Art Appreciation: Functions of Art (Motivated vs Non-motivated)

Course Context and Outcomes

  • NGEC 6 Art Appreciation, Social Sciences under General Education, Department of School of Heritage Education (SHE), 1st Trimester, AY 2023-2024.
  • COURSE OUTCOME (CO): Understand the value of art and its position in human life as a tool to convey identity, sensitivity to self, others, and society.
  • LEARNING OUTCOME (LO): Familiarize with the functions and philosophy of art.

Core Concepts: Motivated vs Non-motivated

  • Two broad categories of art purposes per Levi-Strauss: NON-MOTIVATED and MOTIVATED.
  • PURPOSE OF ART (as presented in the transcript):
    • Distinguish between art created for intrinsic, non-utilitarian reasons and art created with conscious, intentional aims.
  • Institution/Source note (context): Institute/Asian/Maritime Studies materials referenced in the transcript.

Non-motivated Functions of Art

  • Non-motivated purposes are those integral to being human, transcend the individual, or do not fulfill a specific external purpose; art as a human act beyond utility.
  • Key non-motivated functions (three major points): 1) Personal Engagement / Encounter
    • Basic human instinct for harmony, balance, rhythm.
    • Aristotle on non-utilitarian art: > "Imitation, then, is one instinct of our nature. Next, there is the instinct for ‘harmony’ and rhythm, meters being manifestly sections of rhythm. Persons, therefore, starting with this natural gift developed by degrees their special aptitudes, till their rude improvisations gave birth to Poetry."
      • Art at this level is not an action or an object, but an internal appreciation of balance and harmony (beauty), and therefore an aspect of being human beyond utility.
    • Consequence: Art fosters an interior experience of oneself and balance within the world.
      2) Experience of the Mysterious
    • Einstein quote:
      > "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."
    • This experience often arises when engaging with art, music, or poetry without a practical aim.
      3) Expression of the Imagination
    • Kant on imaginative expression in art:
      > "They furnish an aesthetic idea, which serves the above rational idea as a substitute for logical presentation, but with the proper function, however, of animating the mind by opening out for it a prospect into a field of kindred representations stretching beyond its ken."
    • Art allows non-grammatical, symbolic, and malleable meanings beyond spoken/written language.
  • Additional non-motivated context from the transcript:
    • Art provides a way to experience oneself in relation to the universe.
    • The experience may come unmotivated when engaging with art (e.g., art, music, poetry).
    • The line from the transcript: “Art at this level is not an action or an object, but an internal appreciation of balance and harmony (beauty), and therefore an aspect being human beyond utility.”
  • Reference to cultural/story context appears later in the transcript (Filipino context section), but the three core non-motivated functions are described above.

Motivated Functions of Art (10 Functions)

  • Motivated purposes involve intentional, conscious actions by the artist/creator. Each function is defined below with examples or indicators from the transcript.

1) Communication

  • Definition: Art, at its simplest, is a form of communication. As most forms of communication have intent toward another, this is a motivated function.
  • Example references: The page explicitly states this as a basic function of art.

2) Ritualistic and Symbolic Functions

  • Definition: In many cultures, art is used in rituals, performances, and dances as decoration or symbol.
  • Significance: Meanings are often the result of many generations of change and cosmological relationships with culture.
  • Scholarly caveat quoted:

"Most scholars who deal with rock paintings or objects recovered from prehistoric contexts that cannot be explained in utilitarian terms and are thus categorized as decorative, ritual or symbolic, are aware of the trap posed by the term ‘art’." — Silva Tomaskova

3) Art as Entertainment

  • Definition: Art may seek to evoke a mood or emotion for relaxation or enjoyment.
  • Common forms shown in the transcript under this function:
    • Art shows, Festivals, Displays, Galleries, Live Theater, Movies, Video Games

4) The Avant-Garde (Art for Political Change)

  • Definition: Early 20th-century art defined by using visual images to drive political change.
  • Context: Included examples of constructivist/poster-based art shown in the transcript (e.g., Constructivism poster art).

5) Art as a "Free Zone" (Removed from Social Censure)

  • Definition: Contemporary art as a space less constrained by social censure, with tolerance for cultural differences and a platform for research and experimentation.
  • Functions cited: social inquiry, activism, subversion, deconstruction, etc.
  • Example cue: Art as a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and critical exploration (e.g., “Dancing On the Edge” – urgent artistic dialogues with the Middle East).

6) Art for Social Inquiry, Subversion, and/or Anarchy

  • Definition: Similar to political change but may focus on questioning specific aspects of society without a single political program.
  • Notable examples listed in the transcript: Banksy and related contemporary works (e.g., hip hop rat), and other referenced artists (e.g., erithing Diliberto).
  • Context: The function emphasizes critique and subversion as a form of artistic inquiry.

