Unit 1

Introduction to Art Appreciation

Introduction
Imagine what a society without art would be like? How would buildings look? Could any
kind of visual communication exist at all? These are questions that quickly necessitate defining
the boundaries of what does and does not constitute art.
For many people, art is a tangible thing: a painting, sculpture, photograph, dance, poem
or play. Art is uniquely human and tied directly to culture. As an expressive medium, it allows us
to experience wide ranges of emotion, between joy or sorrow, or confusion and clarity. It gives
voice to ideas and feelings, connects us to the past, reflects the present, and anticipates the future.
This unit is designed to introduce art and its complexities. In this way, you come to
understand better the significance of arts in our daily living.

Lesson 1: What is Art: Introduction and Assumptions

Learning Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to:

a. Discuss the Humanities

b. Evaluate the perspectives behind the meaning of art; and
c. Characterize the assumptions of art.

Presentation of Content

The Humanities
The term “humanities” was first applied to the writings of ancient Latin authors which
were read not only for their clarity of language and forceful literary style, but also, and more
specially, for their moral teaching.

During the Medieval Age, the humanities dealt with the metaphysics of the religion
philosopher. The goal was the cultivation of the spiritual life and the preparation for the
hereafter.

During the Renaissance, the word came to refer to the set of disciplines taught in the
universities, which included grammar, rhetoric, history, literature, music, philosophy, and
theology- a body of knowledge aimed to make man “ human, cultured, and refined.
 At present, the humanities serve to provide the student with certain skills and values
through arts. (Ortiz et al).

The term humanities refers to the arts- the visual arts such as architecture; painting and
sculpture; music; dance; the theater or drama; and literature. They are the branches of learning
concerned with human being and his feelings and how he expresses those feelings have always
been the concern of the humanities (Sanchez, 2001).

Understanding the Arts

We can say that art is the lifeblood of humanities because it conveys one’s feelings and
expressions. Art is the essential factor which motivates an individual to create and appreciate “a
thing of beauty.” But before we formally discuss art, let’s look at the etymological meaning as
well as the different meanings of art given by the experts.

Etymologically, art is derived from the Latin word “ars”, meaning craft or a specialized
form of skill.

Webster’s New Collegiate dictionary defines art as “The conscious use of skill and
creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetics objects.”

Art according to Writers and Philosophers:

“Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of
beauty of God: it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his
excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man’s emotions by external signs; it is not
the production of pleasing objects, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a means of unions
among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and
progress toward well-being of individuals and humanity.” Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy

“Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life.” American writer Henry Miller

“Art is higher type of knowledge than experience.” Greek philosopher Aristotle

“The object of art is to give life a shape.” French dramatist Jean Anouilh

“Art is science in the flesh.” French poet and playwright Jean Couteau

“All art is social,” because it is the result of a relationship between an artist and his time.”
Historian James Adams

“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” Irish poet and
playwright Oscar Wilde

“Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful

forms suitable for human use.” American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator
Frank Lloyd Wright
3 Assumptions of Art
Art is Universal and Timeless
Art has always been timeless and universal, it transcends cultures, races, and civilization.
As long as human beings exist, art is feasible, alive, and dynamic.
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 it is 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.

Art is not Nature

One important characteristic of art is that it is not nature. Art is man’s expression of his
reception of nature. Art is man’s way of interpreting nature. Art is not nature, it is manmade,
whereas nature is a given around us. It is in this juncture that they can be considered opposites.
What we find in nature should not be expected to be present in art too. Movies are not meant to
be direct representations of reality. They may, according to moviemaker’s perception of reality,
be reinterpretation or even distortion of nature.

Art Involves Experience

For most people, art does not require full definition. Art is just experience. By
experience, we mean the “actual doing of something” (Dudley et al., 1960). When one says that
he has an experience of something, he often means that he knows what that something is.
Knowing a thing is different from hearing from others what the said thing is.
Art is always an experience. Unlike fields of knowledge that involve data, art is known
by experiencing. A painter cannot claim to know how to paint if he has not tried holding a brush.
A sculptor cannot produce a work of art if a chisel is foreign to him. Dudley et al. (1960)
affirmed that “art depends on experience, and if one is to know art, he must know it not as a fact
or information but as experience.

Application
(Answers can be encoded or written on a sheet of paper)

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: __________

Yr. & Sec.: ______________________________________________ Score: _________

1. Select at least five(5) artworks which you consider important to you, then explain
each of them.(5points)
 Artworks Explanation
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

2. Give a situation where an artist could make use of nature in producing an artwork.
(5points)
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Lesson 2: Art Appreciation: Creativity, Imagination, and

Expression
Learning Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to:

a. Differentiate art from nature;

b. Characterize artistic expression based on personal experiences with
art; and
c. Categorize the different forms of art.

Presentation of Content
Art vs. Nature
 It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty on a daily basis. However,
not every beautiful thing that can be seen or experienced may truly be called a work
of art.
 Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. No matter how
perfectly blended the colors of a sunset are and no matter how extraordinarily formed
mountains are, nature is not considered art simply because it is not made by man.
 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.
 Not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely, all are spectators
of art. In deciding what pair of shoes to buy, we carefully examine all possible choices
within our budget and purchase the one that satisfies our beauty and practical
standards. We are able to distinguish what is fine and beautiful from what is not and
what is good quality from poor. This gives us a role in the field of art appreciation.

