Understanding Art: Concepts, Functions, and History

Dissolve

Involves the superimposition of the last positions of the previous shot over the nascent portion of the next shot to show two events happening at the same time.

Stanza

Division of a poem based on thought.

Music and Spectacle

Background music enhancing stage setting.

Art is everywhere

Art can be found in all parts of life, not just in museums or galleries. It shows up in everyday objects and experiences.

Art as Creation

Art is about making something new and original. It's a creative process where new works are made from the artist's imagination.

Personal Function

Artists create art for self-expression, gratification, communication, or aesthetic experience, often aiming to convey thoughts or points to the viewer.

Physical Function

Works of art that are created to perform some service have physical functions. It relates to works that can be used because of their physical structure.

Social Function

Art's social function encompasses collective works addressing culture, politics, environment, or community, aiming to record history, traditions, and promote products, influencing thought and behavior, and should be publicly viewed.

Cultural/Historical/Religious Function

It is an art form that commemorates important events that is part of traditions and practices, important person that played a very important part of our history and religious person, practices and events.

Futurism

Emphasizes movement, speed, and technology, capturing the dynamic energy of the modern world and often depicting subjects in motion.

Expressionism

Focuses on representing emotional experience rather than physical reality, using bold colors and distorted forms to convey feelings and moods.

Line

First and most versatile of the visual elements of art.

Abstract Shape

Essence of original objects transformed into art.

Value Color

Lightness and darkness of a color, related to chiaroscuro.

Analogous Colors

Colors next to each other on the color wheel.

Intermediate Colors

Mix of primary and secondary colors.

Birdo Motif

Tree of life symbolizing fertility and eternity.

Polyphony

Various and multiple independent use and applications of melody lines working and blending together, either sung or played at the same time.

Movement (Dance)

The fundamental element of dance. The dancers can externalize an inner state or condition, wherein movements is a form of communication with the audience.

Slow Motion

Action performed in a slow motion or movements in a film.

Accelerated Motion

Motion or action that occurs when the camera takes pictures slower than the projector can run them on the screen.

Reverse Motion

Achieved when it conveys an undoing of time.

Dramatic Time

Refers to the time taken up by the events depicted in the films.

Style

Oral tradition in specific social contexts.

Poetry

Patterned written expression of experiences and feelings.

Simile

Direct comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Personification

Giving human traits to inanimate objects.

Essay

Composition discussing a single topic.

Cave Paintings

Document beliefs and lives of prehistoric people.

Concrete

Material used to reinforce Roman buildings.

Art as Expression and Communication

Art helps people share their feelings and ideas with others. It's a way for artists to talk to their audience.

Art and Experience

Art is linked to how people experience it, both for the artist and the viewer. Its meaning often comes from personal interaction with the artwork.

Art and Nature

Art often draws inspiration from nature, whether by representing it or using natural elements. It connects artistic work with the natural world.

Art and Beauty

Art is often linked to beauty, either through its appearance or how it makes us feel. Beauty is a key part of why we appreciate art.

Art is universal

In every country and in every generation, art is constantly present.

Art is not Nature

It is made by humans as expression of their reception or interpretation of nature.

Art involves experience

Art is an experience that depicts the actual doing of something.

Pictorial Form

Refers to the visual elements and composition used in artwork to convey messages, emotions, or narratives. It encompasses aspects such as color, shape, line, and space, which artists use to communicate and engage with viewers.

Satire and caricature

Uses humor to mock individuals, groups, or society to highlight issues and promote change.

Propaganda

Propaganda literature is a powerful tool for influencing people's thoughts and feelings, often inspiring them to support a cause.

Advertising Art

Aims to affect the buying behavior of people. Examples of which are commercial arts, posters, magazine, billboards, newspaper, radio and television.

Utilitarian Function

When talking about the daily things that man uses and things that provided us to live in comfort and happiness, that's when utilitarian function of arts comes into existence.

Reading the Image

Involves analyzing the material and ideational aspects of the work. Familiarizing oneself with different art mediums and techniques through observation of processes is essential.

The Basic Semiotic Plane

It is the study of 'signs'. It covers the general elements and physical aspects of the art.

Signifier

The physical aspect of the work (colors, lines, shapes).

Signified

The concept or meaning behind the work.

