HUM100: ART APPRECIATION

College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education

Prepared by: Annalisa G. Jamilano & Simon Louis Errol E. Torres

MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES

Brief Introduction or Description

This module intends to introduce art as a humanistic discipline. Further, this covers the divisions of art
study and the assumptions and functions of arts.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. Determine the meaning of art and its relation to humanities.
2. Differentiate art appreciation from art history.
3. Discuss the assumptions and functions of art.

Pre-Activity

In the first column of the table below, list down your most striking encounters with arts. In the second
column, explain why you think each encounter is an experience with art.

My Encounters with Arts Why?

Lesson 1
MEANING OF HUMANITIES, ART, AND ART APPRECIATION

HUMANITIES
- It is derived from the Latin word humanus which means refined or culture human.
- Provide general knowledge about the best accomplishments of human beings
throughout history.
- The humanities are the stories, the ideas, and the words that help us make sense of our
lives and our world.

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 HUM100: ART APPRECIATION
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Annalisa G. Jamilano & Simon Louis Errol E. Torres

ART
- From the Italian word artis which means craftsmanship, skill, mastery of form,
inventiveness, and the association that exists between form and ideas and between
material and technique. (Tan, n.d)
- Art helps us make sense of our world, and it broadens our experience and
understanding. (Leaño and Agtani, 2018)

Four Common Essentials of Art

1. Art is man-made.
2. Art must be creative.
3. Art must benefit and satisfies man.
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or material.

ART APPRECIATION
- It refers to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the universal and timeless
qualities characterizing works of art (Ariola, 2014).
- It refers to the knowledge of the general and everlasting qualities that classify all great
art (Leaño and Agtani, 2018).

DIVISIONS OF ART STUDY

Humanities or the study of arts was limited to aesthetics or art appreciation and/or art history
during the second half of the 20th century. With the onset of the new millennium and the
recent developments in various disciplines, the study of humanities has extended art to art
production and art criticism. At present, art appreciation, art history, art production, and art
criticism serve as the four divisions of art study.

 Aesthetics or Art Appreciation.

Aesthetics, the science of beauty, is the division of art in which the student learns to
admire the artists, value highly different works of art, and appreciate the role of art in
society.

 Art History.
Art history is the division of art in which the student acquires knowledge of the artists,
their backgrounds, their masterpieces, and their significant contributions to various
fields of art.

 Art Production.
Art production is that 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.

 Art Criticism.
Art criticism is that division of art study in which the student learns to use his judgment
in evaluating different artworks based on the criteria set.
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 HUM100: ART APPRECIATION
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Annalisa G. Jamilano & Simon Louis Errol E. Torres

ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

Art is universal.

- Art has always been timeless and universal, spanning generations and continents
through and through. In every country and in every generation, there is always art.
- Age is not a factor in determining art. An “...art is not good because it is old, but old
because it is good” (Dudley et al., 1960).
- Example: Works of Jose Rizal and Francisco Balagtas
- Art has been crafted by all people regardless of origin, time, place and that it stayed
on because it is liked and enjoyed by people continuously.
- In John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism (1879), enjoyment in the arts belongs to a higher good,
one that lies at the opposite of end base pleasures. Art will always be present because
human beings will always express themselves and delight in these expressions. Men will
continue to use art while art persists and never gets depleted.

Art is not nature.

- Art is man’s expression of his reception of nature.

- Art is man’s way of interpreting nature.
- Art is made by man, whereas nature is given around us.
- What we find in nature should not be expected to be present in art too.
- Movies, for example, are not meant to be a direct representation of reality. They may
according to the moviemaker’s perception of reality, be an interpretation or even
distortion of nature.
- Example: “Well and Grinding Wheel in the Forest of the Chateau Noir” by Paul Cezanne,
a French painter. His created landscape painting is quite different from the original
scene.

Art involves experience.

- For most people, art does not require a full definition. Art is just experience.
- “Actual doing of something” (Dudley et al., 1960). Unlike fields of knowledge that involve
data, art is known by experience.
- An important aspect of experiencing art is it is being highly personal, individual, and
subjective. In philosophical terms, perception of art is always a value judgment.
- Every experience with art is accompanied by some emotion. One either likes or dislikes,
agrees or disagrees that a work of art is beautiful. With experience comes emotions and
feelings, which are concrete proofs that the artwork has been experienced.
- Example: “The Scream” by Edvant Munchin.

FUNCTIONS OF ART

Art serves several functions which are corollary to its purposes. These functions include but are
not limited to the following:

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 HUM100: ART APPRECIATION
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Annalisa G. Jamilano & Simon Louis Errol E. Torres

1. Aesthetic Function-
Through art, man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature. He benefits from his own
work and from those done by his fellowmen.
Example: Landscape paintings remind us of the beauty of our natural environment.

2. Utilitarian Function-
Through art, man is provided with shelter, clothing, food, beautiful surroundings,
personal ornamentals, entertainment, language, transportation, and other necessities
and conveniences of life.
Example: Roads and bridges help us reach distant places with much ease
(transportation).

3. Cultural Function-
Through the printed matter, art transmits and preserves skills and knowledge from one
generation to another.
Example: Folk songs, dances, and arts help preserve our traditions.

4. Social Function-
Through art, man learns to love and help each other. International understanding and
cooperation are fostered, and nations become more unified, friendly, cooperative,
helpful, and sympathetic.
Example: Films and performances remind us that socialization is an important aspect
of our humanity.

Activity- After Reading Questions/ Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you need to study humanities?

2. Can anyone be an artist? Prove your answer.
3. Differentiate art appreciation from art history.
4. Cite an example showing that art is ageless and timeless.
5. Do you believe that art is not nature? Explain by citing examples.

Learning Tasks:
Watch the video “Why is art important”, a talk given by Katerina Gregos, a Greek art historian, in
TEDxGhent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPk56BR1Cmk
Then, take note of the answer to the following guide questions:
a. What is the essence of art according to Katerina Gregos? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
b. Based on her view of art, what is the role of an artist in the society?

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 HUM100: ART APPRECIATION
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Annalisa G. Jamilano & Simon Louis Errol E. Torres

Institutional Rubrics for Essay:

Excellent Very Satisfactory Satisfactory Fair Poor

Indicators
(20) (17) (14) (11) (8)
Answers are Answers are Answers are not Answers are Answers are
Score comprehensive, accurate and comprehensive partial or incomplete.
________ accurate and complete. Key or completely incomplete. Key
complete. Key points are stated stated. Key points are not Spelling,
ideas are clearly and supported. points are clear. Questions punctuation,
stated, explained, addressed, but are not and
and well Very few spelling not well adequately grammatical
supported. and punctuation supported. answered errors create
errors, minor distraction,
Free from grammatical Most spelling, Most spelling, making
spelling, errors punctuation, punctuation, reading
punctuation or and grammar and grammar difficult
grammatical are correct are correct
errors allowing allowing
reader to reader to
progress though progress though
essay. Few essay. Some
errors remain. errors remain.

Reflection
Reflect on the question “What Art Means to Me?”

References:
Ariola, M. (2018). Art Appreciation. Manila: Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing Inc.
Boonggaling,.C.C.G.,et. Al. (2018). Art Appreciation. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
Caslib, B.,Jr. Garing, D. & Casaul, J.A. (2018). Art Appreciation. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore.
Leaño, R. & Agtani, J.M. (2018). Art Appreciation for College Students. Manila: Minshapers Co., Inc.

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