3. Different functions of arts.

Determining the Function of Art

The functions of art apply not only to the artist that created a piece but to you as the viewer. Your whole experience and
understanding of a piece should contribute to the function you assign it, as well as everything you know about its context. Next time
you are trying to understand a piece of art, try to remember these four points: (1) context and (2) personal, (3) social, and (4)
physical functions. Remember that some art serves only one function and some all three (perhaps even more).

Within art, there exist purposes referred to as functions for which a piece of art may be designed, but no art can be "assigned" a
function—either in scholarly studies or casual conversation—outside of the proper context. Art forms exist within very specific
contexts that must be considered when classifying them. Whether a particular piece of art has existed for centuries or has yet to be
created, it is functional in some way—all art exists for a reason and
these reasons make up the functions of art.

Functions of Art

Ideally, one can look at a piece of art and guess with some accuracy
where it came from and when. This best-case scenario also includes
identifying the artist because they are in no small way part of the
contextual equation. You might wonder, "What was the artist thinking
when they created this?" when you see a piece of art. You, the viewer,
are the other half of this equation; you might ask yourself how that
same piece of art makes you feel as you look at it.

These—in addition to the time period, location of creation, cultural

influences, etc.—are all factors that should be considered before trying
to assign functions to art. Taking anything out of context can lead to
misunderstanding art and misinterpreting an artist's intentions, which
is never something you want to do.
The functions of art normally fall into three categories: physical, social, and personal. These categories can and often do overlap in
any given piece of art. When you're ready to start thinking about these functions, here's how.

Physical

The physical functions of art are often the easiest 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 a piece of art that performs a physical function in a tea
ceremony. Conversely, a fur-covered teacup from the Dada movement has no
physical function. Architecture, crafts such as welding and woodworking, interior
design, and industrial design are all types of art that serve physical functions.
Social

Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life as

opposed to one person's point of view or experience. Viewers can often
relate in some way to social art and are sometimes even influenced by it.

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, often designed to deliver a certain 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 and often this art
comes in the form of photography. The Realists figured this out early in the
19th century. American photographer Dorothea Lange (1895–1965) along
with many others often took pictures of people in conditions that are difficult to see and think about.

Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya (1746–1828) and English portrait artist William Hogarth
(1697–1764) both went this route with varying degrees of success at motivating social change with their art. Sometimes the
possession of specific pieces of art in a community can elevate that community's status. A stabile by American kinetic artist
Alexander Calder (1898–1976), for example, can be a community treasure and point of pride.
Personal

The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to explain. There
are many types of personal functions and these are highly subjective.
Personal functions of art are not likely to be the same from person to
person.

An artist may create a piece out of a need for self-expression or

gratification. They might also or instead want to communicate a thought
or point to the viewer. Sometimes an artist is only trying to provide an
aesthetic experience, both for self and viewers. A piece might be meant
to entertain, provoke thought, or even have no particular effect at all.
Personal function is vague for a reason. From artist to artist and viewer to viewer, one's experience with art is different. Knowing the
background and behaviors of an artist helps when interpreting the personal function of their pieces.

Art may also serve the personal function of controlling its viewers, much like social art. It can also perform religious service or
acknowledgment. Art has been used to attempt to exert magical control,
change the seasons, and even acquire food. Some art brings order and
peace, some creates chaos. There is virtually no limit to how art can be
used.

Finally, sometimes art is used to maintain a species. This can be seen in

rituals of the animal kingdom and in humans themselves. Biological
functions obviously include fertility symbols (in any culture), but there are
many ways humans adorn their bodies with art in order to be attractive
to others and eventually mate.