Lesson 1: Art and its Conventions

Art
- Comes from the ancient Latin “ars” which means a craft or specialized form of skill like
carpentry or smithying or surgery (Collingwood, 1938).
- Arts in Medieval Latin came to mean something different. It meant any special form of
book-learning, such as grammar or logic, magic or astrology. (Collingwood 1938).
- The fine arts would come to mean not delicate or highly skilled arts, but beautiful arts.

The Process of Art Making

The artist- One cannot speak about art without the artist. The art is the reflection of one’s feelings.
It is the explication of the imagined concepts or ideas. Experience helps man form and develops
his subject.
Art’s medium- The material used to express an idea. The medium can be anything used to
showcase what is in the artist’s mind. It can be wood, metal, stone; or it can be words, action, or
anything that evokes aesthetic sense.

Conventions of Art
1. Universal and Timeless- Art has always been timeless and universal, spanning generations and
continents through and through. It 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.
2. Art is not Nature- Art is man’s expression of his reception of nature. Art is man’s way of
interpreting nature.
3. An Artist needs experience- Unlike fields of knowledge that involve data, art is known by
experiencing. A work of art then cannot be abstracted from actual doing. In order to know what an
artwork is, we have to sense it, see or hear it, and see and hear it.

Ancient art (4,000) - was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to those
with an established written language. These civilizations included Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece,
and those of the Americas.

Prehistoric Art (40,000-4,000 BC) – The origins of art history can be traced back to the
prehistoric era, before written records were kept. The earliest artefacts come from the Palaeolithic
era, or the Old Stone Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures,
and stone arrangements.
Medieval Art (500-1400) - The Middle Ages, often referred to as the "Dark Ages," marked a
period of economic and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D.
Much of the artwork produced in the early years of the period reflects that darkness, characterized
by grotesque imagery and, brutal scenery.

Renaissance (1400-1600) - This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized
by a focus on nature and individualism, the thought of man as independent and self-reliant. Though
these ideals were present in the late medieval period, they flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries
paralleling social and economic changes like secularization.
Mannerism (1527-1580) – mannerist artists emerged from the ideals of Michelangelo, Raphael
and other late Renaissance artists, but their focus on style and technique outweighed the meaning
of the subject matter. Often, figures had graceful, elongated limbs, small heads, stylized figures
and exaggerated details.
Baroque (1600-1750) - The Baroque period that followed Mannerism yielded ornate, over-the-
top visual arts and architecture. It was characterized by grandeur and richness, punctuated by an
interest in broadening human intellect and global discovery. Baroque artists were stylistically
complex.

Rococo (1699-1780) - originated in Paris, encompassing decorative art, painting, architecture, and
sculpture. The aesthetic offered a softer style of decorative art compared to Baroque's exuberance.
Rococo is characterized by lightness and elegance, focusing on the use of natural forms,
asymmetrical design, and subtle colours.

Neoclassicism (1750-1850) - as its name suggests, the neoclassical period drew upon elements
from classical antiquity. Archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples that
were discovered at the time reignited a passion for all things past, and artists strove to recreate the
great works of ancient art. This translated to a renewed interest in classical ideals of harmony,
simplicity, and proportion.

Romanticism (1780-1850) - embodies a broad range of disciplines, from painting to music to

literature. The ideals present in each of these art forms reject order, harmony, and rationality, which
were embraced in both classical art and Neoclassicism. Instead, Romantic artists emphasized the
individual and imagination.

Realism (1848-1900) - Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the
1840s. Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the rise
of journalism, and the advent of photography.

Impressionism (1865-1885) - Impressionist painters sought to capture the immediate impression

of a particular moment. This was characterized by short, quick brushstrokes and an unfinished,
sketch-like feel. Impressionist artists used modern life as their subject matter, painting situations
like dance halls and sailboat regattas rather than historical and mythological events.
Post-impressionism (1885-1910) - Post-Impressionist painters worked independently rather than
as a group, but each influential Post-Impressionist painter had similar ideals. They concentrated
on subjective visions and symbolic, personal meanings rather than observations of the outside
world. This was often achieved through abstract forms.

