LESSON 1: WHAT IS ART?

Introduction and Assumptions

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. understand the role of humanities and arts in man’s attempt at fully realizing his
end;
2. clarify misconceptions of the art;
3. characterize the assumptions of arts; and
4. engage better with personal experiences of and in art.
INTRODUCTION
Art 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 arts.
1. A bank manager choosing what tie to wear together with his shirt and shoes
2. A politician shuffling his music track while comfortably seated on her car looking
for her favourite song.
3. A student marvelling at the intricate designs of a medieval cathedral during his
field trip.
ART
-comes from the ancient Latin, “ars” which means “craft of specialized form of skill,
like carpentry of smithying or surgery (Collingwood, 1938).
-the capacity to produce an intended result from carefully planned steps or methods.
Arts in Medieval Latin means “any special form of book learning, such as grammar or
logic, magic or astrology
ART
It is a theory and physical expression which is found in culture and human society. It
has various forms like literature, performing arts and visual arts. It acts as a medium
to communicate with the human beings about changes that took place in the
environment as the time passed from pre-ancient era to modern era with the help of
sculptures, pictures, books, etc.
As time passed in modern Academia, arts became a part of humanities which covers
few subjects like history, literature, linguistics, philosophy, etc. which all are part of
skills. For example, literature is a humanities subject taught or explained to the
audience through drama where the drama is a form of art.
ART APPRECIATION
*refers to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the universal and timeless
qualities characterizing works of art.
*It invokes an analysis of the works based on acknowledged elements of composition
and principles of design, through which enjoyment of the humanities is enhanced.
*Recognition of the good qualities and understanding of art • acquiring knowledge
leads to appreciation • knowing vocabulary, concepts, themes, processes, materials •
knowing context • does not require liking or loving
HUMANITIES
-one of the oldest and most important means of expression developed by man.
(Dudley et. Al, 1960)
It is a study of how people process and document the human experience. It uses arts
to express their experience. In the modern era, it is compared by natural, social,
science and even professional training to bring differences between humanities and
other things. It includes literature, modern and ancient languages, History, philosophy,
human geography, law, religion, politics, and art. As humanity is a way of expressing
things to the society and humans have been able to use skills incredibly well which
have traditionally fallen under the humanities category.
ASSUMPTIONS OF ART
1. Art is universal.
 Timeless and universal, spanning generations and continents through and
through
2. Art is not nature.
 Art is man’s expression of his reception of nature. Art is man’s way of
interpreting nature.

3. Art involves experience.

 Actual doing of something (Dudley, et. al. 1960).
WRAP UP:
Humanities and the art have always been part of man’s growth and
civilization. Since the dawn of time, man has always tried to express his
innermost thoughts and feelings about reality through creating art. Three
assumptions on art are its, universality, is not being nature and its need for
experience. Art is present in every part of the globe and in every period time.
This is what is meant by universality. Art not being nature, not even attempting
to simply mirror nature is the second assumption of art. Art is always a
creation of the artist, not nature. Finally, without experience, there is no art.
The artist has to be foremost, a perceiver who is directly in touch with art.
LESSON 2: ART APPRECIATION,
CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. differentiate art from nature;
2. characterize artistic expression based on personal experiences with art;
3. discuss the nature of art’s preliminary expression; and
4. categorize works of art by citing personal experiences.
INTRODUCTION
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. Not even photographs or sketches of nature, though captured or drawn by man,
are works of art but mere recordings of the beauty of nature (Collins & Riley, 1931).
ART APPRECIATION AS A WAY OF LIFE
Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous French philosopher of the 20th century, described the role
of art as a creative work that depicts the world in a completely different light and
perspective and the source is due to human freedom (Greene, 1995).

Each artwork beholds beauty of its own kind, the kind that the artist sees and wants
the viewers to perceive.
THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN ART MAKING
Creativity requires thinking outside the box. A creative artist does
not simply copy or imitate another artist’s work. He does not imitate
the lines, the flaws, colors and patterns in recreating nature. He
embraces originality, puts his own flavour into his work, and call it
his own creative piece.
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

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.
ART AS EXPRESSION
There may have been times when you felt something is going on within 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.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS:
VISUAL ARTS:
- Creations that appeal to the sense of sight and are mainly visual in nature.

Mediums of visual arts:

Paintings, drawings, letterings, printing, sculptures, digital imaging and more.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
FILM

-refers to the art of putting together successions of still images in order to create an
illusion of movement. It focusses on its aesthetics, cultural and social value and is
considered as both an art and an industry.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
PERFORMANCE ART
- is a live art and the artist’s medium is mainly the human body which he or she uses
to perform but also employs other kind of art such as visual art, props or sound.

Elements:
1. Time
2. the performers or performer’s body
3. relationship between the audience and the performer (s)
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS:
POETRY PERFORMANCE
- is an art form where the artist expresses his emotions not by using paint, charcoal or
camera but expresses them through words. These words are carefully selected to
exhibit clarity and beauty and to stimulate strong emotions of joy, anger, sorrow and
the list goes on.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
ARCHITECTURE
- Is the making of beautiful buildings. However, not all buildings are beautiful. Some
buildings only embody the functionality they need but the structure, lines, forms and
colors are not beautifully expressed. Thus, not all buildings can be considered
architecture.

ELEMENTS:
Plan, construction and design
POPULAR ART EXPRESSION
Dance
-is a series of movements that follow the rhythm of music accompaniment.
-It is a creative form that allows people to freely express themselves.
- form of expression
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
Literary Art
-artist who uses word – not paint, musical instruments or chisels to express themselves
and communicate emotions to the readers.
-It focusses on writing using a unique style, not following the specific format or norm.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
Theater
-uses live performers to present accounts or imaginary events before a live audience.
-usually follows a script, though they should not be confused with literary arts.

ELEMENTS:
Acting, gestures, lighting, sound effects, musical score, scenery and props.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
Applied Arts
- is incorporating elements of style and design to everyday items with the aim of
increasing their aesthetical value.
Artists in this field bring beauty, charm and comfort into many things that are useful in
everyday life.
(interior design, industrial design, fashion design, graphic design)
WRAP UP
Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination and expression. 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. Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely all are
spectators of art, which gives us all a role in the field of appreciation. Refining one’s
ability to appreciate art allows him to deeply understand the purpose of an artwork
and recognize the beauty it possess.