MODULE 2

PHILOSOPHERS DEFINE ART

WHAT IS ART?  LUCRETIUS (Roman poet)

- refers to art as the SKILLS, enabling man to
A. ETYMOLOGICAL MEANING improve the material conditions of his existence
- Art is derived from the Latin word “ars”, in the world
meaning ability or skill.
 Plato (Idealist Greek Philosopher)
B. FORMAL MEANING
- defines art as “imitation of an imitation”, Art is
- Art covers those areas of artistic creativity that
an imitation of the ideal world.
seek to communicate beauty primarily through
the senses.
 Aristotle
- Art applies to such activities that express
- defines Arts as an imitation but imitation not of
aesthetic ideas by the use of skill and creative
the ideal world but the real (physical) world.
imagination.

For him, Art is a “reflection or mirror or reality”.

FORMALISM
The classical idea of art as MIMESIS
Art is the form or combination of perceptual elements
(IMITATION) had long been accepted for
centuries. Thus, works of arts are best judged
according to similitude, the better the imitation,
the better the art.

LIBERAL ARTS

- From the Latin “Liberalis” which means

“suitable for a freeman” It refers to the study
that were offered during the medieval period
such as; grammar, rhetoric, arithmetic,
geometry, music, astronomy
- Sidney S. Letter (1968) states that liberal arts
education; “teaches a man to see things as they
are; to go right to the point, to disentangle a
skein of thought, to detect what is
sophisticated. And to discard what is irrelevant.
It prepares him to fill any post with credit, and
to master any subject.”
 - Every creative work of art has a “life-enhancing”
values, it cannot be exhausted. Thus, a great
THE SEVEN MAJOR ARTS
masterpiece of art is never out of date; they
then to magnify their value through the ages,
and the ages to come. (Berenson, 1957)
4. ART IS THE REPRESENTATION OF NATURE.
5. ART IS A RECREATION OF NATURE.

ART AND NATURE

- Art is not nature since art is made by man.

NATURE OF ART However, art enhances the beauty of nature.
Nature, on the other hand, is rich of beautiful
- Art covers those areas of artistic creativity that
subjects for Art.
seek to communicate beauty primarily through
the senses. ART
- Art applies to such activities that express
- Made by people through their talents and skill
aesthetic ideas by the use of skill and creative
imagination. NATURE
- Anything accomplished with great skill is art.
- Created by God through his omnipotence
Hence, there are the specialized arts such as
those of the art of teaching, and the art of
acupuncture.
THE VALUES OF ARTS
- Art is present in almost all human activities. We
also have the different forms of martial arts. (Lourdes Sanches, UE CAS Horizons, 1992)
- Even in modern technology, the phrase “state
1. AESTHETIC VALUE OR THE ART FOR ART’S SAKE
of the art” means quintessential or technically
– ART PROVIDES AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE,
perfect workmanship.
BEAUTY
- Beardsley pointed out that an artwork is
- We make things that are pleasing to the eye or
something produced with the intention of
ear.
giving it; the capacity to satisfy the aesthetic
2. DIDACTIC VALUE
interest.
- Art can be an effective means to show what s
-
moral; that art can improve the moral fiber of
UNIVERSALITY AND IMPORTANCE OF ART society
3. RELIGIOUS VALUE
1. TIMELESSNESS OF ART
- It increases the awareness of man’s relationship
- Art has been created by various people, at all
with God and to promote better bonds between
places and time.
God and man.
4. HISTORICAL VALUE
2. ART IMITATES LIFE AND REALITY
- Art tells us something significant aspect about
- Art is an image, appearance, copy, reproduction
the past, art preserves history
of things, people, object, or events.
5. SOCIO-POLITICAL VALUE
- Art is used to expose some problems in the
3. ART HAS INTRINSIC WORTH: THE VALUE IS IN
society and government. Ex: Noli Me Tangere,
ITSELF
El Fili, Spoliarium
6. SCIENTIFIC VALUE
 - Art informs us about the earth, outer space,
psychology, numbers.
7. COMMERCIAL VALUE
- exists if the artwork can be sold for a fortune
8. PRAGMATIC VALUE
- Art is not only considered aesthetic, but it has
also practical value
9. THERAPEUTIC VALUE
- Art has been explored by medical science.
10. PERSONAL VALUE
- It can be Socratic in approach. Socrates “know
thyself” theory through the arts can lead to self-
discovery, greater self-awareness, self-
development, self-expression

DIVISION OF ART

1. AESTHETICS OR ART APPRECIATION

- Aesthetics is the science of beauty; a division of art

study in which the student learned to admire the artists,
value highly different works of art and appreciate the
role of art in society

2. ART HISTORY

- The division of the art in which the students acquire

knowledge of the artists, their backgrounds, their
masterpieces, and their significant contributions in
various fields in art

3. ART PRODUCTION

- The division of art study in which the student learns to

use his creativity and apply his artistic knowledge and
skills in producing his own works of art

4. ART CRITICSM

- Division of art study in which student learns to his

judgment in evaluating different artworks based on the
criteria set.