Art Nouveau (1890-1910) - which translates to "New Art," attempted to create an entirely
authentic movement free from any imitation of styles that preceded it. This movement heavily
influenced applied arts, graphics, and illustration. It focused on the natural world, characterized by
long, sinuous lines and curves.

Fauvism (1900-1935) - Led by Henri Matisse, Fauvism built upon examples from Vincent van
Gogh and George Seurat. As the first avant-garde, 20th-century movement, this style was
characterized by expressive use of intense colour, line, and brushwork, a bold sense of surface
design, and flat composition.
Expressionism (1905-1920) - Expressionism emerged as a response to increasingly. Conflicted
world views and the loss of spirituality. Expressionist art sought to draw from within the artist,
using a distortion of form and strong colors to display anxieties and raw emotions.

Cubism (1907-1914) - was established by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who rejected the
concept that art should copy nature. They moved away from traditional techniques and
perspectives; instead, they created radically fragmented objects through abstraction.

Surrealism (1916-1950) - emerged from the Dada art movement in 1916, showcasing works of
art that defied reason. Surrealists denounced the rationalist mind-set. They blamed this thought
process on events like World War I and believed it to repress imaginative thoughts.

Abstract Expressionism (1940-1950) - Shaped by the legacy of Surrealism, Abstract

Expressionism emerged in New York after WWII. It's often referred to as the New York School
or action painting. These painters and abstract sculptors broke away from what was considered
conventional, and instead used spontaneity and improvisation to create abstract works of art.

Pop art (1950-1960) - one of the most recognizable artistic developments of the 20th century. The
movement transitioned away from methods used in Abstract Expressionism, and instead used
every day, mundane objects to create innovative works of art that challenged consumerism and
mass media.

Op Art (1950-1960) - heightened by advances in science and technology as well as an interest in

optical effects and illusions, the Op art (short for "optical" art) movement launched with Le
Mouvement, a group exhibition at Galerie Denise Rene in 1955. Artists active in this style used
shapes, colors, and patterns to create images that appeared to be moving or blurring, often produced
in black and white for maximum contrast. These abstract patterns were meant to both confuse and
excite the eye.

Arte Povera (1960) - Translating literally to "poor art," Arte Povera challenged modernist,
contemporary systems by infusing commonplace materials into creations. Artists used soil, rocks,
paper, rope, and other earthen elements to evoke a pre-industrial sentiment. As a result, many of
the notable works during this movement are sculptural.

Conceptual Art (1960-1970) - completely rejected previous art movements, and artists prized
ideas over visual components, creating art in the form of performances, ephemera, and other forms.

Minimalism (1960-1970) - The Minimalist movement emerged in New York as a group of

younger artists began to question the overly expressive works of Abstract Expressionist artists.
Minimalist art instead focused on anonymity, calling attention to the materiality of works.

Contemporary Art (1970-present) - The 1970s marked the beginning of contemporary art, which
extends through present day. This period is dominated by various schools and smaller movements
that emerged. The Postmodernism, Feminist art, Neo Expressionism, Street art, The Pictures
Generation, Appropriation art, Young British Artists (YBA), and Digital art.
Lesson 2: The Role of Creativity, Imagination and Expression in the Art Making

"The role of art as a creative work is to depict the world in a completely different light and
perspective" - Jean-Paul Sartre

ART AS A PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION, IMAGINATION AS A PRODUCT OF ART

 "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now
know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and there ever will be
to know and understand" (Albert Einstein)
 An artwork does not need to be a real thing, but can be something that is imaginary
(Collingwood, 1938).
 According to Collins & Riley (1931), the craving and desire to be surrounded by beautiful
things dates back to our early ancestors.

