ART_APP: nature, assumptions, and functions of art

art appreciation

• the knowledge of the general and everlasting qualities that classify all great art

• the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities characterizing works of art

art history

study of objects, of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts; that is genre, design, format and style

philosophy of art

concerned with the fundamental nature of art

philosophy of art according to elkins, 2006

one branch of this area is aesthetics, which includes investigating the enigma of the sublime and determining the essence of beauty

questions art historians ask

• what are the key features of this style?

• what meaning did this object convey?

• what does it function visually?

• did the artist meet their goals well?

• what symbols are involved, and do they function discursively?

imagination defined

thinking of something–whether it is an object, place, time, etc. that is not present

creativity defined

doing something meaningful with your imagination

imagination vs creativity

• allows us to think of things that are not real or around us at any given time

• about seeing the impossible or unreal

• focus can be on things that are impossible

imagination

imagination vs creativity

• allows us to do something meaningful with our imagination

• using imagination to unleash the potential of existing ideas in order to create new and valuable ones.

• focus to be on things that might be possible, but we can’t be sure until we explore them further

creativity

what does creativity require?

knowledge of the idea, motivation and freedom to explore, intelligence to see what makes the convergence of any set of ideas possible, and the energy to see the process through

is it possible to be imaginative without being creative according to naiman, 2016?

Yes! Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. We are all born with imagination but creativity is learned.

an expression made visible by a form

the expression contained in the form is an attempt to translate the unnamed and the unknown

making meaning involves understanding our surroundings and marking our experiences

art is an expression and the artist is the expresser, translating in order to create meaning.

basic assumptions of art

1. Art involves experience.

2. Art is not nature. Nature is not art.

3. Art is cultural.

4. Art is a form of creation.

5. Art is subjective.

nature of art

1. Art is a diverse range of human activities.

2. Art represents reality.

3. Art is an expression.

4. Art serves as a means of communication of emotions

5. Art matters.

6. Art is universal. 

7. Art is creation.

functions of art

1. personal function

2. social function

3. physical function

personal function

1. an artist may create out a need for self-expression or gratification.

2. they might have wanted to communicate a thought or point of view.

3. on a higher level: art has been used to attempt to exert magical control over time, or the seasons.

4. they want to provide an aesthetic experience.

5. a might might have been meant to ‘merely’ entertain others

6. sometimes a piece isn’t meant to have any meaning at all. (art for art sake)

7. on a higher level: art has been used to attempt to exert magical control over time, or the seasons.

8. art is used to bring order to a disorganized and disorderly world.

9. art can also be therapeutic for both the artist and the viewer.

10. art can also help someone express themselves, explore their new emotions, and improve their self esteems.

11. art has religious function.

social function

1. those that go beyond personal intrinsic value to art’s social benefits.

2. art communicates; most often it’s constructed with the intention of sharing responses and opinions about life with others.

3. art enriches, informs, and questions our world.

4. art can have powerful transformative and restorative effects within a society.

when does art perform social function?

1. influences social behavior (political function)

2. display and celebration

influences social behavior (political function)

1. seeks or tends to influence the collective behavior of people

2. example: bayanihan

display and creation

created to be seen or used primarily in public situations like fiestas, parades, etc.

physical function

a. form and function

b. architecture

c. community planning

form and function

the function of an object is generally essential in the basic form that it takes. an example would be; a chair is generally designed to allow the seated body to rest comfortably on it.

architecture

the design of the building is determined primarily by its operational function: what is the building for? who is going to use it? how many are they? the design that a building takes is also adapted to the climate of the region?

community planning

involves the efficient organization of buildings, roads, and spaces so they meet the physical and aesthetic needs of the community. community planning takes into consideration the assignment of areas for proper land use.

example of community planning

1. residential districts

2. industrial and commercial areas

3. civic centers

4. parks, plazas, malls

5. streets and roads