Art Appreciation as a Way of Life

 Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous French philosopher of the twentieth century, described

the role of art as a creative work that depicts the world in a different perspective and
source of human freedom. (Greene, 1995)
 Each artwork beholds beauty of its own kind, the kind that the artist sees and wants the
viewers to perceive.
 Refining one's ability to appreciate art allows him to deeply understand the purpose of an
artwork and recognize the beauty it possesses. (Collins & Riley, 1931)
 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 choices and
decisions in acquiring necessities and luxuries, knowing what gives better value for time
or money while taking into consideration the aesthetic and practical value (Collins &
Riley. 1931). This continuous demand for aesthetically valuable things influences the
development and evolution of art and its forms.
 Frequenting museums, art galleries, performing arts theaters, concert halls, or
even malls that display art exhibitions that are free in admission during leisure time
will not only develop an understanding of the art. But will also serve as a rewarding
experience learning to appreciate art. No matter what vocation or profession you
have, will lead to a fuller and more meaningful life (Collins & Riley, 1931).

The Role of Creativity in Art Making

 Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often used to solve problems that
have never occurred before, conflate function and style, and simply make life a more
unique and enjoyable experience.
 Creativity is what sets apart one artwork from
another. We say something is done creatively when we have not yet seen anything
like it or when it is out of the ordinary.
 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. He embraces originality, puts his own flavor into his work, and calls
it his own creative piece.
 Being creative nowadays can be quite challenging. What you thought was
your own unique and creative idea may not what it seems to be after extensive
research and that someone else has coincidentally devised before the idea in
another part of the world. Thus, creativity should be backed with careful research
on related art to avoid such conflicts.
Art as a Product of Imagination, Imagination as a Product of Art
 German physicist Albert Einstein who had made significant and major contributions in
science and humanity demonstrated that knowledge is actually derived from imagination.
He emphasized this idea through his words: “Imagination is more important than
knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while
imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and
understand.”
 Imagination is not constrained by the walls of the norm, but goes beyond that.
That is why people rely on curiosity and imagination for advancement. Through
imagination, one is able to craft something bold, something new, and something better
in the hopes of creating something that will stimulate change. Imagination allows
endless possibilities.
 In an artist’s mind sits a vast gallery of artworks. An 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. Will
you be inspired to work in such a place? Often, you will find coffee shops, restaurant
and libraries with paintings hung or sculptures and other pieces of art placed around the
room to add beauty to the surroundings.
 Art as Expression
 There may have been times when you felt something is going on within you, you
try to explain it but you do not know how. You may only be conscious about feeling this
sort of excitement, fear, or agitation, but you know that just one word is not enough to
describe the nature of what you truly feel. Finally, you try to release yourself from this
tormenting and disabling state by doing something, which is called expressing oneself
(Collingwood, 1938).
 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.
Classifications of Art
 According to Webster(1987), the major arts involve man’s skills to create works of art
that are in form, content, and execution, aesthetically pleasing and meaning as in music,
painting, architecture, and sculpture. They are called major arts because they appeal to
the senses of sight, hearing, and feeling. They are more notable and conspicuous in effect.
On the other hand, the aesthetic factor in the minor arts lies in the “styling”. They are
addressed primarily to the sense of sight and their usefulness. The minor arts are inferior
in degree, especially in the extent of aesthetic quality.

 According to Manaois, there are two (2) general dimensions of arts, namely, (1) fine arts
or independent arts made principally for aesthetic enjoyment through the senses,
especially visual and auditory such as painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, theater,
performing arts, and (2) practical arts or utilitarian arts intended for practical use or the
development of raw materials for functional purposes such as industrial art, commercial
art, graphic art, agricultural and fishery art.

 Estolas (1995) also grouped arts into:

1. Visual Arts. These artworks are perceived by our eyes which may be classified into
graphic arts and plastic arts. Graphic arts have flat two dimensional surface such as
painting industry. It covers the commercial arts like the design of books,
advertisements, signs, posters and other displays for advertisements. Plastic arts are
visual arts which have three dimensional forms. Under this grouping are: architectural
designs and construction of buildings and other structures; landscape of gardens,
parks, playgrounds, and golf courses with plants ,trees, vines and ground cover;

2. Performing Arts. These include the theater, play, dance, and music. They involve
movement, speaking and gestures.
 3. Literary Arts. These include the short stories, novels, poetry and dramas.

4. Popular Arts. These include the film, newspaper, magazine, radio and television.
This group is characterized as gay and lively.

5. Gustatory Art of the Cuisine. This involves skills in food preparation.

6. Decorative Arts. They are visual objects produced for beautifying houses, offices,
cars and other structures. They are also called applied arts.

 Sanchez, Abad, and Jao (2001) grouped arts into:

1. Visual arts. These include graphic arts (which include drawing, painting,
photography, etc. or in which portrayals of forms and symbols are recorded on a two-
dimensional surface) and plastic arts (which comprise all fields of visual arts for which
materials are arranged in three-dimensional forms namely, structural architecture,
interior arranging, crafts, sculpture, industrial design, dress and costume design and
theatre design.

2. Literature. These include drama, essay, prose fiction, poetry, and miscellaneous
(history, biography, journals, diaries, and other works not formally classed as
literature).

3. Music. These include vocal music; instrumental music; music combined with other
music like opera, operetta and musical comedy, oratorio and cantata; and other forms
like ballet music and background music for motion pictures.

4. Drama and Theater. These include tragedy, melodrama, and comedy,

miscellaneous

5. Dance. These include ethnologic, social or ballroom dances, ballet, modern,

musical comedy.

Application
(Answers can be encoded or written on a sheet of paper)

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: __________

Yr. & Sec.: ______________________________________________ Score: _________
1. Answer the following questions as precisely yet as thoroughly as possible.
a. What art field do you want to explore? Why?
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b. How can you utilize the arts to express yourself, your community, and your
relation to others?
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2. Using the table below, write down examples of the different classifications of art
studied in this lesson. Provide ways on how these art forms express and unmask
creativity from the artist.
Classification Example How does it How does it
of Art Express? Unmask the
Artist’s
Creativity?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.