FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in GE3 – Art Appreciation Module No. 1

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 1

MODULE 1 Foundation of Art and Brief Introduction to Humanities
Topic 1. What is Art?
MODULE OVERVIEW

In this module, we will explore a brief introduction to humanities and define arts and arts appreciation.
We will also look into the different assumptions about art as well as the importance of imagination, creativity and
expression in arts. Lastly, we’ll also look into the different functions of art and its philosophical importance.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Characterize artistic expression based on personal experience with art.

2. Differentiate art history from art appreciation.
3. Discuss the nature of art’s preliminary expression.

LEARNING CONTENTS

MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITIES

Etymologically, the term “Humanities” is from a Latin word humanus which means educated. It refers to
the learning of arts such as architecture, dance, literature, music, painting, theatre, and sculpture (Sanches,
2011).They are branches of knowledge that focuses on the human opinions, and relationships (Machlis, 2003).
As a branch of learning, the artwork is considered as the material object while its creativity and appreciation is
the formal object (Menoy, 2009& Marcos, et al., 2010).

Likewise, Humanities is more concerned on how a person expresses his/her feelings. These feelings
can be in facial manifestations or body movements. Laughing, crying, clenching our fists, curling our toes,
stretching out our fingers, and crossing our arms are representations of humanities (Menoy, 2009).

DESCRIPTION OF ART APPRECIATION

When we look around, we see a lot of things that relate to art. Art can come in the form of many items
such as posters, paintings, portraits, covers, and more. People look at art in different ideas that they want to
know more about or may be studying. Art can show ideas about the past, what is currently happening and what
may happen in the future. It can also show meaning, love, boredom, and creativity (Ramos, 2012). Art can be
meaningful because of the colors, shapes, and depictions it can create.

Art Appreciation is a way to motivate ideas and allows individuals to illustrate their feelings when they
viewed an artwork. It helps develop critical and innovative skills in thinking and teaches essential qualities in
listening, observing, and responding to multiple viewpoints It also requires an ability to differentiate what is
apparent and what is not (Gargaro & Jilg, 2016 and Sanger, 2012).

Art Appreciation or Aesthetic education is the capacity to understand works of art and experience a
certain enjoyment in creating arts. It deals with our encounter with the artworks and the artists and how we are
affected with it. As we see, hear, or feel any artwork, we realize that something in that artwork is also a part of
our experience, because art is the transmission of feelings the artist has experienced or the expression of the
ineffable emotion of the artist (Tolstoy). Any artwork will prompt us with valuable aesthetic emotion, admiration
and inspiration. Art Appreciation is far different from ethics wherein we consider that there are absolute right and
wrong answers like stealing is wrong and sharing something is good. Many people think that beauty is simply in
the eye of the beholder. And if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then no one can be wrong about their
aesthetic appreciation.

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Study Guide in GE3 – Art Appreciation Module No. 1

Art appreciation puts us into the heights of good taste. Born with different kinds of senses like hearing,
sight, and smell, we also have aesthetic taste. Aesthetic taste is the ability to detect and evaluate the aesthetic
properties of an object. We may each use our aesthetic taste in different ways and be better in appreciating
something more than others (Hume). An example of that is when you easily notice any distinction or similarity
from artworks that other people might not notice or you can easily appreciate even the small or complicated
details that perhaps might not be of interest for some. This is because some people naturally developed sense
of aesthetic appreciation. But according to David Hume, 18th Century Philosopher, that the ability to appreciate
things or developing good taste can be acquired or if you don't have this natural ability, it can still be learned
overtime. Through constant encounter with any forms of art you can study and discover that there is something
that you can recognize and appreciate that others appreciate also in that particular aesthetic objects. It all leads
to knowledgeable encounter with art.

WHAT IS ART?

Art is the product of man's inventiveness and creativity. It is the result of a conscious will or effort to
create artworks or objects with function. He transforms and take inspirations from nature in creating something
functional and valuable. He uses his genius in transforming trees into paper, woods and crafts and expresses
his imagination, ideas, feelings or emotion into a sculpture or painting, into a poem or musical composition. The
ancient World did not have any idea of art just as we have in our modern world. For them art was just using their
hands to create something functional that they can use in their day to day life. It was during the Renaissance
Period that the word "art" has the notion equivalent or the same with the word "craft". During the seventeenth
century, the questions arise regarding the idea of beauty and aesthetic, the study of beauty. It was finally on the
eighteenth century that the word art was conceived as related to fine arts. (Collingwood 1938) Numbers of
aestheticians have their own definitions of art. For Herbert Read, art is an attempt to create pleasing forms:
Artist intention is to please with regards to his creation. It may not be true to some critics but in general, artists'
works should please or give aesthetic pleasure to the viewers. Art is the enjoyment of forms. (Ernst Cassirer).
This definition of art gives high regards to viewer experience rather than the artist intention. The enjoyment we
get from the artwork should be independent from the artist's intention.

