HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS WHAT ARE THE HUMANITIES? Humanities comes from the latin word humanus Which means, human, cultured, refined They are the branches of learning based on the philosophy and ethical perspective of humanism It emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers individual thought and evidence over established doctrine of faith AND. They are non-scientific, have nothing to do, at least directly, with business or economics, and they are not part of physical education or sports. These are parts of education, of knowledge , that make for a more refined sense of knowing, thinking, and finer feeling. In short, it is an ocean of all humanitys deeper, inward awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity. It is the collective pooling together of the legacy of a given cultures values, ambitions, and beliefs IN ADDITION TO THAT Poetry, painting, philosophy, and music are not, generally speaking, products of unstructured leisure or indulgent individuality, rather, they are tangible expressions of the human quest for the good life Throughout history, these fork of expression have served the domains of the sacred, the ceremonial, and the communal. Even in the early days of the twenty-first century, as many time-honored traditions come under assault, the arts retain their power to awaken our imagination in the quest for survival, commonality and self-knowledge SUBJECTS COVERED IN HUMANITIES COURSES Painting Sculpture Architecture Visual arts Photography Literature Music Auditory Theatre arts Dance film Combined arts HERE ARE FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW ONE CAN ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN A PURSUIT OF THE HUMANITIES Visit a park, library, college campus, a craftsmans workbench, and an artists studio Watch a film, a concert, a parade, and a dance performance Sing a song, dance to a beat, play musical instrument, recite a poem from memory, attend a festival Attend a symphony, lecture, gallery exhibit and festival. Look at piece of art, study it Stop outside the building you pass by. Look at its design. Listen to a band, debate, to a photographer describing a photo Read a novel, a poem, directions on a shampoo bottle See a play, view the stage from different angles, listen to reactions. WHY STUDY THE HUMANITIES? Because.its Make us more human Understand what other men and women have believed, created and also become better human beings We can learn more about ourselves, about other people and about the world around us We can realize our own potentials, and the potentials of others AS A CONSEQUENCE OF OUR ENCOUNTER WITH THE ARTS. We value and appreciate beautiful things. Out of the aesthetic experiences we derive from the arts, we may be influenced to change our behavior. It brings out the decent and the noble in us because the arts has enriched our definition of self by rescuing us from morbid self-attention and by immersing us in the rich plurality of selves We come to know the changing image of mankind as s/he journeys across time, sifts through layers of reality, and strives to achieve the ideas that make for meaningfulness of life. HOW TO STUDY THE HUMANITIES To study humanities is to engage in a dialogue with the past, one that brings us to face to face with the values of our ancestors, and ultimately with our town. This dialogue is a source of personal revelation and delight There are no shortcuts to the study of humanistic discipline, but there are some techniques that may be useful AND THESE ARE Text any primary source refers to its medium (that is, what is made of,) its form (its outward shape), and its content ( the subject it describes ) Whether intended to be spoken or lead, literature depends on the medium of words (poetry, music, dance rhythmic The visual arts Paintings, sculpture, architecture, and photography Context we use the word context to describe the historical and cultural background or environment of the artwork. To determine the context, we ask: 1. In what time and place did the artefact? 2. How did it function within the society in which it was created 3. Was the purpose of the piece decorative, didactic, magical, progandistic? 4. Did it serve the religious or political needs of the community or both. Subtext- refers to its secondary and implied meanings It embraces the emotional or intellectual messages embedded in, or implied by, a work of art Examples: Epic poems from Greece, the state portraits of napoleon Bonaparte, coca cola bottles BEYOND THE HUMANISTIC DISCIPLINES
Lets work THE VALUES OF ART Aesthetic Value it refers to that which causes an object to be a work of art. This is a quality which appeals to our sense of beauty
Intellectual value an artwork stimulates thought. It enriches our mental life
by making us realize fundamental truths about ourselves, about other human beings, and about the world around us.
