TERM PAPER 1:

FUNCTIONS AND
PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVES ON
ART
 According to Aristotle, function determine what kind of a thing a thing is.
The functions of art tells the audience what is it for, hoping to get a function of the
art piece. In light with that, different art forms come with distinctive functions and
there is no one to one correspondence between an art and its function. With that
being said, there are 3 general functions of Art:

⮚ Personal focuses on public displays and is a varied, highly subjective kind of

function. It is usually depends on the artist who created the art. There is a
need of self-expression because the artists needs to communicate an idea to
his audience or a mere entertainment for his intended audience. Example of
this are orphanages and homes for abandoned elders. These are used to help
residents process their emotions and to serve as a place where they can find
peace and love with other people.
⮚ The second function is Social that focuses on celebration and to affect
collective behavior. This function addresses a particular collective interest.
Example of this is political art, photography and performance art. Political
Art may convey a message of protest but also depict social conditions. While
in Photography, photographers capture pictures of poverty that carry
emotional overtones that may solicit action and awareness from audience.
Lastly, Performance Art, like plays and satires, can also rouse emotions and
rally people toward a particular end. This is considered the most apparent
amongst the three functions.
⮚ The third function is the Physical. It is the easiest to spot and understand. It
is crafted in order to serve more physical purpose. Example of this function
is the Japanese raku bowl that participates in a tea ceremony.

Music has other functions. Music in its original form was principally
functional and an instrument to facilitate worship. It is essential to dance because
music assures synchronicity among dancers but today, music has no connection to
dance or religions unlike before. A piece of music has multitude of meanings to
different people.

Sculpture also plays a role in the world of art. Its religious purpose has
remained vital, relevant and symbolic. Aside from that, sculptures were made to
commemorate important figures and an example of this is coins and bills since it
mostly features famous heroes and personalities.

In the Philosophical Perspectives on Art, there are 4 things, namely, Art as an

Imitation, Art as a Representation, Art as a Disinterested Judgement and Art as a
Communication of Emotion.

● Art as an Imitation: According to Plato, the things on this world are only
copies of the original, eternal amd true entities that can only be found in the
world of forms. Plato was deeply suspicious of artsand artist for 2 reasons;
1. They appeal to the emotion rather than to the rational faculty of men.
2. They imitate rather than lead one to reality.

Poetry and Painting don't have any place in ideal state. Poetry rouses emotions and
feelings and clouds the rationality of the people. It has the capacity to sway minds
withiut taking into consideration the use of proper reason. It also leads one further
away from the cultivation of the intellect.

● Art as a Representation: According to Aristotle, art is being used as an aid

to Philosophy in revealing the truth. In addition to that, all kinds of art do
not aim to represent reality as it is since it is just a literary representation. It
only represents possible versions of realities.

In a Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes:

1. Art allows for the experience of pleasure. Example of this is turning a

horrinle experience to an object of humor in a comedy.
 2. Art has an ability to be constructive and teach its audience things about
life. It focuses on the cognitive aspect.

● Art as a Disinterested Judgement: According to Immanuel Kant, the

judgement of the beauty of art is subjective and it is innately autonomous
from specific interests. There is something in the work of art that makes it
capable of inciting the same feeling of pleasure and satisfaction from any
perceiver, regardless of his condition. Every human should recognize the
beauty that is inherent in a work of art.

● Art has a Communication of Emotions: According to Leo Tolstoy, art

plays a huge role in communication to its audience consisting of emotions
that the artist previously has experienced. Art communicates emotions
because it is like a form of language and communication device that
articulates feelings and emotions. Art is given a unique opportunity to serve
as a mechanism for social unity. It is central to man's existence because it
makes accessible feelings and emotions of people. It serves as a mechanism
of cohesion for everyone.

Art has been alive ever since. It is around us because it can be recognized
everywhere using our 5 senses, such as sight, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling it,
starting from the houses, buildings, grafittis, music, dance and also nature. It can also
have an impact to every audience/viewer wherein it could trigger some emotions
from them. Art is always perceived as something beautiful and always assumed that
there is a significant backstory behind the masterpiece. Since there are various forms
of art, they also have their own kind of functions. It is said in the reading that a
functional art or object equates that it is not beautiful unless it can perform its
function. I object with that idea because the value of the work of art doesn't depends
on the function but on the work itself.