UNIT 1 THE OVERVIEW OF ART

Lesson 1: Assumptions and Theories of Arts

This lesson exposes the students with the different concepts, meanings and ideas about art
which help broaden their view and understanding of art. It also familiarizes students with the
different theories of art which help clarify varied assumptions of art and widen students
perspectives of art.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. Clarified misconceptions about art;

2. Distinguished art;
3. Differentiated art from nature.
4. Explained art works based on the theories of art; and
5. Discussed the various theories of art.

In Focus

What is art?

Art comes from Aryan root word “AR” which means to join or to put together, from the
Latin term “ARS” means ‘artificially made or composed by man’, and from the Renaissance words
“arti” and “arte”, which means craft guild and craftsmanship, respectively.

Art is very important in our lives. It constitutes one of the oldest and most important means
of expression developed by man. People during the prehistoric times used painting, drawing and
sculpture to convey concepts and ideas, and share experiences.

It concerns itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of
sensuous medium – color, sound, bronze, marble, words, and film, which are fashioned into
symbolic language marked by beauty of design and coherence of form. It appeals to the mind,
arouses the emotion, kindles the imagination and enhances the senses.

Art can be found in all ages and all countries. Because art is a form of expression of man,
it is natural to find forms of art in different countries and different periods of time. This is perhaps
the reason of art historian in classifying art based on historical periods like prehistoric art, classic
art, renaissance art, etc., and based on geography such as African art, Chinese art, Egyptian art,
etc.

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 Also, art does not grow old and die. It lives because it is liked and enjoyed.

Art also involves experience. Artists has to have an experience that he/she needs to put in
making an art. His/Her skill and ideas are part of this experience. On the other hand,
observer/interpreter needs a kind of experience and enters into a kind of experience to understand
and appreciate the art.

Art is a product of man’s need to express himself. Expressing oneself is a need of man,
and art-making is one way, and perhaps the best way of doing it. Artists paint or compose music
to express love, anger or frustration. Dancers dance to express happiness
or sadness. Authors write to show protest, support of the status quo, or even to express fear and
anxiety.

Art is interdisciplinary. Various disciplines are interwoven in art. A certain painting can
teach not only about colors, line, texture, etc. but also about history, culture, religion.

Art is universal but has no universal meaning.

According to Leo Tolstoy, a well-known Russian novelist, “Art is a means of union among
all men, a means of communication.”

Beneditto Croce, an Italian philosopher, thinks of art as “vision.” In doing an art work, he
believes that an artist creates a picture of phantasm.

St. Thomas Aquinas also believes that “art is the direct opposite of practical.” He said that
“the artist may be immoral, and yet his work may be good.”

On the other hand, Aristotle thinks that “art is the right reason for making things.” He also
believes that “art has no other end but itself, and that all arts are patterned on nature.

Furthermore, John Dewey, defines art as “experience…the refined and intensified forms
of experience are works of art.”

Art is an act, an idea or a product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an
existing domain into a new one.

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 Theories of Art

People conceive art in many different ways. The following theories of art help explain
these various views on art.

Imitationism/Imitationalism (Mimetic Theory). This theory asserts that art is the

imitation of the appearance of reality.

According to Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, all artistic creation is a form of imitation;
a representation of nature.

Representationalism. It is a theory which stresses that art is a copy, an image, an

appearance or a reproduction of things, people, objects, nature and events. It sees art as
portraying the visible forms of nature. The particularity of individual objects, scenes or persons
may be emphasized, or the generic, the common, the essential.

Examples of these art are the figurative art, which can be realistic and detailed like the
trompe l’oile or the semi-abstract art which contains forms but the representations are still
noticeable.

There are three ways of representing nature based on this theory. These are:

Physical Alteration. It is the process of changing the physical appearance of nature, like
a natural marble that turn into a sculpture by carving and cutting.

Selective Modification. It is the process of enhancing the appearance of nature, like a

forest that becomes a garden by arranging and trimming the plants, or a woman beautifying herself
by putting cosmetics on her face.

Perceptual Interpretation. It is the process of copying nature according to the subjective

interpretation of the artist, but the resulting image is still recognizable.

Formalism. This theory views that art is the combination of perceptual elements. These
elements, like line, shapes, value, texture and colors, seen together by the spectator, make up the
form, and such form is the art.

Example of this is the non-figurative art which does not contain any representations. It has
to be seen only as formal patterns and designs, like the arabesque in Islamic art and the works of
the suprematists.

Expressionism. In this theory, art is viewed as the expression of the artist’s emotion.
Often, expressionist artists use very bold color or lines to actually exemplify the physical energy
they were feeling when they made the work.

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 Action Theory. It is a theory which asserts that art is the activity or work performed by
the artists in the process of producing the art.

Jackson Pollock, an American painter (1912-1956) put into practice the Action Theory of
Art. In the Philippines, the most famous action painter is Jose Joya (1931-1995).

Institutional Theory. This theory stresses that art is the integration of objects within the
artworld. It is also called the Theory of the Artworld.

Artworld is a social institution composed of people who have been recognized to have
influence and power over the production, exhibition, dissemination and consumption of art. It
includes:

 artists
 art critics
 art historians/educators
 art patrons/curators
 art museums/galleries
 schools/clubs
 art awards
 recognitions/popularity
 art journals
 TV/newspapers

Moreover, the artworld sets its criteria in recognizing an artist which include the following:

o Has skill and talent

o Study in art school
o Has degree in fine arts
o Become a member of art organizations
o Win recognitions, prizes and awards
o Has artworks exhibited in museums, galleries
o Mentioned in books, media and art history
o Become well known
o Revolutionized art

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