MIDTERM LECTURE AND REVIEWER IN ART APRECIATION

Humanities refer to the arts- the visual arts such as architecture, painting, and sculpture,
the performing arts such as music, dance, theatre or drama, and literature. They are
branches of learning concerned with human, thoughts, feelings and relations.
Etymologically

Humanities came from the Latin word “humanus” which means human, cultured and
refined. “What does it mean to be human?”- To be human is to show the
characteristics of rationally, benevolence and care. To be cultured and refined is to
show good tastes and manners indicative of good, proper education.
Humanities are records of man’s quest for answers to the fundamental questions he asks
about himself and life

Humanities and the Arts considered as two of the oldest fields of knowledge available
to man.

ARTS & MUSIC

Fundamental Principles of Humanities
1. Human nature is inherently good
2. Individuals are free and are capable of making choices
3. Self-concept plays an important role in growth and development
4. Individuals have an urge for self-actualization
5. Reality is defined by each person
6. Individuals have responsibility to both themselves and to others

“THE WORD ART”

Etymologically comes from Aryan root “ar which means to join or to put together. The
Latin term sars , artis means everything that is artificially made or composed by man..
Skillful arrangement or composition in an amazing, meaningful and enjoyable way
(Adams, 2002)

THE NATURE OF ART

1. Art is Subjective. It employs the use of perception, insights and intuition.

2. Art is an expression and communication
3. Art provide enjoyment and stimulation
4. Art provides people of themselves to enable them to further understand their
nature and provide them a way to express their passions and desires,
Their potentials and even their relationship with people

FUNCTION OF ART. All art forms generally have the following functions:
1. The human need for expression.
2. The social display, celebration and communication.
3. The physical needs for functional objects

Art as viewed by Philosophy

Philosophy a discipline which has attempted to explain almost all aspects of human
existence.

Aesthetics is the philosophical study of beauty and taste. It is concern with the nature
of arts and used as basis for interpreting and evaluating individual works

A. Three famous philosophers

1. Plato(428-347 BCE) Plato was a philosopher of Ancient Greece. Plato was said
have loved and hated the arts at the same time, good literary stylist and a
great storyteller,- he is consider the arts as threatening, he shows how powerful
the arts
 can be in shaping a person’s character, arts can be used to train citizens to
have ideal society

Two theories of the Art by Plato

Physical world is a copy of perfect, rational, eternal and changeless original. The
originals are called Forms.
Art is Imitation- copy of a copy which leads people farther from away the truth or the
forms
Art is dangerous- art has power to stir emotions.

Artist as defined by Plato

Artist are people who have the ability to make a better copy of true Form. Plato saw
the artists as having the skills, imagination and creativity that would enable them to
make an almost perfect copy of the Forms

2. Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

He is also a famous philosopher of Ancient Greece
He was a student of Plato
He first distinguished between what is good and what is beautiful. Good may also
consider as beautiful
The universal elements of beauty are manifested by order, symmetry and
definiteness
Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
The physical manifestation of beauty is likewise affected by its size, it should not be
too long or too small
The art aim was to give pleasure and in giving pleasure
Art as imitation or a representation of nature
Poetry, music and dance imitates some aspect of human nature through rhythm,
harmony, melody and vocal sound.
Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
He puts more emphasis on poetry
Poetry imitates three things
1. Things and events which have been still are;
2. Things which are said to be seen and are probable
3. Things which essentially are.
Paintings and sculptures were seen by him as representations of imitation of
ideas, imagination and reality

3. Immanuel Kant - a German, Enlighten Philosopher in 1763

He wrote on Aesthetics “observation on the feelings of the beautiful and sublime
His main interest was not in art itself but on beauty
Kant thought that beauty does not rest on the properties of the objects or things but
rather on the manner in which people respond to these objects or things. “beauty is a
matter of taste”
Subjective taste does not focus on the properties of the object itself but rather on the
pleasure one experiences as he responds to it.
Universal taste- is non-aesthetic and does not consider beauty of the world or
the mastery of the artist but rather the art is appreciated for what it is.
He has two kinds of aesthetic response
1. beauty results in pleasure if there is harmony and symmetry
2. beauty leads to a response of awe that overwhelms the viewer art

ARTISTS AND ARTISANS

An Artist is a person who exhibits exceptional skills in the visual/and or performing arts.
An Artisan is a person who is skilled trade that involves making by hand
Curation is a process that involves managing, overseeing and assembling or putting
together a presentation or exhibit for some type of historical or artistic collection. The
person responsible for this task is called a curator

The Artist and His Technique. Artist differ from one another in technique even if they use
the same medium.

