SHEPHERDVILLE COLLEGE

Talojongon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur

College of Education & College of Health
First Semester
AY 2020 – 2021
ARTS APPRECIATION
MODULE 4

A. INTRODUCTION

Within art, there exist purposes referred to as functions for which a piece of art may be designed,
but no art can be “assigned” a function either in scholarly studies or casual conversation outside of
the proper context. Art forms exist within very specific contexts that must be considered when
classifying them. Whether a particular piece of art has existed for centuries or has yet to be created,
it is functional in some way all art exists for a reason and these reasons make up the functions of art.

Initial Task (15%): Look inside your house. You can look too at the outside surrounding, but make
sure that you’ll not go far. Your task is to take at least 3 photos of what you can consider as a work
or product of art based on its definitions indicated in the recent modules that we had. After taking
photos, attach those in your answer sheet and briefly explain what is/are the function/s of that certain
work of art. 5% will be given for every photo and explanation. A total of 15% will be allocated for
the 3 photos with their respective explanations.

B. COMPETENCY 2: Functions and Philosophical Perspective on Art

 OBJECTIVES

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

1. Explain the basic philosophical foundations of art;

2. Realize the functions of some art forms in daily life;
3. Apply theories and concepts on beauty and aesthetics in real-life scenarios; and
4. Discuss the difference between an artwork’s subject and its content.

 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Plato’s The Republic – One of Plato’s most famous works which can be attributed to the lessons he
learned from Socrates. This is also considered to be the first book on political science or government
and uses the Platonic method to reason through ideas on justice.
2. Socratic Method – The method of inquiry and instruction employed by Socrates especially as
represented in the dialogues of Plato and consisting of a series of questionings the object of which is
to elicit a clear and consistent expression of something supposed to be implicitly known by all
rational beings.
3. Plato’s Theory of Forms and Ideas – This theory asserts that physical world is not really the “real”
world; instead, ultimate reality exists beyond our physical world.
4. Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgment – This theory argues that self-interest is not relevant to
making aesthetic judgments; whatever one experiences indifferently is aesthetic.
  CONTEXT
 Below are the different functions of art.

Physical Function of Art

- The physical functions of art are often the easiest to
understand. Works of art that are created to perform some
service have physical functions.
- A Japanese Raku Bowl is a piece of art that performs a
physical function in a tea ceremony.
- Architecture, crafts such as welding and woodworking, interior
design, and industrial design are all types of art that serve
physical functions.
Japanese Raku Bowl
SAQ #1 (15%): Do all artworks have a function? Does the function make an object a work of art? Elaborate your
ideas in no more than 150 words. Your answer will be evaluated by the criteria below.
Criteria:
Rationality of ideas – 8%
Organization of thoughts – 4%
Adherence to instructions – 3%
TOTAL – 15%

Social Function of Art

- Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of collective
life as opposed to one person’s point of view or experience.
Viewers can often relate in some way to social art and are
sometimes even influenced by it.
- Art that depicts social conditions performs social functions and
often this art comes in the form of photography. The Realists
figured this out early in the 19th century.
“The Spectator” by Paul Morrissey
SAQ #2 (15%): Do you think that art can be a catalyst for change? Explain your thoughts in no more than 150
words. Your answer will be evaluated by the criteria presented in SAQ #1.

Personal Function of Art

- The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to
explain. There are many types of personal functions and these are
highly subjective. Personal functions of art are not likely to be
the same from person to person.
- An artist may create a piece out of a need for self-expression or
gratification. They might also or instead want to communicate a
thought or point to the viewer. Sometimes, an artist is only trying
to provide an aesthetic experience, both for self and viewers.
- A piece might be meant to entertain, provoke thought or even
have no particular effect at all.
“Rain” Art by Nazar Bilyk
SAQ #3 (10%): What art form/artwork has changed something in your life? Why? Share your insights in no more
than 150 words.

 PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART

 Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has an end or “telos in Greek, which
translates into “purpose.” Every substance, defined as formed matter, moves according to a fixed path
towards its aim.
Art is an Imitation

- In Plato’s The Republic, paints a picture of artists as imitations and art as mere imitation.
- In his description of the ideal republic, Plato advices against the inclusion of art as a subject in the
curriculum and the banning of artists in the Republic.
- Plato was convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief in copies and discourage men to reach for
the real entities in the World of Forms.
- Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two reasons:
1. They appeal to the emotion rather to the rational faculty of men
2. They imitate rather than lead one to reality
- Poetry rouses emotions and feelings. Thus, it clouds rationality of people.
- Art is just an imitation of imitation. A painting is just an imitation of the nature, which is also just an
imitation of reality in the World of Forms.
- Art then is to be banished alongside the practitioners, so that the attitudes and actions of the members
of the Republic will not be corrupted by the influence of the arts.
- For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty replacement for the real entities that can only be
attained through reasons.
 For further understanding of Plato’s The Republic and World of Forms and Ideas, click this link
https://youtu.be/YcYbH5X7MpQ titled “What does Plato think of Art? : Art in the Republic”
 For you to answer the question in SAQ #4, watch and understand this YouTube video with this
provided link https://youtu.be/HopuAGaycaE titled “What is Art? Plato VS. Aristotle” by Edward
John C. Padilla, M.A. Ed., LPT, published on January 26, 2019.