For Susanne Langer, Art molds our actual life of feelings, by giving form to the world, it articulates
human nature, sensibility, energy, passion and mortality. This definition covers what art does. Artist in his
creation does expresses certain human condition through his feelings and emotions.

ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

1. Art is Universal

Art immortalizes man and his marvelous achievements. Literature and history provide us with
all evidences about the timelessness and universal value of art and its unique contribution to mankind.
Since man has intermingled within the society, art sprung up. In fact, in almost every country and within
the most primitive communities. In every era and locus, there is always art. It constitutes one of the
oldest and most important means of expression developed by man. No matter on what era or location,
art exists. That is why it is universal. Old songs and stories, old pictures and statues are well preserved
because they are alive, they meet the needs of people, and they are liked. There is a sense of
timelessness about art which makes us feel it is not old; it does not grow old. (Duley and Falicy 1973).
People from different countries around the world respond to art for very different reasons, the ability to
be moved by any art form is undeniably universal. Cultures have been producing arts for many
thousands of years, like the cave paintings in Lascaux France, Great pyramids in Egypt, Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael in the High Renaissance of the 16th century, Opera in 1660 at
Florence down to the rich productions of sculptures, paintings, weavings and utensils in virtually every
culture of the world, whether urban and a peasant culture, appreciation of the art a daily necessity.
(Solomon, 2001)

Art will never be outdated because man experience enjoyment and find pleasure in it.
Furthermore, as long as human beings continue to express themselves through the arts, and use it for
the integrity of diverse culture and appreciates its utilitarian functions, art will play its important worth
from generation to generation.

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2. Art is not Nature

In understanding this assumption, we should first see the meaning of the two terminologies. Art
is made by man using his skills, craftsmanship, creativity, and imagination. It is far different from nature.
Man may consider nature as inspiration to create an artwork. A very distinctive characteristic of man
that differ from animals is that man has the ability to create art. Man may incorporate his past
experiences or influences from his environment to create an artwork. Art is a representation of what we
see, experience, feel, smell, value, etc., and present them through artistic interpretation.

Nature - Divine model, work of God, or God made. Nature was not designed by God to represent and to
express anything. we are often caught in a dilemma or situation wherein we get confused if we can
consider nature as art. Books on art existed without less information regarding the universality of such
agreement, that art is not nature. Art and nature are two different things, art is not nature and nature is
not art. Art is man-made and nature is God made.

3. Art Involves Experience

All art involves experience. Experience is the actual doing of something. The perfection of art
appreciation will never be possible without experiencing art. All art requires experience. One cannot say
that the painting of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night" is breathtaking not unless he saw and experience it by
himself. One can never experience art just by hearsay atone. No one can speak of pains and hurt from
a failed relationship, the heightened emotions of falling in love not unless he experienced it for himself.
You may have volumes off books and in it were pictures of countries you want to visit or perhaps have
browsed its images from the internet but you will never have such real experience of those countries not
unless you go abroad and you see it for yourself.

All art forms available to us demands experience. Firsthand experience is necessary to know a
work of art. Information or facts about works of art are available almost everywhere, but being
dependent with this information alone may lead us to an unexperienced reality of arts. One cannot
judge a song or a painting not unless he heard and see it in an actual sense. If we really want to know a
specific work of art, we should experience it by ourselves. For many of the Bulakenyos, they may say
that "Florente at Laura" is boring and they don't like it. Why? Because they don't have any experience
reading about the actual poetry or heard it from a poet. There's an easy access today regarding art
criticism, literary criticism, film analysis, book review and others, needless to say that these available
information are all interesting and useful but these are all considered little knowledge compared when
someone has a direct experience of art.

THE TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPERIENCE

1. Experience of art is subjective. Our judgement of art is highly personal and individual. Any claims that
his/her experience with art is better than others proves to be impossible. Not everybody will agree with
our own judgement and experience with art. We should not expect others to agree with our own
experience with art. This thing is perplexing because any judgement of something beautiful in art means
that it provokes pleasure deep inside a particular person. However, we cannot convince others with our
own conceptual reasoning regarding art experience just to prove that our art experience is better than
the other. According to the study of Edward A. Vessel, G. Gabrielle Starr and Nava Rubin, "Differences
in subjective experience may arise not only from differences in the emotions that a given artwork
evokes, but also from how different individuals weigh these emotions."