ART AS EXPRESSION

o According to Collingwood (1983), releasing yourself from a tormenting and disabling

state by doing something is called expressing oneself.
o An emotion will remain unknown to a man until he expresses it
o Robin George Collingwood, an English philosopher who is best known for his work in
aesthetics, explicated in his publication The Principles of Art (1938) that what an artist
does to an emotion is not to induce it, but express it. Through expression, he is able to
explore his own emotions and at the same time, create something beautiful out of them.
o Collingwood further illustrated that expressing emotions is something different from
describing emotions. Description destroys the idea of expression, as it classifies the
emotion, making it ordinary and predictable. Expression, on the other hand,
individualizes. An artist has the freedom to express himself the way he wants to. Hence,
there is no specific technique in expression. This makes people's art not a reflection of
what is outside or external to them, but a reflection of their inner selves.

Ways of Expressing Oneself through Art

1. Visual Arts- the kind of art form that the population is most likely more exposed to, but its
variations are so diverse. Some mediums of visual arts include paintings, drawings, letterings,
printing, sculptures, digital imaging, and more.

2. Film- the art of putting together successions of still images in order to create a illusion of
movement. Filmmaking focuses on its aesthetics, cultural, and social value and is considered as
both an art industry.
3. Performance art- a live art and the artist's medium is mainly the human body which he or she
uses to perform, but also employs other kind of art such as visual art, props, or sound.
Four elements of performance art
a. time
b. where the performance took place
c. the performers body
d. relationship between the audience and performers

4. Poetry- an art form where the artist expresses his emotions not by using paint, charcoal, or
camera, but expresses them through words. It uses a word's emotional, musical, and spatial values
that go beyond its literal meaning to narrate, emphasize, argue, or convince.

5. Architecture

Art is the pursuit and creation of beautiful things while architecture is the making of
beautiful buildings.
Not all buildings can be considered architecture.
The Grand Theatre de Bordeaux where the functionality of the theatre remain, but the
striking balance of the lines, colors, and shapes completes the masterpiece.
Buildings should embody these three important elements- plan, construction, and design-
if they wish to merit the title architecture (Collins & Riley, 1931)

6. Dance

Dance is a series of movements that follows the rhythm of the music accompaniment.
Creative form that allows people to freely express themselves.
It has no rules. Dancers are free to create and invent their own movements as long as they
deem them graceful and beautiful.
7. Literary Art
Literary art goes beyond the usual professional, academic, journalistic, and other
technical forms of writing.
It focuses on writing using a unique style, not following a specific format or norm.
It may include both fiction and non-fiction such as novels, biographies, and poems.

8. Theater

Theater uses live performers to present accounts or imaginary events before a live
audience.
Usually follow a script. Much like in filmmaking, theater also considers several elements
such as acting gesture, lighting, sound effects, musical score, scenery, and props.
Similar to performance art, viewer is an important element in theater art.
Some genres of theater include drama, musical, tragedy, comedy, and improvisation.
9. Applied Arts

Applied arts is incorporating elements of style and design to everyday items with the aim
of increasing their aesthetic value.
Artists in this field bring beauty, charm, and comfort into many things that are useful in
everyday life (Collins & Riley, 1931).
Industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and graphic design are considered
applied arts.
Functionality and Style.
Lesson 3: Functions and Philosophical Perspective
 Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has an
end, or telos in Greek, which translate into “purpose”.
 This telos, according to Aristotle, is intricately linked with function. For a thing to reach
its purpose, it also has to fulfill its function.
 Man, in Aristotle’s view of reality, is bound to achieve a life of fulfillment and happiness,
or in Greek, eudaimonia.
 Telos and function of a thing are both related to a thing’s identity.

