Unit 1- Introduction to Art

“The art of a people is a true mirror to their minds.”

– Jawaharlal Nehru

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit, you will be able to:

• Show the relationship of the concepts of art history, art appreciation, creativity,
imagination, and expression using a concept map in a symbolic and creative way;
 Content

Art is a sublime extension of humanity. Wherever people go, art follows. There is no
denying this great relationship established between people and art that is simply shown even in
the amazement of a lady standing in front of the statue of Michelangelo’s David in perfect
proportions and the wonder of a man towards the intricate tribal tattoos on the body of Apo Wang
Od which she herself tattooed.

But first, what is art?

art – n. the use of the imagination to make things of aesthetic significance

- The Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language

art – (mass noun) the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination,
typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated
primarily for their beauty or emotional power
– https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/art

“Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious Idea of
beauty, or God; it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a game in which man lets
off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man's emotions by external
signs ; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it
is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and
indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity”
– Count Leo Tolstoy, Author/Writer

“Art is for other people. It’s not just for yourself.” It [Art] “can evolve in so many different
ways, in so many different process(es), techniques.” – Pacita Abad, Painter

Art is “an expression of one’s culture.” – Steven Patrick Fernandez, Playwright

Do you also perceive art the way it was defined or described above? What are your bases
in defining art? Read the definitions again. This time, try to figure out what makes each different
and what makes each similar.
Art Appreciation vs Art History

In the Preface section of this module, you were given the significant connection
and purpose of the Art Appreciation course in your chosen program and in your life as a
whole. It must be emphasized further that art appreciation as a field goes beyond mere
applause for a dance gracefully performed or a loud cheer for a song beautifully sang.
When appreciating art, these are some of the questions you need to ponder deeply:

1. What is happening in the artwork/performance?

2. What elements were used in the artwork/performance?
3. How are the elements combined together to create the artwork/performance?
4. Was the artwork/performance original and inventive?
5. What does the artwork/performance tell you about the artist/s?
6. Which part of the artwork/performance is best emphasized by the artist? Or,
which part is least emphasized?
7. Were there symbols used in the artwork/performance? How do these symbols
help in elucidating the message of the artwork/performance?
8. Does the artwork/performance change the way you think and behave about
the things you see before?
9. What does the artwork/performance tell you about the past, the present, or
the future?
10. Will the artwork/performance still affect you five to ten years from now?

Closely related but different in some aspect to art appreciation is art history. Art
history is a discipline or area of study which investigates the early developments of a piece
of art in a specific time and place. People who practice this field present their analysis and
interpretation of an artwork using a set of methodologies in an objective manner. Below
are some of the basic questions they try to explore:

1. Who is the artist?

2. What is the subject?
3. What is the style?
4. What is the title?
5. What type of medium was used to create the artwork/performance?
6. Where was it made?
7. Where was it first seen?
8. How old is the piece of art/performance?
9. What purpose did it serve in the time it was made?
10. How did the artwork/performance survived?

To put this simply, anybody can appreciate art but not everyone can be called an
art historian. However, to fully appreciate a work of art, one must consider in consulting
its history for a more profound understanding of its development and contribution to
society.
Assumptions and Nature of Art

Art, like all other concepts has underlying assumptions. This implies that the value
and nature of art is dependent on people’s capacity to sense, think, and express in various
contexts which set the parameters of what art is and what art is not.

Art is Universal
Many artists, art critics, and educators believe that art is universal. This view on
the universal characteristic of art comes from the idea that it affects people despite the
differences in culture and language across time and space. Similarly, art communicates
directly to our common humanity (Eger, 2015). Ernest Boyer, previous President of
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, stressed that

“Art is humanity's most essential, most universal language. It is not a frill,

but a necessary part of communication. The quality of civilization can be
measured through its music, dance, drama, architecture, visual art and
literature”.

He noted that art is part of life and a way of life. He also believes that children must
receive “knowledge and understanding of civilization’s most profound works”. This
resonated clearly in most education systems in the world which integrate arts and
humanities in their curriculum.

Art is Cultural
Relative to the notion that art is universal is the view that art is cultural. Art reflects
the reality in every society since mankind inhabit the earth. For instance, the bull paintings
in the Lascuax cave in France depicted the behavior of primeval people while the two
Sanskrit epics Mahabrata and Ramayana became the foundation of the moral system of
ancient Indian civilization. In the Philippines, the sentiments and aspirations of the Filipinos
are carried massively through songs. From kundiman and harana to pop and other modern
genres, a listener can identify the “Filipinoness” of the music through its lyrics aside from
the instrumentalities.
Every period in time, there is art which manifests how it was lived. Some of the
things left in the past are relived and immortalized in art.