Referent

The reference or real-world object that the sign represents.

Visual elements

How they use line, color and texture to create meaning.

Medium and technique

The choice of materials and methods used in creating the art.

Format

The size and shape of the art.

Physical properties

Any marks or features that impact the interpretation of the art.

The Iconic Plane

The 'iconic plane' in art is the main area of a painting where important symbols or elements are placed to highlight the artwork's key message.

Contextual Plane

Looks at the social and historical background of a work. It involves understanding the history, culture, and symbols of the time, as well as the personal and social factors that influenced its creation.

Evaluative Plane

In art criticism, which involves analyzing the values of a work after understanding it. It critiques the traditional division of form and content as overly simplistic, emphasizing that meaning is produced through the interplay between the material features (signifiers) and the concepts or values they represent (signified).

Factual meaning

A subject that is presented and referred to its literal content or meaning. Focuses on what is literally presented.

Subjective meaning

Personal interpretations and emotional responses to the artwork. It reflects individual feelings and perspectives, which can vary widely from person to person.

Conventional Meaning

Refers to the special meaning that a certain object has for a particular culture, society, or group of people.

Abstract

Focuses on shapes, colors, and forms without directly representing the real world. It emphasizes the emotional and aesthetic qualities over realistic depiction.

Realism

Aims to represent subjects as accurately and truthfully as possible, depicting everyday scenes and objects with attention to detail and naturalism.

Distortion

Alters or exaggerates the form and proportions of subjects to create a specific effect or to convey a particular message or emotion.

Symbolism

Uses symbols and motifs to represent ideas, concepts, or emotions, often with a deeper or more personal meaning beyond the literal appearance.

Dadaism

Rejects traditional aesthetics and logic, often embracing absurdity and randomness to challenge conventional art and cultural norms.

Fauvism

Characterized by vivid, non-naturalistic colors and bold brushwork, aiming to express emotional experience rather than realistic representation.

Surrealism

Explores the unconscious mind and dreams, presenting fantastical and illogical scenes that defy conventional reality and provoke thought.

Abstract Expressionism

Focuses on spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation, emphasizing the artist's emotional state and process over representational content.

Mangling

Involves deliberately distorting or fragmenting forms to challenge traditional aesthetics and represent complex, fragmented experiences.

Cubism

Breaks down subjects into geometric shapes and multiple perspectives, presenting a fragmented view that emphasizes the two-dimensionality of the canvas.

Shape

Two-dimensional enclosed space defined by boundaries.

Organic Shape

Unpredictable, flowing shapes resembling nature.

Geometric Shape

Shapes with precise lines and mathematically consistent curves.

Natural Shape

Shapes resembling those found in nature.

Non-Objective Shape

Biomorphic shapes resembling organic forms.

Sculpture

Three-dimensional art with weight and solidity.

Carving

Subtractive technique removing material from a solid block.

Modeling

Additive technique adding materials to create form.

Hammering

Shaping materials through forceful impact.

Welding

Joining materials using heat from a welding torch.

Transition

Passage from one form to another in art.

Abrupt Transition

Clear, sudden changes creating strong visual contrasts.

Smooth Transition

Gradual blending of forms without interruption.

Texture

Tactile quality of a surface; rough or smooth.

Color

Visual element affecting emotions and aesthetics.

Hue

Quality giving color its name, unblended.

Split Complimentary

Two hues on each side of a color.

Double Compliment

Two to four adjacent colors forming pairs.

Intensity

Brightness or dullness of a color affecting emotions.

Monochromatic

Art using variations of a single color.

Complimentary Colors

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel.

Triadic Color

Three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel.

Negative Space

Unoccupied space around and between objects.

Positive Space

Subject matter that occupies space in art.

Decorative Space

Space arranged across a plane for aesthetic purposes.

Plastic Space

Creating illusion of space without strict formulas.

Architecture

Art and practice of designing functional structures.

Structural Property

Material characteristics affecting construction and durability.

Physical Property

Aesthetic qualities of materials used in architecture.

Weakness of Material

Negative qualities affecting material integrity and lifespan.

Longevity of Material

Expected lifespan of construction materials.

Ukkirr

Distinctive Mindanao art form featuring curvilinear designs.

Ukkil Lukis

Important art form for ethnic Muslims in Sulu.