1.

1 Art Concepts
Why is it important to study art?
- to be able to be creative in problem solving
- creative thinking is in the arts

Art is culture, architecture, engineering

According to Collins and Riley (as cited in Caslib, Garing & Casaul, 2018), "art is
a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression" (p.13). No wonder, art
is not simply an object or just a thing. In the words of Janson and Janson (1992),
art is also an object, but not just any kind of object. Art is an aesthetic object.
It is meant to be looked at and appreciated for its intrinsic value. Its special
qualities set apart, so it is often placed away from everyday life, in museums,
churches, or caves" (p.9).

there are two things that I want you to ponder upon. First, whenever you doubt
yourself as an artist, always remember what Rodin said: "Inside you, there is an
artist, he is not interested in how things look different in moonlight." Second,
watch the video featuring Pigcasso. I hope this video, which is produced by the Nat
Geo Wild (2018), will motivate, inspire, and say: "I am an artist!"

1.1.1 Creativity in Art Making

"Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often used to solve problems
that have never occurred before. In art, creativity is what sets apart one artwork
from another. We say something is done creatively when we have not yet seen
anything like it or when it is out of the ordinary. A creative artist does not
simply copy or imitate another artist’s work. Nor does an artist simply copy the
lines, flaws, colors, and other details of another artist. An artist embraces
originality, puts his or her own flavor into an artwork, and calls it his or her
own creative piece" (Caslib et al., 2018, p.15).

Creativity seems like a challenge 'though! Perhaps, it isn't, or just a bit! All
you need is a pen, a paper, and a big push. In addition, remember what Pablo
Picasso said: "Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be
and asked why not."

1.1.2 Art and Imagination

Art as a product of IMAGINATION, IMAGINATION as a Product of Art (Caslib et al.,

2018)

Where do renowned artists derive their ideas? Where do creative ideas begin? These
ideas begin in the mind, and these ideas start with imagination. Einstein, who had
major contributions in science and humanity, once said “Imagination is more
important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and
understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be
to know and understand.” His words simply demonstrated that knowledge is actually
derived from imagination.

Moreover, imagination is not restricted within the parameters of norms; it is

limitless. Due to its nature, people become curious, and "through imagination,
people can craft something bold, something new, and something better in the hopes
of creating something that will stimulate change. Imagination allows endless
possibilities...In the same way, that imagination produces art, art also inspires
imagination. Imagine being in an empty room surrounded by blank, white walls, and
floor. Would you be inspired to work in such a place? Often, you will find coffee
shops, restaurants, and libraries with paintings hung or sculptures and other
pieces of art around the room to add beauty to the surroundings" (p.16).

1.1.3 Art as Expression

In relation to expression, Collingwood, an English philosopher who is best known

for his work in aesthetics, explicated in his publication The Principles of Art
(1938) that what an artist does to an emotion is not to induce it, but express it.
Through expression, a person is able to explore own emotions and at the same time,
create something beautiful out of them. An explicit statement like “I am angry” is
not an expression but a mere description. Description actually destroys the idea of
expression since it classifies emotion. In expressing their emotions, artists have
the freedom to do it the way they deemed like it. Hence, there is no specific
technique in expression (Caslib, et al., 2018).

Even though there is no specific technique in expression, artists have created art
in various forms, or media as means of expression. Art can be categorized or
classified as visual arts, performing/combined arts, digital arts, and applied
arts. Visual arts include painting, sculpture, and architecture while performing or
combined arts are music, dance, film, theater, literary, and performance poetry.
Digital arts, on the other hand, are created and presented using an electronic
device. Applied arts refer to fashion design, furniture design, graphic design,
industrial design, and interior design. [Note: The examples in each category may
vary.]

As final thoughts, “art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and

expression. An artwork may be inspired by nature or other works of art, but artists
invent their own forms and patterns due to what they perceive as beautiful and
incorporate them in creating his masterpiece” (Caslib, Garing, & Casaul, 2018,
p.22).