The Concept of Beauty in Art

Beauty in art is as complicated as art itself. Different philosophers have different
views in conceiving beauty. The classical view on the concept of beauty is tantamount to
the impeccable display of proportions be it in literature, sculpture, and painting. For
instance, rhyme, rhythm, and meter in a poem follow strict measurements and thus, a line
still lives in perfect beauty even if it is extracted from the whole poem. On the other hand,
the idealist conception of beauty rest in unity of composition. Each part is beautiful in itself
and each of this parts are essential to the beauty of the whole. Meanwhile, for Sartwell
(n.d.) beauty is perceived as “the object of longing” and this longing is described as
“intense and unfulfilled desire” that leads one to love. Thus, beauty does not only dwell on
pleasure but also on the unpleasurable.

Creativity, Imagination, and Expression

What is creativity? When can we say that someone is creative or being creative?
What is the relationship of creativity to imagination and expression?

Creativity is an activity that can be felt and seen in almost any human endeavors.
In art, creativity must nest in the zenith of an artist’s character. From the word create, the
artist is expected “to make” or “to produce” a thought or a thing out of feeling or experience.
However, creativity does not settle only on simple alterations on what is existing, has been
existing, or has existed. Rather, it focuses more on how the artist was able to produce an
authentic creation out of this existence. The created output, however, is not the end of
creativity. It must serve as a doorway for an observer to experience the procedures behind
the masterpiece itself which is made available to the human senses. Simply, creativity is
a creative process – a composite of many stages.

Where does creativity start?

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will
what you imagine and at last you create what you will.” – George Bernard Shaw

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination

encircles the world." – Albert Einstein

How can one perceive creativity and imagination? Through what mode of
expression?

Suggested viewing:
Creativity, Imagination and how we talk about Art: Tim Daly at TEDxManchesterVillage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pGHaajgP3s
Hayao Miyazaki's Thoughts on Creativity & Imagination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__j4ODg-rU

*If you have the chance to have a mobile data or connect to a stable internet, you can view the video above
for more insightful information about the topic.
Learning Activities

Activity 1. Defining Art

A. Direction/s: Write your own definition or description of art. Express it in not more than three
sentences only; however, do not just use a single word or phrase for your definition. This will
help you in answering Letter B.

B. Direction/s: Provide what is asked for. Use only words or phrases as answers to be presented
in bullet form. Under the Differences column, provide two answers. Under the Similarities
column, write five answers.

Sources Differences Similarities

The Webster’s Dictionary

of the English Language

https://www.lexico.com/en
/definition/art

Count Leo Tolstoy,

Author/Writer

Pacita Abad, Painter

Steven Patrick
Fernandez, Playwright

(Write your name here.)

 Assessment

Congratulations!

You’ve completed the learning activities in Unit 1. For your assessmment, you will be required to
unleash your metacognitive and artistic skills by being both critical and creative. Have fun while
doing the task.

Concept Mapping

Direction/s: Using a concept map or diagram, illustrate the relationship of the concepts of art
history, art appreciation, creativity, imagination, and expression using a graph in a symbolic and
creative way. Use the space below for this task. You can present your concept map either in
layout or portrait position. The rubric is provided in the next page for your immediate guidance
and reference. The same rubric can be found in the Appendix of this module.
 Rubric for Concept Mapping

Needs
Excellent Good Fair
Indicators Improvement
5 4 3
2
All pieces of Majority of the Some pieces of A few pieces of
Accuracy and information are pieces of information are information are
Succinctness very accurate information are accurate and are accurate and
of and are very accurate and are satisfactorily most are lengthily
Information succinctly mostly succinct. succinct. presented.
presented.
The concept map The concept The concept The concept map
shows very clear map shows clear map shows a is haphazardly
Connection and organized and organized slightly clear and done.
and presentation of presentation of organized
Organization relationships relationships presentation of
of Concepts among among relationships
concepts/ideas. concepts/ideas. among
concepts/ideas
Balance among Balance among Balance among Balance among
concept map concept map concept map concept map
structures, clarity structures, clarity structures, clarity structures, clarity
of words or of words or of words or of words or
phrases, and phrases, and phrases, and phrases, and
Legibility of unity of unity of unity of unity of
Presentation composition in composition in composition in composition in
the presentation the presentation the presentation the presentation
are observed in are observed in are observed in are not observed
all parts of the most parts of the some parts of at all.
concept map. concept map. the concept
map.
The design of the The design of The design of The design of the
concept map the concept the concept map concept map
provides a very map provides a provides a provides a vague
relevant symbolic good symbolic satisfactory symbolic
meaning to the meaning to the symbolic meaning to the
Creativity of presentation of presentation of meaning to the presentation of
Presentation relationship relationship presentation of relationship
between and between and relationship between and
among creativity, among creativity, between and among creativity,
imagination, and imagination, and among creativity, imagination, and
expression. expression. imagination, and expression.
expression.