Medium and Technique

a. Medium denotes the means by which an artist communicates his idea. These
are the materials which are used by an artist to interpret his feelings or thoughts.
b. Technique is the manner in which the artist controls his medium to achieved
desired effects. It is the ability with which the way he manipulates his medium to
express his ideas in the artwork. Technique differ in various arts. An artist
technique in one medium will be quite different from hid technique in another.

Each medium has its own characteristics which determine the physical appearance
of the finished work of art.
.

.
THE VISUAL ARTS
The visual arts include mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture,
photography architecture and printmaking.

SUBJECT AND CONTENT

1. Form refers to the work's style, techniques and media used, and how the elements of
design are implemented. The physical appearance of a work of art its materials, style
and composition.
2. Subject refers to a work's essence/principle, or what is being depicted/describe
(person, place, object or event). It is also refers to what the work represents.
3. Content - meaning or message conveyed through a work of art. It includes
emotional, intellectual, symbolic, thematic
and narrative connotations

- Representational art implies what you are producing looks like what it is supposed
to be. An apple can recognizable as apple, a new person like a person.
Representational artwork aims to represent actual objects or subjects from reality.
Simply means the artwork that have subjects

Ways of Presenting the Subject

Realism. An art style where the artist tries to paint a picture exactly how it looks in
real life, with as many details as possible. Portraying subject as it is.

Naturalism. The subject were imitated from the human figure

2. Non-Representational art
Non- representational works do not have a recognizable connection to visual reality
but instead focus on the subjective and emotional qualities (the things we feel)
through the formal elements and principles. Simply means those that do not have
subjects they appear directly to the senses because of their expressive elements

Abstraction. “to move away or to separate from”, move away from reality. Abstraction
may take the following forms:
 - Distortion. When figures have been so arranged that its proportion differ
significantly from reality. Subject is misshapen or twisted out

- Elongation- subject is stretched vertically and some parts lengthened to give the
impression of thinness
- Mangling- subject as cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked with repeated blows
- Cubism- abstract form presented the use of cone, cylinder, sphere, triangle and
other geometrical shapes

Fauvism-Henri Matisse leader of the group. Painted picture of comfort, joy and
pleasure with the use of bright colors
Dadaism- does not follow the traditions and principles of art to show the wickedness of
the society. Example: Fountain by Duchamp.

Symbolism- visible sign of something invisible such as idea or quality. Or using of

symbols to represent an animal or objects that adds mysterious quality to the artwork

Futurism- began in Italy, These artworks shows the speed and force of the modern
industrial society

Expressionism- that man needs spiritual rebirth for him to correct defects that ruins
society. This style of art depicts the emotions aroused by an object or events. Subject
presented chaos, sadness, defeat or tragedy

Surrealism- super realism, subject in this art attempt to show man’s inner mind and how
they may perceive their outside world

Sources of Subject

1. Nature- mountains, animals, landscape, seascapes ,cloudscapes

2. People- human subjects whether real or imagined
3. History- historical art works depicts real events, to teach history to the viewers
4. Legends- something tangible , art brings life to these stories
5. Religion- based on sacred texts
6. Mythology- artworks based from the stories of the gods and goddess
7. Dream and fantasy- the intrigue of the unconscious mind
8. Technology- the modern era buildings, machines

The Artist’s Medium

1. Drawing the most basic and familiar form of art. It is one of the most immediate,
intimate, affordable and direct art forms. It is usually done on paper using pencil, pen
and ink or charcoal. Shading can also be used to make drawings more life-like and
realistic
1.1 Pencil, Pen and Ink Charcoal
a. Pencil are graded in different degree of hardness or softness.
b. Ink- one of the most oldest mediums.
c. Charcoal is a material obtained by heating wood or other organic substances in the
absence of oxygen. It is used in representing broad masses of light and shadow.

* Hatching is drawing a series of thin parallel lines that run in the same direction
* Cross-Hatching is drawing a series of thin parallel lines and criss crossing it with
another set of thin parallel lines. Create a tone that is darker than hatching
* Stippling- using the sharp point of the pencil to make dot patterns
* Blending- is at times accomplished by using the finger or a paper stump to gradually
change the tone from dark to light.
1.2 Crayons- are pigments bound by wax and compressed into painted sticks used for
drawing. Crayons adhere better on paper surface.

*Pigment- Any coloring agent, made from natural or synthetic substances, used in
paints or drawing materials.

Canvas- It is the most popular surface for two-dimensional art that used by graphic artist.

