MODULE 4

Art and Philosophy:

Imitationism and
Representationism

Prepared by
Dr. Allan C. Orate
UE-Manila

DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE

 M4. OBJECTIVES

1. Relate the study of art to the field of philosophy.

2. Examine imitation theory by Plato as a philosophy of art and beauty.
3. Compare and contrast imitationism and representationism.
4. Identify artworks, styles, artists and philosophers that abide with
imitation or representation theory of art.
5. Evaluate the merit or demerit or artworks based on the principles of
imitationism.
6. Examine the style of romantic realism in Philippine art based on
representation theory.
7. Interpret imitationism as the philosophical basis of Greek and Roman
classical art.
8. Formulate a philosophical approach to Art Appreciation.
9. Make works of art where the theory of representationism and the style
of romantic realism are applied.

DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE

 M4. READINGS

1. Orate, Allan C. (2010). “Lecture Notes on Aesthetics: Theories of

Art and Beauty,” from Blended Learning Modules.

2. Shimamura, A. P (2012). “Towards a Science of Aesthetics,” in

Aesthetic Science: Connecting Minds, Brains and Experiences,
Oxford University Press, 2012, pp. 3-12.

M4. VIDEOS
1. “Plato on Art” in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5oIKnTGUgY

2. “Fernando Cueto Amorsolo, Philippine Artist,” in https://www.you

tube.com/watch?v=D_EkOeVxGCw
M4. LECTURES

1. Imitation Theory of Art and Beauty

2. Representation Theory of Art

3. Romantic Realism in Philippine Art

DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE

 What makes something an art?
What makes something beautiful
PHILOSOPHICAL THEORIES OF ART AND BEAUTY

Imitationism
Representationism MODULE 4

Formalism
Expressionism MODULE 5
Hedonism
Functionalism
Action Theory MODULE 6
Institutional Theory
TWO WAYS OF CONSIDERING BEAUTY

RELATIVE ABSOLUTE
“Beauty is in the “Beauty is in
eye of the beholder.” the thing itself.”

SUBJECT OBJECT
 M1. LECTURE 1
Imitation Theory of Art
and Beauty: Aesthetic
Idealism by Plato

DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE

DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE
 PLATO
348-267 BCE
Athens, Greece
The Dialogue
The Republic

IMITATIONISM
Idealist Theory of Art
and Beauty
Raphael, The School of Athens, 1511
STYLE: High Renaissance Art
Raphael
The School
of Athens
(Detail)

Leonardo
as Plato

Michelangelo
as Aristotle
 IMITATIONISM: IDEALIST THEORY BY PLATO

WORLD OF ART WORLD OF BECOMING WORLD OF BEING

IMITATION APPEARANCE REALITY
Imaginary Changing Unchanging
Illusory Temporal Eternal

Image Individual Universal

Artist Demiurge
COPY THING FORM

Painting of Chair Material Chair Idea of Chair

ARTISTIC PHYSICAL METAPHYSICAL
Beautiful Artworks Beautiful Things Idea of Beauty

Ignorance Art Studies Philosophy Knowledge

 World of Art World of Becoming World of Being
IMITATION APPEARANCE REALITY

IDEA OF
BEAUTY

ROSE DAWSON KATE WINSLET REAL BEAUTY

In the Film Titanic In Our World In the World of Reality
“Artistic Beauty” “Physical Beauty” “Metaphysical Beauty”
 Leonardo,Portrait
of Ginebra d’Benci

Cezanne, Still Life with Apples

AN IMITATION OF A
PHYSICAL WOMAN

IMITATION OF FRUITS
 PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

ART

Inside the Cave Outside the Cave

THIS WORLD REAL WORLD
 Simulation Theory of Our World

MOVIES BASED ON THE

PHILOSOPHY BY PLATO
 IMITATIONISM: IDEALIST THEORY BY PLATO

WORLD OF IDEA
Metaphysical Contemplated
Beauty of Forms
Chair: IDEA by Philosopher
REALITY

OUR WORLD
Beauty of Things Physical Made by
APPEARANCE Chair: THING Carpenter

WORLD OF ART
Copy of Physical Made by
Beauty of Imitation
Chair: ART Painter
ILLUSION

“Art is the imitation of the appearance of reality.”

 Polyclitus,
ANCIENT CLASSICAL Doryphoros
GREEK SCULPTURES (Spear Bearer)
Imitation of the 450 BC
Idea of Beauty and
Perfection of the
Human Body

Venus
de Milo,
150 BC

Myron
Discobolus
(Disk Thrower)
340 BC
 Please watch M4. Video 1.
“Plato on Art” in https://www.you
tube.com/watch?v=h5oIKnTGUgY
CREDITS FOR VISUAL IMAGES
THANK
YOU.