Lesson 1 - Art Appreciation
Lesson 1 - Art Appreciation
Lesson 1 - Art Appreciation
Art is something that is perennially around us. Some people may deny
having to do with the arts, but it is indisputable that life presents us with many
forms of and opportunities for communion with the arts. A bank manager
choosing what tie to wear together with his shirt and shoes, a politician shuffling
her music track while comfortably seated on her car looking for her favorite song,
a student marveling at the intricate designs of a medieval cathedral during his
field trip, and a market vendor cheering for her bet in a dance competition on a
noontime TV program all manifest concern for values that are undeniably, despite
tangentially, artistic.
Despite the seemingly overflowing
instances of arts around people, one
still finds the need to see more and
experience more, whether consciously
or unconsciously. One whose exposure
to music is only limited to one genre
finds it lacking not to have been
exposed to more. One, whose idea of a
cathedral is limited to the locally
available ones, finds enormous joy in
seeing other prototypes in Europe.
Plato had the sharpest foresight when
he discussed in the Symposium Figure 1.A Medieval Cathedral
that beauty, the object of any love, truly progresses. As one moves through life,
one locates better, more beautiful objects of desire (Scott, 2000). One can never
be totally content with what is just before him. Human beings are drawn toward
what is good and ultimately, beautiful.
This lesson is about this yearning for the beautiful, the appreciation of the all-
consuming beauty around us, and some preliminary clarifications on
assumptions that people normally hold about art.
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with their crude instruments, already showcased and manifested earliest
attempts at recording man's innermost interests, preoccupations, and
thoughts. The humanities, then, ironically, have started even before the term
has been coined. Human persons have long been exercising what it means to be
a human long before he was even aware of his being one. The humanities stand
tall in bearing witness to this magnificent phenomenon. Any human person,
then, is tasked to participate, if not, totally partake in this long tradition of
humanizing himself.
Assumptions of Art
Art is universal.
Literature has provided key works of art. Among the most popular ones
being taught in school are the two Greek epics, the lliad and the Odyssey. The
Sanskrit pieces Mahabharata and Ramayana are also staples in this field.
These works, purportedly written before the beginning of recorded history, are
believed to be man's 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.
In every country and in every generation, there is always art. Oftentimes, people
feel that what is considered artistic are only those which have been made long
time ago. This is a misconception. Age is not a factor in determining art. An
“...art is not good because it is old, but old because itis good” (Dudley et al.,
1960).
In the Philippines, the works of Jose Rizal and
Francisco Balagtas are not being read because
they are old. Otherwise, works of other
Filipinos who have long died would have been
required in junior high school too. The pieces
mentioned are read in school and have
remained to be with us because they are good.
They are liked and adored because they meet
our needs and desires. Florante at Laura never
fails to teach high school students the beauty
of love, one that is universal and pure. Ibong
Adarna, another Filipino masterpiece, has
always captured the imagination of the young
with its timeless lessons. When we recite the
Psalms, we feel in communion with King David
as we feel one with him in his conversation
with
Figure 3. Ibong Adarna Figure 3. Ibong Adarna