MAJOR CLASSIFICATION OF ARTS

1. Practical Arts
 also known as applied arts
 arts where items are created for a useful purpose
 in question lies in the practical benefits one gains from it
 Examples: Pottery, jewelry-making, crafts, carpentry, architecture

2. Fine Arts
 performing and visual arts
 arts primarily created for aesthetic or intellectual purposes
 one can only look at the value of the product of art in and for itself
 Examples: Painting and literature, music, theater

Functions of Art
A. Personal
 varied and highly subjective
 functions depend on the person - the artist who created the art
 Artist may create an art for:
-need for self-expression
-mere entertainment for his audience
B. Social

 influences the collective behavior of people:

 created to be seen or used primarily in public situations
 expresses or describes collective aspects of existence
 as opposed to individual and personal kinds of experience.

C. Physical
 The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot and understand.
 The physical functions of art can be found in artworks that are crafted in order to serve
some physical purpose.
Other Functions of Art
A. Music
- Music in its original form was principally functional. Music was used for dance and religion.
Unlike today, when one can just listen to music for the sake of music's sake, the ancient world
saw music only as an instrument in facilitate worship and invocation 10 gods.
B. Sculpture
- Another functional art form that has long existed for various purposes. Just like music, from the
early days of humanity, sculptures have been made by man most particularly for religion.
C. Architecture
- Architecture might be the most prominent functional art form. Buildings are huge, expensive,
and are not easily constructed and replaced. It is also in architecture where one can find the intimate
connection of function and form. In planning out an architectural structure, one has to seriously
consider the natural conditions like topography and climate of the place of erection and the social
conditions such as the purpose of the building itself.

Philosophical Perspectives of Art

1. Art as an imitation
 Things in the world are only copies of the original (Plato)
 They appeal to the emotion rather than to the rational faculty of men
 They imitate rather than lead one to reality

2. Art as representation
 Art represents possible versions of reality (Aristotle).
 It serves two purpose:
o Art allows for the experience of pleasure
o Art has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about life

3. Art as disinterested judgement

 Kant, considered the judgment of beauty the cornerstone of arts (something that can be
universal despite its subjectivity).
 Judgment of beauty and art is innately autonomous from specific interests.
 It is the form of art that is adjudged by one who perceives art to be beautiful or more so,
sublime. Therefore, even aesthetic judgement for Kant is a cognitive activity.
Lesson 4: Subject and Content
Subject in Art
 It refers to the visual focus or the image that may be extracted from examining the
artwork; the “what”.
Types of Subject
A. Representational
 Also termed as figurative art represents objects or events in the real world, usually
looking easily recognizable or easy to decipher.
B. Non-representational
 Also termed as non-figurative arts represents works that does not depict anything from
the real world (figures, landscapes, animals, etc.) Nonrepresentational art may simply
depict shapes, colors, lines, etc., but may also express things that are not visible –
emotions or feelings for example.

Sources and Kinds of Subject

1. Nature
The artist’s human interaction with the physical world. They have explored diverse ways of
representing nature.
2. Greek and Roman Mythology
Artists on the other hand gave faces to Greek and Roman deities or the gods and goddesses
whose fates are seemingly as tragic as those of men.
3. Judeo-Christian Monotheism
Practicing Jews and Christians depict their God and other important biblical figures: laying
visual foundations in inculcating the faith. This echoes her belief that “art was central to religious
experience.”
4. Vedic Text
The significance of these paintings rests on its ability to foster devotion and the observance of a
code of ethics through the visualizations of heroic narratives. These paintings were small in size,
but were highly pictorial, stylized, and employed a good contrast of colors.
5. Historically significant events
History as a resource for artists in search of subjects bring into consideration events that are
familiar and sometimes even common or shared in world context
Content in Art
 The meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork
Erwin Panofsky- a German Jewish art historian expounded on content analysis. Meaning in
Visual Arts compromises nine essays, where Panofsky argues for the independence of iconology
as a branch of history.

Levels of Meaning
1. Factual Meaning
o The most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable
forms in the artwork and understanding how these relate to one another.
2. Conventional Meaning
o Pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, symbols,
and other cyphers as bases of its meaning.
3. Subjective Meaning
o These meanings stem from the viewers or audiences circumstances that come into play
when engaging with art.
o Meaning may not be singular, rather, multiple and varied.