The Physical Functions of Art

The physical functions of art are often the most easy to understand. Works
of art that are created to perform some service have physical functions.
If you see a Fijian war club, you may assume that, however wonderful the
craftsmanship may be, it was created to perform the physical function of
smashing skulls.
A Japanese raku bowl is art that performs a physical function in the tea
ceremony. Conversely, a fur-covered teacup from the Dada movement has no
physical function.
Architecture, any of the crafts, and industrial design are all types of art
that have physical functions.
The Social Functions of Art
Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life,
as opposed to one person's point of view or experience.
For example, public art in 1930s Germany had an overwhelming symbolic theme.
Did this art exert influence on the German population? Decidedly so. As did
political and patriotic posters in Allied countries during the same time.
Political art (skewed to whatever message) always carries a social function.
The fur-covered Dada teacup, useless for holding tea, carried a social
function in that it protested World War I (and nearly everything else in
life).
Art that depicts social conditions performs social functions. The Realists
figured this out early in the 19th century. Dorothea Lange (and, indeed,
many other photographers) often photographed people in conditions we'd
rather not think about.
Additionally, satire performs social functions. Francisco Goya and William
Hogarth both went this route, with varying degrees of success at enacting
social change.
Sometimes having specific pieces of art in a community can perform the
social function of elevating that community's status. A Calder stabile, for
example, can be a community treasure and point of pride.

The Personal Functions of Art

The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to explain. There
are many types of personal function, and they are subjective and will,
therefore, vary from person to person.

An artist may create out of a need for self-expression, or gratification.

S/he might have wanted to communicate a thought or point to the viewer.
Perhaps the artist was trying to provide an aesthetic experience, both for
self and viewers. A piece might have been meant to "merely" entertain others.
Sometimes a piece isn't meant to have any meaning at all.

(This is vague, I know. The above is a great example of how knowing the
artist can help one "cut to the chase" and assign functions.)

On a slightly more lofty plane, art may serve the personal functions of
control. Art has been used to attempt to exert magical control over time,
or the seasons or even the acquisition of food. Art is used to bring order
to a messy and disorderly world. Conversely, art can be used to create chaos
when an artist feels life is too staid and ordinary. Art can also be
therapeutic - for both the artist and the viewer.

Yet another personal function of art is that of religious service (lots of

examples for this, aren't there?). Finally, sometimes art is used to assist
us in maintaining ourselves as a species. Biological functions would
obviously include fertility symbols (in any culture), but I would also
invite scrutiny of the ways we adorn ourselves in order to be attractive
enough to, well, mate.

You, the viewer, are half of the equation in assigning a function to art.
These personal functions apply to you, as well as the artist. It all adds
up to innumerable variables when trying to figure out the personal functions
of art. My best advice is to stick with the most obvious and provide only
those details you know as factual.

In sum, try to remember four points when required to describe "the functions
of art": (1) context and (2) personal, (3) social and (4) physical functions.
Good luck, and may your own words flow freely!