2. Painting
Painting is the art of creating meaningful effects on a flat surface by the use of
pigments. Different mediums are used in painting. Each medium exerts a
pronounced effect on the finished product, is capable of varied treatment, and
determines its own stroke. These medium are applied to wet plaster, canvas, wood,
or paper.

* Watercolor-difficult to handle because producing warm and rich tones using this
medium proves to be challenge. On the contrary, watercolor pigments invite brilliance
and variety of hues.

* TEMPERA- paints are mineral pigments mixed with egg yolk or egg white and ore. This
egg-based emulsion binds the pigments to the surface. Tempera characterized by its
film forming properties and rapid drying rate. It requires more deliberate technique
than oil because it does not possess the flexibility of oil.

* Pastel is a stick of dried paste made of pigment ground with chalk and compounded
with gum water. It is a very flexible medium whose colors are luminous

Stippling is using pastel of different colors to produce small marks creating a pattern

Feathering using the point of the pastel to make parallel strokes creating feather like
effect

Scumbling is like layering but using pastel.

Impasto is the technique of thickly applying the pastel by pressing it hard on the paper
creating an opaque effect.

Sgrafitto is applying a thick deposit of pastel on the support then using a blunt
pen scrape it off to reveal the underlying color and create design

* Oil painting- is the most expensive art activities today because of the cost of the
materials. It is the heaviest of painting mediums. In oil painting, pigments are mixed with
linseed oil and applied to the canvass. One of the good quality of oil paint as a
medium is its flexibility. The artist may use a brush, palette knife, or even his bare
hands when applying paint on his canvas. Painting done in oil appears glossy and lasts
long.

* Acrylic -is a medium used popularly by contemporary painters because of

the transparency and quick-drying characteristics of watercolor and the flexibility of
oil combined. This synthetic paint is mixed with acrylic emulsion as binder for coating
the surface of the artwork. Acrylic paints do not tend to break easily, unlike oil paints
which turns yellowish or darker over period of time.

Mosaic is the art of putting together small pieces of color stones or glass
called “tesserae” to create image. The tesserae are most often cut into squares and
glued on a surface with plaster or cement. Mosaic is usually classified as painting
although, the medium used is not strictly pigment.
Stain Glass-is an artwork in Gothic cathedral and churches. It is made by combining
small piece of colored glass held together by bands of lead. It is also a kind of
patchwork.

Collage- which means to stick. A technique of making artwork by gluing or pasting on

a firm support materials or found objects. How the pieces are arranged reflects the
message that the artist wants to convey

3. Printmaking- A print is anything printed on a surface that is a direct result from the
duplication process. The painting or graphic image, usually done in blank ink on white
paper, becomes the artist’s plate
Calligraphy is the art of using ink to create beautiful handwriting.

4. Sculpture- the art of processing plastic or hard materials into work of art (carving,
modelling, or welding)

Free Standing- sculptures that can be viewed from all stands

Kinetic (mobiles) a sculpture that is capable of movement by wind, water or other
forms of energy.

Medium used for sculpture

1. Stone- the finished product is granular and dull in appearance.
2. Metals-includes, silver, gold or copper. Being ductile metals can be transformed into
fine wires or threads. They can be shaped and deformed 3. Clay - is a natural earthly
material that is plastic when wet
4. Glass is a medium that is hard, brittle, and non-crystalline. It can be molded in
different shapes and color.
5. Wood is a natural medium, it is hard and relatively permanent and it will last for many
years.

The process of creating sculpture

 Subtractive process
This process involves removing or cutting away pieces of the material to form the figure.
The sculpture achieves this through the use of special tools like chisels, hammers, saw
and grinders.
For sculptor removing a pieces of the material is like freeing the figure that is hidden or
trapped within material
 Additive process
This process involves the construction of a figure by putting together bits of material or
welding together metal parts to create figures .Modelling and assembling are
examples of this process
 Process of substitution
This process is also known as casting. This method involves using a mold to produce a
3D figure in another material. The material should be liquid form for it to pour to the
molder. Three types. Sand-casting. Plastic casting and lost-wax casting

Architecture. It is an art distinguished from the skills associated with design and
construction utilitarian and aesthetic ends.
It is also the art of designing buildings and other structures which will serve as definite
function.