SAQ #4 (30%): Why does Plato believed that art is just an imitation of the imitation? Did you believe that our life is
an imitation of the ideal life and that art is an imitation of life? Why or Why not? Give examples. Support your
claims by writing a reflective essay not exceeding to 300 words. Your work will be graded by the essay rubric below.
SCALE DESCRIPTION
30 points Facts are consistently detailed / precise and very relevant. Uses correct spelling and
grammar effectively almost all of the time. Addresses the questions completely.
25 points Most facts are detailed / precise and relevant. Uses spelling and grammar with
considerable accuracy and effectiveness. Addresses the questions but left out few details.
20 points Lacks few substantial details and examples to support ideas. Spelling and grammar
require moderate editing. Addresses the question, but provided few details.
15 points More specific details and examples are needed to support opinions. Spelling and grammar
require considerate editing. Addresses the question, but with very few details.
Art as a Representation
 - Aristotle agreed with Plato that art is a
form of imitation.
- However, Aristotle considered art as an
aid to philosophy in revealing the truth.
- The kind of imitation that art does is not
antithetical to the reaching of
fundamental truths in the world.
- Unlike Plato who thought that art is an
imitation of another imitation, Aristotle
conceived of art as representing possible
versions of reality.
- For Aristotle, all kinds of art do not aim
to represent reality as it is; it endeavors
“Love and Pain” by Edward Munch (1895) – This artwork portrays the
ups and downs of loving. It clearly signifies that love is a roller coaster to provide a version of what might be or
emotion of hate, anger, sufferings, pain, happiness, and pure bliss. the myriad possibilities of reality.

- In Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes:

1. Art allows for the experience of pleasure. For example, horrible experience can be made as an object
of humor.
2. Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about life.
SAQ #5 (15%): What does Aristotle mean when he said that all kinds of art do not aim to represent reality as it is?
Explain your answer in no more than 150 words. Your work here will be evaluated using the criteria in SAQ #1.

Art as a Disinterested Judgment

- Immanuel Kant, in his Critique of Judgment, considered

the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as
something that can be universal despite its subjectivity.
- Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
- However, even subjective judgments are based on some
universal criterion for the said judgment.
- The first is clearly a judgment of taste (subjective), while
the second is an aesthetic judgment (objective).
- Making an aesthetic judgment require us to be
disinterested. In other words we should try to go beyond
our individual tastes and preferences so that we can
appreciate art from a universal standpoint.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) A philosopher and
author who wrote the book titled “Critique of

 For further understanding of Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgment, watch and understand this
YouTube video with this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2LXgBbfal&feature=share
 You can also use that video for you answer the questions in SAQ # 5 indicated below.
SAQ #6 (15%): What are the society’s definitions of beauty? Considering your own preferences or standards, how
would you define beauty? Express your ideas in no more than 150 words. Be guided by the criteria in SAQ #1.

Art as a Communication of Emotion

 - According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge role in communication to its audience’s emotions that the
artist previously experienced.
- In the same that language communicates information to other people, art communicate emotions.
- 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 it makes accessible feelings and emotions of people from the
past and present.

 For further understanding of Leo Tolstoy’s definition of art as form of communicating emotion,
watch and understand this YouTube video by clicking this link https://youtu.be/XzRKrEHDUu8
SAQ #7 (15%): How does art plays a huge role in communication to its audience’s emotions? State instances to
strengthen your claims. Express your ideas in no more than 150 words. Be guided by the criteria in SAQ #1.

D. SUMMARY
• Art has remained relevant in our daily lives because most of it has played some form of function for
man.
• The different functions of art may be classified as personal, social, or physical.
• Art may serve either as imitation, representation, a disinterested judgment, or simply a communication
of emotion.

E. REFERENCES

- https://youtu.be/YcYbH5X7MpQ titled “What does Plato think of Art: Art in the Republic”
- https://youtu.be/HopuAGaycaE titled “What is Art? Plato VS. Aristotle” by Edward John C.
Padilla, M.A. Ed., LPT, published on January 26, 2019.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2LXgBbfal&feature=share Immanuel Kant’s views in his
book titled “Critique of Judgment.”
- https://youtu.be/XzRKrEHDUu8 Leo Tolstoy’s Art as a Communication of Emotion.
- https://www.thought.com/what-are-the-functions-of-art?-182414.html article about functions of art.

F. EVALUATION (40%):

1. Search at least 5 photos of work or product of art that have physical functions. Attach your selected
photos in your answer sheet. Briefly explain what physical function it serves. You can look in the internet,
magazines, and journals as your references. A total of 10% will be allocated for the 5 photos or 2% each.
2. Does art always have a function? Why? Support your response by providing your own examples. Be
guided by the essay rubric below. (30%)
SCALE DESCRIPTION
30 points Facts are consistently detailed / precise and very relevant. Uses correct spelling and grammar effectively almost all
of the time. Addresses the questions completely.
25 points Most facts are detailed / precise and relevant. Uses spelling and grammar with considerable accuracy and
effectiveness. Addresses the questions but left out few details.
20 points Lacks few substantial details and examples to support ideas. Spelling and grammar require moderate editing.
Addresses the question, but provided few details.
15 points More specific details and examples are needed to support opinions. Spelling and grammar require considerate
editing. Addresses the question, but with very few details.

Prepared by:
MENARD JONAS B. MESOGA, LPT
Instructor, Arts Appreciation