Lesson 4 Subject and Content

Pag tumitingin tayo ng art, madalas at malamang sa malamang we use our eyes to appreciate the art
infront of us. At ano yung inaappreciate natin? Basically yung subject and content of that art. So ano nga
ba ang Subject at content? Subject - Refers to the visual focus or the image that may be extracted from
examining the artwork. Basically kung ano yung immediately na nakikita mo. Gaya nung muka nung nasa
painting, yung mga lines. Mga colors, mga scenery, mga kurba at hubog. Sa poetry yung mga letra at
rhymes, sa music yung sound at lyrics, sa theater yung mga actors at mga damit nila, yung theme.
Basically yung unang una mong napapansin sa isang art form is the subject. While Content.

Content - is the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork. Yung message or reason or
meaning behind dun sa artwork is the content of an art. It doesn't take an art critique or a specialist para
lang maappreciate or maungkat at mapansin natin ang mga bagay na to. Just know that you and me as
an individual, regardless kung trained sa pag critic ng art can still appreciate art. Now mag dig deep tayo
sa Subject.

Types of Subject. Merong tatlong type ng subjects. Representational, Non- representational at Abstract.

1. Representational - "These ypes of art have subjects that refer to objects or events occuring in the real
world." These are arts na merong real world subjects, gaya ng painting ni Mona Lisa. Unang tingin mo pa
lang, alam mong tao si Mona Lisa, bantayog ni Rizal, unang tingin mo pa lang may hulma at hubog ng tao
at tunay na tao which is si Gat Jose Rizal isa pang halimbawa ay ang spolarium.

2. Non representational - "Non-representational art does not make a reference to the real world,
whether is is a person, thing, or even a particular event. It is stripped down to visual elements such as
shapes, lines, and colors that are employed to translate a particular feeling, emotion, and even
concept." So basically these are art forms na mo makikitang may tunay na form sa real world.

3. Abstract art - "Is a departure from reality but the extent of that departure determines whether it has
reached the end of the spectrum which is non representaionality- A complete Severance from the
world." Now dito makikita natin na ang non representational art ay in between ng abtract
representational. May mga nonrepresentational na artwork that can produce representational artworks.

Sir ang gulo, ano ibig mo sabihin. Bigyan na lang kita ng example (See first pic for reference) yan ang
head of the woman mougins ni Pablo picasso, in real world wala kang makikitang ganyan, pero if you
look at it wala kang makikitang ganyang muka sa tunay na mund but the fact that it has used a human's
face makes it representational as well. Inspiration and sources from where our subject can come from
are vast. It can be from the nature It can be from History It can be from Religion It can be from the
current zeitgist or usong kaisipan sa isang certain time. Basically the sources for the subject of every art
is everywhere.
Content of Art. There are 3 levels of art content

1. Factual meaning - "This pertains to the most rudiementary level of meaning for it may be extracted
from the identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these elements relate
to one another." So basically ang ibig sabihin ng factual meaning ay the obvious or immediate meaning
na eextract mo pag nakikita mo yung art. Bigyan ko kayo ng example para madaling maintindihan. Gawin
nating example yung painting ni Edvard Munch na "Melancholy" (see picture 2) Pag tinignan niyo, may
lalaking malungkot may dalawang magkasama na couple sa likod. Ang Factual meaning na pwede mong
ma extract dito is obviously is it paints sadness, loneliness. Those are easily recognizable sa art work na
ito.

2. Conventional meaning - "Acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs,signs, symbols and
other cyphers as bases of its meaning. These conventions are established through time, strengthened by
recurrent use and wide acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars whos study them." So
conventional meaning ay yung pinaka meaning na gustong i convey nung gumawa nung art. Yung reason
behind that art and ano yung deep meaning nung art as per the maker. For example again itong painting
ni Edvard Munch na Melancholy. Ang history ng painting na ito ay tungkol sa kaibigan niya na na inlove
sa babaeng may asawa and yung babaeng may asawa na inlove din sa kanya, they had a wonderful time
together pero they have to accept the fact na pinagtagpo sila pero hindi tindahana. The girl then
returened to her husband and the guy in the painting was left alone, looking from afar. tinatanaw sa
malayo yung mahal niya na masaya kahit hindi siya yung nagpapasaya.

3. Subjective Meaning - "Finally when subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meaning may arise when
a particular art is read... It is therefore expected that meaning may not be singular; rather, a painting
may communicate multiple meaning to its many viewers." Lahat tayo subjective sa pag appreciate natin
sa art. may kanya kanya tayong binibigay na meaning and I guess hindi naman mali yun. May kanya
kanya tayong personal take sa art.