Elements and Principles of Arts

1. Line as an important element, it pertains to the use of various marks, outlines and
implied lines in artwork and design.
 Kinds of Lines

a. Straight lines are geometric and impersonal and differ that they take.
b. Horizontal lines move from left to right and vice versa. In visual arts, horizontal
lines means calmness, serenity and rest
c. Vertical lines start from bottom going up or vice versa. In visual arts, vertical lines
suggest balance, strength, and stability
d. Diagonal lines are slanting lines, suggest two meanings positive and negative. On
the positive diagonals indicate action and movement, to go forward and act.
On the negative , it conveys a feeling of uncertainty, stress or defeat
e. Curved lines found in nature particularly in living organisms. Suggest grace
movement, and flexibility indicative of life and energy
f. Zigzag are angular lines that resulted because of abrupt change in direction of a
straight line thus forming angles
2. Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes or as three-dimensional
shape (cube, pyramid, sphere, etc.). It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color.
Form is as a three-dimensional showing height, width and depth. Examples of these are
sculpture, theatre play, and figurines.

Two-dimensional art consists of paintings, drawings, prints and photographs, which

differ from each other primarily in the technique of their execution. Artists make their
vision appear the way they wish it to appear” having or appearing to have
length and breadth but no depth.

A three dimensional object is solid rather than flat, because it can be measured in
three different directions, usually the height, length, and width.
A three-dimensional picture, image, or film looks as though it is deep or solid rather than
flat.

3. Space is an illusion in the graphic arts. It creates techniques that adds depth and
distance to two dimensional art. Space includes the background, foreground and
middle ground. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or within
components of a piece

Method of Creating Space

a. Overlapping planes- create space when an object covers a part of another
object which is behind it. This method gives the viewer the impression that the
whole/complete objects are near and partially covered ones are far
b. Relative size. Objects that appear large/big indicate nearness and small sized
object at a distant
c. Position on the picture plane. Relative height, relative to the bottom of the frame
d. Perspective deals with the effect of distance on the appearance of the objects
4. Color pertains to the use of hue in artwork and design. Hue is the name given to color.

Color adds beauty and meaning to all forms of art.

1. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.

2. Secondary colors are mixed combinations of primary colors
a. green (yellow and blue)
b. orange (red and yellow)
c. Purple or violet (red and blue)
3. Tertiary colors combinations of primary and secondary colors

5. Shape is an element of art that is defined with edge. An element that is concerned
with height and width, and that encloses space.

Geometric Shapes- Shapes that are precise and require a guiding tool to draw such as
a ruler. Examples of Geometric shapes are squares, circles, triangles, hexagons.
Organic Shapes. Those seen in nature

Abstract shapes- those that have little or no resemblance to nature objects.

6. Value pertains to the use of light and dark, shade and highlight, in an artwork.
Value is related to contrast.
Value is the darkness and lightness of an object depending on how the light is shown.

7. Texture refers to the way the paint feels on the surface of the canvas. Tactile quality
of the surface of an object. Artists can create texture by using paint brush, palette
knife, or any type of tool or medium they would like to use.

Why Are Elements of Art Important?

First, and most importantly, a person can't create art without utilizing at least a few of
them.
Secondly, knowing what the elements of art are enables us to:
(1) Describe what an artist has done,
(2) Analyze what is going on in a particular piece and
(3) Communicate our thoughts and findings using a common language.

Principles of Designs
Principles of visual art are set of rules or guidelines in visual art that and its impact in a
piece of artwork. They are combine with the elements of art in the production of art.

1. Movement shows actions, or alternatively, the path the viewer's eye follows
throughout an artwork. Such movement can be implied along lines, edges, shape, and
color within the work of art.

Actual movement in sculptures results to kinetic art. It can be achived naturally using
wind and water or mechanical energy

Implied movement results when a variety of line are used together, repeated change
in position or decreased/increased in size

2. Unity is the quality of wholeness that is achieve through the effective use of the
elements and principles of art. Also, the arrangement of elements and principles to
create a feeling of completeness

3. Harmony is achieve in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the entire
artwork. It gives a simple look to a piece of artwork

Kinds of harmony

3.1 Monochromatic Harmony

3.2 Complementary Harmony
3.3 Analogous Harmony

4. Variety (also known as alternation) is the quality or state of having different forms or
types. The use of several elements of design that adds interest in order to hold the
viewers’ attention and guide the viewer’s eye

5. Balance is arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems

heavier than any other part.
Symmetrical (or formal) balance is when both sides of an artwork, if split down
the middle, appear to be the same. The human body is an example of
symmetrical balance.
The asymmetrical balance is the balance that does not weigh equally on both sides.
Radial balance is equal in length from the middle. An example is the sun. This is
achieve where parts of an object or picture are regularly arrange and radiate from the
central point. Cycle tyres, Star fish, human iris, snowflakes are few examples

6. Contrast is created by using elements that conflict with one another. Often,
contrast is created using complementary colors or extremely light and dark values.
Contrast creates interest in a piece and often draws the eye to certain areas.

