Arts throughout History

• Sanchez, Abad, and Jao


  Art, like love, is difficult to define.

  • Because arts concerns itself with "the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of a sensuous medium."
• Philosophy of Arts


  The study of the nature of art, including concepts such as interpretation, representation and expression, and form.

  • closely related to aesthetics, the philosophical study of beauty and taste.
• According to Plato


  Arts are representational or mimetic in nature- meaning, they imitate physical objects (beautiful or meaningful) that exist in the word.

  • Art as an expression is a belief that arts is created to reflect the inner state of the artist - the subjective experiences and the emotions.
• Merriam-Webster defined


  Art is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.
• Art

  • came from the word "ars" which means skill.
  • means that art is a skill resulting from learning and practice.
  • synonymous with craft, cunning, and workmanship.
  • art will always related to human condition.
• How art is viewed from a particular period/era.

  • Pre-modern/pre-aesthetic: Ancient Greece and Rome
  • Modern/Aesthetic: 1700s to mid 1900s, in particular, Germany and England
  • Postmodern/Post-aesthetic: Mid 1900s up to present
• Pre-modern/pre-aesthetic: Ancient Greece and Rome


  The Greek word of "art" is techne, whose Latin equivalent is ars, both of which mean skill. Art was equated with craft or the sciences.
• Modern/Aesthetic: 1700s to mid 1900s, in particular, Germany and England


  During the Enlightenment, the natural sciences were emancipated from the arts. A system of fine arts was established. Aesthetics became a separate discipline in philosophy. The aesthetic experience was seen as the proper way to approach art and beauty. Art was to be appreciated for art's sake.
• Postmodern/Post-aesthetic: Mid 1900s up to present


  Various modern theories were rejected, such as aesthetic universalism, the aesthetic attitude, aestheticism, innovation and creativity ("genius") and the canon of art.
• Fine Arts

  • objects made by humans to be enjoyed aesthetically.
  • may be in the form of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, or even poetry.
• Other arts


  were eventually added by aestheticians; gardening, engraving, the decorative arts, dance and theatre, the opera, eloquence and prose literature, film and photography.
• What does art do?

  • primary purpose essential to most artistic disciplines is the underlying intention to connect with or appeal to human emotion.
• • Art can arouse aesthetic and moral feelings, and can be understood as a way of communicating these feelings.
  • An everyday object, such as a glass or chair, is transformed with aesthetic and designed values through decorative arts. Art can function on a therapeutic level as well, with art therapy.
  • An artist is a person involved in activities related to art.
• How does art look?

  There is no single standard of visual values that define what art looks like.
• Key Points:

  • The word art is usually associated with creative art or fine art.
  • This means the skill is being used to express the artist's creativity to engage an audience's aesthetic sensibilities, or to draw the audience towards consideration of more beautiful things.
• What makes art beautiful?

  beauty refers to anything that pleases the senses - the interaction between line, color, texture, shape, motion, and size.
• • It difficult to express what is beautiful about art because of a lack of language.
  • It is human instinct to appreciate harmony, balance, and rhythm - forms our concept of beauty.
• Functions of Arts


  Arts also serve several functions which are item outcome to its purpose (Menoy, 2009), namely:

  1. Individual Function
  2. Social Function
  3. Economic Functions
  4. Political Functions
  5. Historical Functions
  6. Cultural Functions
  7. Physical Functions
  8. Aesthetic Functions
• Individual Function


  The artists perform arts because of the passion of their respective art forms. A singer presents a concert for free because of his advocacy and the love of singing.

  • For example, Regine Velazquez (Asia's Songbird) is well-known for possessing extensive vocal range.
• Social Function


  Man associates with others through his art performance that arouses social consciousness.

  -Examples of this association are the choral singing, group dancing, public art exhibits and other practices.
• Economic Functions


  Arts emerging as a potent force in the economic life of people assumes an essential role as a direct and indirect contributor to state economies.

  -Example of this is by generating economic vitality in under-performing regions through crafts tourism, and cultural attractions.
• Political Functions


  Art provides a forum for ideas that will lad to employment prestige, status, and power.

  -During election period, for example, the candidates created their artworks (poster) which expresses their propaganda, agendas and political views about making a stable society.
• Historical Functions


  Art is an essential technique for information to be recorded and preserved. It serves to document or reconstruct historical figure and events.

  • Most arts that are in Museums, for example, are filled with amazing stories about the world's most excellent and most creative people who brought us the treasures.

  By looking at a work of art's colors, materials, and symbolism, we can learn about the story and culture that produced it in the past.
• Cultural Functions


  Art is an articulation and transmission of new information and values.

  • Example, when you think of Manila, you probably think of Fort Santiago, Luneta Park, and its world-renowned churches, or the famous Intramuros.
• Physical Functions

  • Buildings are artistically designed and constructed to protect their occupants and make their life inside more meaningful.
  • Architects, Industrial and Graphic Designers, and Interior Decorators share responsibility in building environment that balance forms and functions.
• Aesthetic Functions


  Any artwork means beauty.

  • It is visual spice for gracefully adorned interiors and can bring out the most elegant features of different decor elements.
  • It reasonably reproduced visual images which communicate through fantastic persuasions and meaningful words.
• Arts are generally classified into three.

  1. Visual Arts
  2. Performing Arts
  3. Literary Arts
• Visual Arts


  those forms that create works which are primarily visual (forms perceived by the eyes.)
• Performing Arts


  those forms in which the artists used his/her own body, face, and presence as a medium.
• Literary Arts


  centered on creative writing and other composition processes which intended to read.
• Visual Arts

  The man can take the beauty of nature through a piece of paper so that other people may take time appreciating the captured image.

  • Ex: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Drawing, and Photography