Suggestiveness this is the quality associated with the emotional power of
art. Great works of art move us deeply and stir feeling and imagination, giving and evoking visions above beyond the plain of ordinary life and experience. Spiritual value art elevates the spirit by bringing out moral values which make us a better person. The capacity to inspire is part of the spiritual value of art. Permanence a great work of art endures. It can be viewed again and again as each encounter gives fresh delight and new insights and opens new worlds of meaning and experience. Its appeal is lasting Universality great art is timeless and timely. It is forever relevant and appeals to one and all, anytime, anywhere because it deals with elemental feelings, fundamental truths, and universal conditions. Style this is the peculiar way in which an artist sees his subject , forms his ideas, and expresses them. Great artworks are marked as much by their memorable substance as well as by their distinctive style. Form artistic forms are skeletal structures or conceptual frameworks designed to support or enclose parts of works of arts. THE FOUR COORDINATES OF ART CRITICISM Every work of art, such as a poem , a novel, an essay, a musical piece, a painting, etc., has four basic coordinates: The subject matter The artist The audience Its own form SUBJECT MATTER Based on the subject matter mimetic art is an imitation of an reality plato art is a reflection or a mirror of reality - Aristotle With respect to subject matter, art is an imitation , depiction, or representation of some aspect of nature or life. That which is imitated, depicted, or represented in art is its subject matter ACCORDING TO SUBJECT MATTER, ART MAT BE CLASSIFIED INTO 2 TYPES 1. representational or figurative art portrays or depicts something other than its own form, examples are venus de milo, da vincis monalisa. Literature is principally representational 2. non representational or non-objective art represents nothing except its own form. Examples pyramids of egypt, Mondrians non-figurative paintings, the symphonies of mozart THE ARTIST, WRITER, OR CREATOR he who touches this book, touches the man ( walt Whitman, an American poet, leaves of grass) From the point of view of the artist ( poet, essayist, fiction writer, dramatist, composer, painter, sculptor or architect), art is a means of expression, a medium for communicating an idea, an emotion or some other human experience, an impression of life, a vision of beauty. The individuality of the creator is revealed to us through his creation. However, the degree to which the artist has revealed himself varies from one form of art to another, from one particular work of art to another AUDIENCE OR READERS literature, to be of importance, must be simple and direct and must have a clear moral purpose ( leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist and short story writer) The purpose of literature is to teach, to moralize, to instruct.. ( George Bernard shaw, anglo-irish and playwright) From the viewpoint of the audience ( readers in the case of literature, viewers in the case of the visual arts, listeners in the case of music), art is experience. Art has always has an audience, even if the audience is none other that the artist himself. FORM there are no moral or immoral books; they are either well written or badly written. ( Oscar wilde, anglo-irish wit and playwright. Preface to his book, the picture of dorian gray) With respect to form (the manner of imitation , how the subject matter is handled and presented), art is a composition, a whole consisting of various parts or elements; the selection, organization, and integration of these elements according to certain formal principles and employing certain techniques constitute that which we call the form of art. EXAMPLES In music the rhythm, harmony, tempo, melody, and dynamics In a film screenplay, acting, direction, cinematography, pacing, editing, set design, music costume, make-up, casting and the like. HOW TO CRITIQUE ARTWORKS An art critique is an evaluation of a work of art. While it is true that artistic taste is relative, there are certain characteristics of artwork that can be assessed as a means of measuring the artists success conveying the intended message or meaning of the work of question. Art criticism is considered by some to be an art within itself, but, although each art critique may approach a work of art uniquely, there is a defined protocol for the discipline of critiquing a work of art You dont have to be an art history buff or museum curator to learn how to critique artwork. Just follow the steps. 1. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE This the objective portion of the art critique It involves a technical description nothing more. It should include things like: A. artists name The title of the work Type of artwork The subject of the painting (scene) Objects in the painting First impression. Note the characteristics of the artwork that first jump out at you Colors used. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE Shapes, lines, and texture Light saturation Sensory qualities. Identify the predominant mood and visual effect ANALYZE THE ARTWORK Evolve the art criticism from a technical description to an in-depth examination of how technical elements were utilized by the artist to create overall impression conveyed by the artwork. Technical elements you need to analyze when you critique artwork include: Color Shapes, forms, and lines Texture Light and shadow How each technical element contributes to the mood , meaning, and aesthetic sensation of the artwork INTERPRET THE ARTWORK This part of an art critiquing is more subjective than the others, as you are expected to use your analysis of the technical aspects of the piece of art to apply your own supposition to the artists intended purpose for the artwork. Try to accomplish the following things when formulating your interpretation: A. communicate the artists statement. Describe what you think the artist Is trying to say through the work of art. B. expound on the feeling conveyed by the artwork. Describe what the artwork means to you, and why. Explain what you feel is the artists intended purpose for creating that particular work of art. Examine why the artist made the choices in technique, materials, and subject matter and how they relate to intended purposes Identify symbols in the artwork and describe how they relate to the artists technical choices and contribute to the artists execution of the intended purposes EVALUATE THE ARTWORK This is a summation of the art criticism process leading up to this point. Use your analysis and interpretation to draw conclusions and reach judgements about the artwork. A. state what you think the artworks value is. Its value may be evoke to incite anger or to impart beauty. Explain why you feel this way. B. Describe the artworks relevance to the art community and to people as a whole. C. explain where you feel the artwork has a strong value and where you think it falls short. USE ART VOCABULARY IN YOUR ART CRITIQUE Remember , there are no incorrect description when you critique artwork Your goal is not to say whether or not the art is good, but rather to impart as best you can visceral response the artwork incites. CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ART What makes Philippine Art Filipino? To what extent is Philippine art derivative of Western art? How about the paintings of Fernando Amorsolo, Carlos Francisco, and Hemado R. Ocampo, all of whom have been identified in a big way with the native sensibility? Genre used to be a ajor consideration
(Published in Association With Theory, Culture & Society) Lisa Blackman - Immaterial Bodies - Affect, Embodiment, Mediation-SAGE Publications LTD (2012) PDF