Chapter 2 • Major Arts – Large-scale, influential

art forms such as architecture,

sculpture, and painting.
Arts and Its Functions
• Minor Arts – Smaller works like
Art is more than just a product of creativity decorative arts, furniture design,
— it is a human necessity, a reflection of and crafts.
culture, and a medium for communication.
To appreciate art fully, we must B. According to Medium
understand its classification, functions,
elements, principles of design, and the • Visual Arts – Arts perceived
mediums and techniques used to create it. through sight, such as painting,
drawing, photography, and
1. Classification of Arts sculpture.
Art can be categorized in many ways, but
in general, it is classified based on form, • Auditory Arts – Arts perceived
purpose, and medium. Knowing these through hearing, such as music and
classifications helps us understand and spoken poetry.
compare artworks more meaningfully.
• Combined Arts – Arts that appeal to
A. According to Purpose both sight and hearing, such as
theater, film, dance, and opera.
• Practical or Utilitarian Arts –
Artworks created for everyday use 2. Functions of Arts
but with aesthetic value.
Art plays multiple roles in society and in
Example: A beautifully woven banig, our lives. Its functions can be grouped into
pottery jars, architectural designs. personal, social, and physical categories.

• Liberal Arts – Academic disciplines A. Personal Functions

meant to train the mind and
intellect, such as literature, • Self-Expression – Art as a way to
philosophy, and mathematics. communicate personal feelings,
thoughts, and identity.
• Fine Arts – Primarily created for Example: A songwriter composing
beauty and intellectual stimulation, lyrics about heartbreak.
not practical use.
• Therapeutic Value – Art as a way to
heal or process emotions (art
Example: Painting, sculpture, music, therapy, journaling, music).
poetry.
 • Aesthetic Pleasure – Art as a source • Shape – 2D enclosed space
of beauty and enjoyment. (geometric or organic).
Example: Rectangular windows in
B. Social Functions modern architecture.

• Cultural Preservation – Art records • Form – 3D objects having depth,

and transmits cultural traditions. width, and height.
Example: Indigenous dances like Example: A clay vase.
Tinikling.
• Color – Hue, value, and intensity;
Political Advocacy – Art raises affects mood and emotion.
awareness or challenges societal Example: Warm colors (red,
issues. yellow) evoke energy; cool colors
Example: Protest murals in urban (blue, green) evoke calm.
communities.
• Texture – Surface quality, whether
Education – Art as a teaching tool real (tactile) or implied (visual).
(illustrations in textbooks, Example: Rough bark in a nature
educational theater). painting.

C. Physical Functions • Space – Area within or around

objects; can be positive (object) or
• Architecture & Design – Creating negative (background).
functional structures that are also
visually pleasing. • Value – Lightness or darkness of a
color, adding depth and contrast.
• Product Design – Enhancing
usability while appealing to 4. Principles of Design
consumers’ tastes.
Principles of design are guidelines artists
3. Elements of Arts use to arrange elements effectively.

Elements are the basic building blocks • Balance – Distribution of visual

used by artists to create visual works. weight (symmetrical,
asymmetrical, or radial).
• Line – Path between two points;
can be straight, curved, thick, thin, • Contrast – Juxtaposition of
vertical, horizontal, diagonal. opposing elements (light vs. dark,
Example: The flowing lines in rough vs. smooth).
calligraphy.
• Emphasis – Drawing attention to a
focal point.
 • Movement – Guiding the viewer’s • Techniques: Harmony, melody,
eye through the artwork. rhythm, improvisation.

• Pattern – Repetition of elements to • Approaches: Classical, folk, jazz,

create rhythm. contemporary.

• Rhythm – Sense of flow or visual C. Combined Arts

tempo.
• Mediums: Stage, film, lighting, set
• Proportion – Relationship of sizes design, digital technology.
between elements.
• Techniques: Choreography in
• Unity – Harmony among elements dance, cinematography in film,
to form a complete whole. staging in theater.

5. Medium, Technique, and Approaches • Approaches: Live performance,

in Arts multimedia integration, immersive
art.
The medium is the material used, the
technique is how it is handled, and Art is not only a reflection of human
approach refers to the style or method creativity but also a functional force in
applied. shaping culture, expressing identity, and
influencing society. By understanding
A. Visual Arts classifications, we know the range of art
forms; by knowing functions, we see their
• Mediums: Oil paint, watercolor, purpose; through elements and principles,
acrylic, charcoal, ink, clay, metal, we understand their structure; and
fabric. through mediums and techniques, we
appreciate the skill and innovation behind
• Techniques: Painting (impasto, them.
glazing), drawing (cross-hatching,
stippling), sculpting (carving,
modeling).

• Approaches: Realism, abstraction,

surrealism, expressionism.

B. Auditory Arts

• Mediums: Sound waves, musical

instruments, human voice.