7) Art for Social Causes

  • Definition: Art can raise awareness for various causes.
  • Examples:
    • On femininity by Jasjyoth Singh Hans
    • Trashion: Giving Voice to the Sea by Marina DeBris

8) Art for Psychological and Healing Purposes

  • Definition: Art therapy uses creative processes for healing; the end product is not the sole goal but the therapeutic process.
  • Related tools listed: Rorschach Inkblot Test; Art Therapy (therapeutic approaches).

9) Art for Propaganda or Commercialism

  • Definition: Art used to influence mood, beliefs, or consumer behavior; can subtly manipulate viewers toward an idea or product.
  • Examples:
    • Uncle Sam propaganda poster: "I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY" (poster context shown in the transcript).
    • The transcript also references widely used advertising imagery (e.g., various brands) as illustrating commercial messaging.

10) Art as a Fitness Indicator (Evolutionary Perspective)

  • Definition: A theory suggesting art and creativity evolved as signals of cognitive ability and mate attraction, akin to the peacock’s tail.
  • Key image referenced: "The peacock's tail on display" as an evolutionary analogy.

Case Studies and Visual References Featured in the Transcript

  • Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix (political change context under motivated functions).
  • The Most Famous Brand From Each State in the US (advertising imagery illustrating propaganda/commercialism).
  • Poster Art Showcasing the Constructivism Style (visual example of avant-garde/constructivism).
  • L.H.O.O.Q. by Marcel Duchamp (Dada/anti-art gesture referenced in the slides).
  • Tumindig by Tarantadong Kalbo (Philippine political commentary cartoon referenced as social inquiry/subversion).
  • Dancing On the Edge (a platform for urgent artistic dialogues with the Middle East).
  • Banksy – Hip Hop Rat (subversion/social critique artwork).
  • On Femininity by Jasjyoth Singh Hans; Trashion: Giving Voice to the Sea by Marina DeBris (art for social causes).
  • Rorschach Inkblot Test and Art Therapy (art as therapeutic practice).
  • Uncle Sam propaganda piece (art for propaganda).
  • The peacock’s tail image (evolutionary psychology analogy).

Additional Context and Cross-References

  • Page 9 mentions: "The Story of the Filipino CAN Philippines" (contextual/cultural note; ownership of content not central to the 10 functions but indicates a Filipino cultural lens in this course material).
  • Page 12: Liberty Leading the People illustration—used as a reference for political-change-oriented art.
  • Page 16: Examples of art shows and entertainment venues (Art shows, Festivals, Displays, Galleries, Live Theater, Movies, Video Games).
  • Page 18–19: Constructivism poster references and Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q. artwork (examples of avant-garde and Dada movements).
  • Page 21–23: Detailed discussion of functions 5 and 6, including the idea of art as a free zone and art for social inquiry/subversion.
  • Page 24–26: Specific contemporary works illustrating social causes and activism (Banksy, Tarantadong Kalbo, etc.).
  • Page 29–31: Art therapy references (Rorschach, art therapy).
  • Page 32–33: Propaganda/advertising examples (Uncle Sam poster and related imagery).
  • Page 34–35: Evolutionary fitness indicator concept and the peacock’s tail image as a metaphor for signaling.
  • Page 37: References for further reading and sources used:
    • https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sac-artappreciation/chapter/oer-1-2/
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ECzduUWx0&t=120s
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art#Purposeofart
    • License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike. All images lifted online.

Connections and Implications

  • Ethical and philosophical implications:
    • The tension between art as a social catalyst (political change, activism, subversion) and the role of art as personal, contemplative experience (non-motivated functions).
    • The use of art as propaganda vs. art as critical inquiry and social commentary.
    • The idea of art as a universal language (communication) while also reflecting deeply local and cultural rituals (ritualistic/symbolic functions).
  • Practical implications for viewing art:
    • Recognize the intended purpose (motivated vs non-motivated) to better interpret the artwork’s message.
    • Consider the historical and cultural context behind avant-garde movements and contemporary practices.
    • Use the provided examples to identify how function informs form (e.g., posters, installations, performances).

Summary of Core Takeaways

  • Art serves a spectrum from intrinsic, non-utilitarian experiences to consciously directed, outcome-driven functions.
  • Non-motivated functions emphasize inner experience, harmony, imagination, and the mysterious as essential to human life.
  • Motivated functions span communication, ritual/symbolic meaning, entertainment, political and social engagement, therapy, propaganda/commercial aims, and evolutionary signaling.
  • Real-world examples and artworks in the transcript illustrate how these functions manifest across cultures and time periods.

References (as cited in the transcript)

  • https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sac-artappreciation/chapter/oer-1-2/
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ECzduUWx0&t=120s
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art#Purposeofart
  • License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike. All images lifted online.