Course Description: Art Appreciation is a three unit course that develops students ability to appreciate, analyze and critic works of art through interdisciplinary and multimodal approaches, this course equips students with a broad knowledge of the practical, historical,
Philosophical and social relevance of the arts in order to hone students’ ability to articulate their understanding of the arts. The course also develop students competency in researching and curating art as well as conceptualizing, mounting and evaluating art productions. The course aim to develop student’s genuine appreciation for Philippine arts by providing them opportunities to explore the diversity and richness and their rootedness in Filipino culture.
2. Telos
Greek philosopher Aristotle
claimed that every particular
substance in the world has an
end, or telos in Greek, which
translates into “purpose”. Every
substance, defined as a formed
matter, moves according to a
fixed path towards its aim. A
seed is bound to become a full-
grown plant. A cocoon can look
forward to flying high when it
morphs into a butterfly. A baby
will eventually turn into a grown
man or woman.
This telos, according to Aristotle, is
intricately linked with function. For a thing to
reach its purpose, it also has to fulfil its
function. Man, in Aristotle’s view of reality, is
bound to achieve a life of fulfilment and
happiness, or in Greek, Eudaimonia. All men
move toward this final end. However,
happiness, the supposed end of man, is linked
with his function which is being rational. One
can only be happy when he is rational. This
means that to Aristotle, plants can never be
happy because they are not rational, as well as
tables and chairs. Man’s natural end, telos, is
connected with his function, which is his
rationality
3. Telos
Moreover, the telos and function of a thing are both related to a thing’s
identity. What makes a table a table is the fact that it does perform its function
and thereby, reaching its telos. If a table does not have a surface on which we
can put on our books or our plates and glasses, then it ceases to be a table. The
same goes for the human being, according to some schools of thought, is his
capacity for thinking, his supposed function. Without this function, the human
being ceases to be a human being. The telos, the function, and the “whatness”
of a thing are all interconnected.
In contemporary life, the connection between the end, the function and the
“whatness” of a thing has become closer and more interlaced, suggesting
sometimes that the end is the function and vice versa, and that they determine
what kind of thing a thing is.
5. Personal Functions of Art
The personal functions of art varied
and highly subjective. This means
that its function depend on the
person-the artist who created the
art. An artist may create an art out of
the need of self-expression. This is the
case for an artist who needs to
communicate an idea to his audience.
It can also be mere entertainment for
his intended audience. Often, the artist
may not even intend to mean anything
with his work.
-therapeutic
6. Social Functions of Art
Art is considered to have a social function if and when
it addresses a particular collective interest as opposed
to personal interest. Political art is a very common
example of an art with a social function. Art may
convey message of protest, contestation, or whatever
message the artist intends his work to carry. Often, art
can also depicts social conditions. Photography, as an
art form, delivers this kind of function by taking
photos of subjects in conditions that people do not
normally take a look at or attention to. Pictures of
poverty may carry emotional overtones that may
solicit action or awareness from their audience.
Moreover, performance art like plays or satires can
also rouse emotions and rally people toward a
particular end.
7. Physical Functions of Art
The physical functions of art are
the easiest to spot and understand.
The physical functions of art can be
found in artworks that are crafted in
order to serve some physical
purpose. A Japanese raku bowl that
serves a physical function in a tea
ceremony is an example.
Architecture, jewelry making, and
even interior design are all forms of
arts that have physical function.
9. Music
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 instrument to facilitate worship and
invocation to Gods. Music also was essential
to dance because music assures synchronicity
among dancers. Moreover, music also
guarantees that marches, in the case of
warriors, were simultaneous.
10. Sculpture
Sculpture, on the other hand, is
another functional art form that
has long existed for various
purposes. Just like music, from
the early days of humanity,
sculptures have been made by
man most particularly for
religion. People erect status for
the divine. In the Roman
Catholic world, the employment
of sculptures for religious
purposes has remained vital,
relevant and symbolic.
11. Architecture
Another art form that readily lends itself to multiple
functions is architecture. In fact, architecture
might be the most prominent functional art form.
Buildings are huge, expensive, and are not easily
constructed and replaced. Unlike other forms of art
like pots, furniture, poetry, or even paintings,
buildings take so much time to erect and destroy. A
lot of investments is put into making mega structures
like the pyramids of Giza, the acropolis, or the great
cathedrals of the Middle ages. One cannot simply
dismiss taking into consideration the function of a
building before construction.
12. DOES ART ALWAYS HAVE
TO FUNCTIONAL?
While it has been shown that most arts are functional,
still there are some which are not. The value of a work
of art does not depend on function but on the work
itself. The place of Aeschylus and the poetry of
Robert Frost and Edgar Allan Poe are still counted
as an examples of great works of art despite their not
having a known function. In those whose functions
are ascertained, however, it is a different story. A
functional object cannot be claimed to be beautiful
unless it can perform its function sufficiently.
Consider a house that cannot even protect its resident
from the nasty weather outside or a spoon that spills
the food on it. Adequate performance of function
partly determines the beauty of a design in these
functional art forms.
14. PPA
Art is good when it
imitates reality.
Art is good when it
communicates a
message.
Art is good when it
masters the artistic
elements and
principles..
Art is good when it
evokes an emotional
response.
I.IMITATIONALISM
III. INSTRUMENTALISM
II. FORMALISM
IV. EMOTIONALISM
15. OVERVIEW
An Imitationalist artist
focuses on mimicking
and representing real life.
In a successful piece of
art, the textures, light,
shadows, human
proportions, and
perspective are all highly
realistic, as if you could
reach out and touch
them.
I.IMITATIONALISM II. FORMALISM
A Formalist artist focuses on an
artwork’s form—the way it’s
made and what it looks
like. In a successful piece
of art, the visual features
are most important: line
quality, color, composition,
and other artistic elements
and principles.
16. OVERVIEW
An Instrumentalist artist
focuses on context and
message. A successful
piece of art is an
instrument to persuade
the audience or provide
commentary. It is often
political, social, moral, or
thought-provoking.
III. INSTRUMENTALISM IV. EMOTIONALISM
An Emotionalist artist
focuses on the
expression of emotion. A
successful piece of art
communicates an
emotion, but more
importantly, it pulls out an
emotional reaction from
the viewer.
17. Activity #3
Creating poetry or Creative Writing Inspired by a Work
of Art
Use your Activity #2 as your inspiration for this activity.
Look at the picture carefully and think about what you
see and what it makes you feel. Write a poem or a story
that is inspired by the picture. BE CREATIVE AND LET THE
PICTURE GIVE YOU IDEAS.
18. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo,
including icons by Flaticon and infographics & images by Freepik
THANKS!
Does anyone have any questions?