7. Proportion is a measurement of the size and quantity of elements within a

composition.
. Is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) related with
each other

8. Pattern is the repetition of objects, shapes, lines or symbol all over the space or
picture plane.
Repetition-works with patterns to make the work seem active. The repetition of
elements of design creates unity within the artwork
Rhythm- created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to
produce a feeling of organized, continuous, sometimes flowing movement.

9. Variety .Is the use of several elements of design that adds interest in order to hold the
viewers’ attention and guide the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art
10. Unity. Is the feeling of harmony between and among the parts of the work of art,
and creates a feeling of completeness in the composition.

11. Emphasis- catches the viewers’ attention. The artist will usually make one area stand
out by contrasting it with other areas.

Literature and the Combined Arts

1. Literature is considered as the art of combining spoken or written words.

Language is the medium of literature.
Fiction. This is any written work that is not real and which uses elaborate
figurative language. It is based on the writer’s creativity and imagination the subject
matter can be anything
Non-Fiction. This is the opposite of fiction because the subject matter comes from real
life

Poetry – genre in literature that imaginatively and figuratively expresses man’s thoughts
and feelings usually in verse form.
Themes: (Generally personal)
v Love
v Death
v Frustration
v Hatred
v Faith in God
v Human Sufferings
v Cultures
v Traditions

Elements of Literature
 1. Language

v Denotative – actual meaning

v Connotative – implied meaning
2. Tone- mood, the author’s attitude about the text
3. Imagery- Representation of sense of experience or total sensory suggestion of
poetry.
4. Sounds- Pleasant (full, open vowel sounds). Unpleasant (short, abrupt, vowel sounds
which are irritating
5. Rhythm & Meter
Rhythm – regular and irregular patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables, metrical,
and rhetorical stress.
Meter – arrangement of accents so that they occur at approx. equal intervals of time
6. Thought or Meaning. Total Meaning – the idea in a poem, a portion of the total idea
it communicates. Prose Meaning – value and worth of the poem, total experience it
communicates.
7. Shape of the Poem.
Pattern of arrangement of words on the page.
v Stanzas
8. Speaker. A voice that talks to the readers.

Elements of theater

1. The Playwright’s role is to work out the plot in terms of the actual actions to be
performed and dialogue to be spoken by the actors
2. The Performers portray the character in a play
3. The Director works with the playwright to present the play which is interpreted
and translated into dramatic action
4. Production design include scenery, props, make-up, costumes, music sound
and all other special effects used in theater production

Drama is written with the intention of being performed for an audience.

Genres of Drama is life presented on stage

Tragedy One of literature’s greatest dramatic genre, presents life as solemn and
serious. Melodrama emphasizes the never ending battle between good and evil
wherein good always wins
Comedy is drama that is exact opposite of a tragedy

Elements of Drama
1. Plot- what the story tells about
2. Setting- locale and period in which the story takes place
3. Characters are the persons involved in the story
4. Dialogue refers to the words uttered
5. Theme is what the story means

Genres of Motion
Pictures Featured films most commonly shown in large
movies
Animated movies follow the same format as features films but use images created by
artists/animators
Documentary movies deal primarily with facts, not fiction
Experimental films are sequence of images, literal or
abstract
Educational films are intended to facilitate learning at home or in the classrooms

People behind a Motion Picture

 1. Actors play tahe roles of character in the film
2. Producer handles finances
3. Screenwriter develop stories and ideas for the screen or adapt interesting written
pieces of work as motion pictures
4. Director study the script, plans and visualizes how the film should be portrayed

Music It is an art that produces beauty by expressing oneself through harmonic

frequencies.
Vocal Medium. It is the most natural form of music and considered to be the oldest and
most popular medium in media
Instrumental Medium. Aside from human voice are the materials that produces sound

Dance is said to be the oldest form of all arts

Types of Dance
1. Ethnologic(ethnic) dances includes folk dances associated with a national
and/or cultural groups
2. Social or ballroom dances are the type of dancing that are generally performed
in pairs
3. Ballet is a type of dance which originated in the royal courts of the Medieval era
4. Social or ballroom are sometimes called contemporary or interpretative dances
5. Musical Comedy refers to those dances performed by one dancer or a group of
dancers in theaters, night clubs, motion pictures and television

Elements of dance
1. Music motivates the dancer to move in tune with its rhythm
2. Movement how the dancer use their bodies to move and create organized
patterns
3. Choreography refer to how the steps and movements are connected for it to
be performed in an organized manner
4. Technique is the skill of the dancer in executing movements
5. Theme is the content ingredient of the dance
6. Design is the patterns of movement in time and space
7. Costume the type of dance performed and the costume worn