1.2 Art: Assumptions, Philosophical Perspectives, and Functions

1.2.1 Assumptions of Art

Human history has witnessed how people physically and culturally evolved, from cave
painters to people of exquisite paintbrush users of the present. Even if human
beings go back to the time before written records of (human) civilization has
appeared, they can find cases of humans' attempts of not just crafting tools to
live and survive but also expressing their feelings and thoughts (Caslib et al.,
2018).

As students in this course, you should be aware of some assumptions of art;

however, there are only three assumptions of art to focus on in this module. These
functions are the following:

Art is universal.
Art is not nature.
Art involves experience.

1.2.2 Philosophical Perspectives on Art

1. Art as an Imitation

According to Plato, "art is an imitation of the real that was an imitation of the
ideal. Art is an imitation of an imitation" (Panisan, et al, 2018, p. 6).
2. Art as Representation

"For Aristotle, all kinds of art including poetry, music, dance, painting, and
sculpture, do not aim to represent reality as it is. What art endeavors to do is to
provide a vision of what might be or the myriad possibilities in
reality...Aristotle conceived of art as representing possible versions of reality"
(Caslib, et al, 2018, p. 32).

3. Art as a Communication of Emotion

According to Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace and Ana Karenina, "art plays a
huge role in communication to its audience's emotions that the artist previously
experienced. Art then serves as a language, a communication device that articulates
feelings and emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the audience. In the same
way that language communicates information to other people, art communicates
emotions" (Caslib et al, 2018, p. 33). Engaging in various forms of art places the
audience or viewers at the receiving end of the artists who communicate their
feelings and emotions.

4. Art for Art's Sake

Art for art's sake (Links to an external site.) is a slogan coined by Victor
Cousin, a 19th-century French philosopher; it's derived from l’art pour l’art. Art
for art's sake "expresses the belief held by many writers and artists, especially
those associated with Aestheticism, that art needs no justification, that it need
serve no political, didactic, or other end" (Britannica, T. Editors of
Encyclopedia, 2015).

1.2.3 Functions of Art

According to Aristotle, each substance has its telos (a Greek word for end), which
translates into purpose. As matter, substance moves in accordance with a set course
towards its goal. For example, in the end, a seed becomes a plant, or a cocoon
turns into a butterfly… This telos is associated with function (Caslib et al.,
2018). So what are some functions of art?

Personal

It is varied and highly subjective. Its function depends on the person – the artist
who created the art. It may be in the following personal forms when artworks are
for self-expression, entertainment, catharsis (Caslib, et al.,2018).

Social

Art is considered to have a social function if and when it addresses a particular

collective interest. Political art is a very common example of art with social
function. It can also depict social conditions through photography (Caslib, et
al.,2018).

Physical

It is the easiest to spot and understand. It can be found on artworks that are
crafted in order to serve some utilitarian purposes (Caslib, et al.,2018).

Historical

Art is a tool for depicting important events of the past for the purpose of
recognition and as a remembrance, commemoration, and celebrations, immortalization
and solemnification, and honor-giving (Coursehero.com, n.d.)

Religious

Artists may create, design, or make artworks to emphasize the spiritual support of
cultures (Wilson, Bongabong, Boongaling, Trinidad, & Ta-a, 2018)

Aesthetic

"Art becomes influential for man to be aware of the beauty of nature. Aesthetic is
when there is the real feelings of appreciation for nature's beauty and are
manifested through the appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the artwork"
(Panisan et al., 2018, p. 6).

SUMMARY

Creativity, imagination, and expression produce art. As products, artworks have

functions. When one speaks of function, one is practically talking about the use of
the object whose function is in question, an inquiry on the function of art is an
inquiry on what art is for. Alternatively, the answer to the question “what is it
for” is the function of whatever the “IT” in the question refers to (Caslib et. al,
2018). In other words, some of the specific functions of art are aesthetic,
historical, personal, physical, religious, and social. Knowing the functions of art
would augment one's knowledge on the three assumptions of art: (1) Art is
universal., (2) Art is not nature., and (3) Art involves experience., and some
philosophical perspectives on art: (1) Art as imitation, (2) Art as representation,
(3) Art as communication of emotions, and (4) Art for art's sake.