Lesson 1: Art Appreciation

Introduction

- This lesson, titled "Art Appreciation", is part of a broader study of the subject.
- It delves into the fundamentals of art, emphasizing its core components like creativity,
imagination, and expression.

Definition of Art
- The lesson defines art as a diverse range of human activities and products.
- This broad definition encompasses creative imagination, technical proficiency, beauty,
emotional power, and conceptual ideas.

Creativity and Imagination

- Creativity is presented as a phenomenon that produces something new and valuable.
- It can be expressed through intangible ideas or physical objects.
- Imagination, on the other hand, is defined as the ability to create and simulate novel
objects, sensations, and ideas within the mind.
- It allows us to re-create past experiences or invent entirely new and possibly fantastic
scenes.
- The lesson highlights the role of imagination in problem-solving and integrating
experience and learning.
- Storytelling is presented as a valuable training ground for imagination.

Expression
- Expression is defined as the act of representing something in a medium, such as
words, and is considered a vital part of art.
- It involves expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas through various mediums.

Lesson 2: Assumptions of Art

Art Appreciation | Lesson 2

What is the importance of art?

●​ All the arts that we see and hear have a purpose as well as expressions; they
occupy some place in our judgement and makes a huge impact in our lives
●​ Art highlights and heightens the importance of certain events in order to keep
them memorable and pleasurable.
 ●​ Art enables us to get a glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the
people in their time and the faces in their environment that influenced the people.
●​ Art enables us to value and appreciate beautiful things as a consequence of our
encounter with arts.
●​ Art may influence us to change our ways and behavior as a result of the
aesthetic experience we derived from the arts.
●​ Arts are valuable resources of inspiration and aesthetic delightful experience
through the artist works of art.

Art is Subjective
There is no one universal definition of art since art is subjective.

Art Criticism is Objective

Art criticism determines the relative artistic values of an individual work in comparison
with others of comparable style.

Assumptions of Art
The assumption of art is that it will be experienced by someone other than the artist.

Art is universal
The elements and forms of art apply to all arts everywhere.

Art is cultural
Art contributes to the understanding of past and present cultures. Through art, people
learn about their culture’s values and strengthen their culture’s identity.

Art is not nature

Art is not nature because it is man-made. Art is man’s interpretation of what he
perceives as art.

Art is a form of creativity

Art is a product of the imagination that entertains, pleases and inspire people. Artists
use their experiences to ventilate their feelings through the works that they make.

Art involves experience

Artists use their experiences to ventilate their feelings through the works that they make.

“An assumption is something that is generally accepted as being true.”—Anonymous

Lesson 3.1: Functions of Art and Content in Art

Art Appreciation | Lesson 3.1

How can we determine the function of an artwork?

Functions of Art
Every art form has a definite function since it satisfies a particular need. To the layman,
art may have little function. Some find meaning in art in its ability to serve the purpose
for which it was designed.

The Seven (7) Functions of Art

Aesthetic Function: Through art, man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature. He
benefits from his own work and from those done by his fellowmen. He learns to use,
love and preserve them for his enjoyment and appreciation.

Utilitarian Function: With the creation of the various forms of art, man now lives in
comfort and happiness. Through art, man is provided with shelter, clothing, food, light,
medicine, beautiful surroundings, personal ornamentals, entertainment, language,
transportation, and other necessities and conveniences of life. Art does not enrich
man’s life. It also improves nature through landscape gardening, creation of super
highways, and through propagation and conservation of natural resources.

Cultural Function: Through the printed matter, art transmits and preserves skills and
knowledge from one generation to another. It makes man aware of his cultural
background, making him more knowledgeable making his life more enduring and
satisfying.

Social Function: Through civic and graphic arts, man learns to love and help each
other. International understanding and cooperation are fostered, and nations become
more unified, friendly, cooperative, helpful and sympathetic.

Political Function: Art reinforces and enhances a sense of identity and ideological
connection to specific political views, political parties and politicians.

Educational Function: There are art symbols and signs to illustrate knowledge and
attitudes that are not expressed in words.
Spiritual Function: Some artworks express spiritual beliefs, customs, ceremonies and
rituals about the meaning and destiny of life. These artworks may have religious
significance.

Content in Art
Content in art refers to the meaning or significance, and/or feeling imparted by a work of
art. It is the meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork.

Factual Meaning
- The most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable or
recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these elements relate to one
another.

Conventional Meaning
- It pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, and
symbols, and other cyphers as bases of its meaning. These conventions are
established through time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide acceptance by its
viewers or audience and scholars who study them.

Subjective Meaning
- When subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meanings may arise when a particular
work of art is read. These meanings stem from the viewer's or audience's
circumstances that come into play when engaging with art (what we know, what we
learned, what we experienced; what values we stand for). Its meaning may not be
singular, rather, multiple and varied.

Lesson 3.2: Component of Art Sources of Subjects Types of Subjects

Art Appreciation | Lesson 3.2

The three basic components of work of art:

Subject: the visual focus or the image that may be extracted from examining the
artwork; the “what”
Content: the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the “why”
Form: the development and configuration of the artwork - how the elements and the
medium or material are put together; the “how”

The Meaning of Subject of Art

In any art form - painting, music, sculpture, architecture or dance - there is always a
subject that serves as a foundation of the creation of the work of art. A subject of art is
usually anything that is represented in the artwork. It is varied - it may be a person,
object, scene or event.

Sources of Subjects

Subjects of art may be found in primary sources such as:

- Artwork
- Autobiographies
- Films of the artist
- Interviews
- Dairies
- Documents
- Nature
- History
- Mythology
- Christian traditions
- Speeches
- Letters
- Sacred oriental texts
- Photographs

Subject of Art
Representational Arts: These are artworks that depict something easily recognized by
most people. Painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theater arts are generally
classified as representational arts, although some paintings and sculptures are without
subjects.

Non-representational Arts: These are artworks that have no resemblance to any real
subject, they do not represent anything; and they are what they are. They rather appeal
directly to the senses primarily because of the satisfying organization of their elements.

“I don’t paint dreams or nightmares, I paint may own reality.”—Frida Kahlo