2. Art experience is accompanied by emotional response. Initial reaction in such experience of art is
inevitable. We may either like or dislike it. We can say that it's beautiful or it's not good at all. Others will
say it's frustrating, and some will say it's great. All of us are pre-occupied with different concerns or have
different moods, we show lack of interest at times. For this reason, our reaction to arts differ from one
another. Understanding the art is necessary like in the case of art movement like abstract
impressionism or total abstraction. If we do not have any experience with any of these works or
knowledge about the intention of the artist, confusion and struggle will become our initial reaction.
Constant exposure and receptive attitude toward art will in the end lead us into a more mature
understanding of the arts.

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Study Guide in GE3 – Art Appreciation Module No. 1

IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION

The cognitive process of mind includes imagination, creativity and thinking with innovation.
Imagination is envisioning ideas that are not present in reality. Imagination is visualizing the impossible or things
that are not present in our senses. Dream is a form of imaginative thinking, things perceived in dreams are
unreal and no assurance to happen in real life. An example of this is from a surreal dream, where a giant bird
with square wings in a rainbow color swimming in a huge swimming pool. According to Albert Einstein
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world".
Exercises like storytelling can evoke "new worlds" for listeners. Furthermore, fantasies and fairy tales were the
result of imagination.

Creativity uses imagination to represent new ideas and create a physical embodiment which is
beneficial and with value. It is the unveiling of the impossible to possible. Through creativity, the production of
valuable products is involved (Mumford, 2003, p. 110). Or in another statement from Robert Sternberg, the
production of "something original and worthwhile." The valuable result of creativity can either be intangible like
new ideas and musical composition, or tangible object like sculpture or painting.

Can creativity be learned? The short answer is yes. A study by George Land reveals that we are
naturally creative and as we grow-up we learn to be uncreative. Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a
process that can be managed. Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline, and
mastering a way of thinking. You can learn to be creative by experimenting, exploring, questioning assumptions,
using imagination and synthesizing information. Learning to be creative is akin to learning a sport. It requires
practice to develop the right muscles, and a supportive environment in which to flourish. (George Land)

The utilization of both imagination and creativity can be considered as innovation. Focusing on every
valuable production of imagination and creativity, this innovation takes a tot of openness for improvement and
any development.

ART AS EXPRESSION

Art is an expression of an individual, making known his thoughts or feelings. It means that the work of
art reflects the artist's personality, background or even personal circumstances. The central focus of any
expression comes from within an individual and it can be an expression of ideas or feelings through words,
actions, or any artistic activities. Expressing oneself can be directly or indirectly, conscious or unconsciously.
According to Collingwood from his "Principles of Art", an artist do not let any emotion keep him from persuasions
but rather expresses it. Expression is an avenue for the artist to explore more about his emotion and creating
something beautiful out of them.

ART ACTIVITY 1

FREESTYLE ART

Directions:

1. The first art activity is free style, meaning you have the option to use any medium you want. Sample medium
includes oil paint, paint, water color, colored pencils, pencil – pencil etching or pencil sketching, crayons,
markers, colored markers, sign pen or any medium available)
2. It should be put/ place on a short coupon bond.
3. The theme / inspiration is all about YOU.
4. A recorded explanation using Flipgrid is required.

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Study Guide in GE3 – Art Appreciation Module No. 1

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

GUIDE QUESTIONS

Name: ______________________________________ Course/Year/Section: ___________ Date: _________

Essay: Answer the following questions below briefly but precisely.

1. What is your definition of Arts? Arts Appreciation?

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2. Do you consider yourself as an artist? Justify your answer.

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3. Explain the importance of imagination, creativity and expression.

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4. Why is art universal/ cultural?

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5. Why is art not nature?

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Based on Punzalan, J.F. [Link]. 2019 Art Appreciation Assessment Questionnaire p.26

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Study Guide in GE3 – Art Appreciation Module No. 1

SUMMARY

Art is an integral part of us and is not separated from any of our daily encounter with the world. Art is
something that stimulate valuable aesthetic emotions in us. It is not new to us but it's already in us, we enjoy and
we celebrate it. But sometimes we overlook the pleasure and enjoyment because of little or no preparation for
the main reason that we are contented with the basic ways of comprehension and appreciation of arts. However,
as we venture into art appreciation, we at a certain point will arrive at a mature level of seeing and appreciating
the arts.

REFERENCES

Punzalan, J.F. [Link]. 2019 Art Appreciation. St. Andrew Publishing House

Art Appreciation for the New General Education Curriculum

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