma is the
first step in inviting more Filipinos to engage with art
and have a more enduring appreciation for it.

In gaining the basics of deciphering the subject and

content of art, it is hoped that an individual's sensitivity
and perceptiveness to art will be developed. As was
discussed in the chapter, one may begin by looking at
perceivable features of the artwork. Taking note of what
is apparent will provide clues as to what the intended
meaning of the artist might be. Knowing more about the
context of its creation-from the artist's inspiration,
reference or source, will prove useful in understanding
the meaning of the artwork. However, one must forget
that each viewer is armed with his or her experience,
background and education. These will assist in fleshing
out different levels of meaning that maybe derived from
the artwork. These might not be as evident as say, the
figures depicted on the surface: however, these
alternative readings contribute to the significance of the
artwork.

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