Foreword

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Foreword
The purpose of Humanities as a subject and course is to elevate the consciousness of the youth
to a higher plane of appreciating the finer things in life. This can be achieved by orienting young
people to the following: first, the natural beauty of the environment; second, the aesthetic value
of material things attendant to progress; and third, the meaning of life through self-fulfillment
and actualization. The humanities / art appreciation speak the universal language of beauty ad
peace. The humanities have given us models to emulate. Among them is our own national hero,
Dr. Jose Rizal, who as a writer, brought a new concept of humanity, the fruits of which we enjoy
today.
The study of humanities is concerned with human experiences, values, sentiments, ideals, and
goals. It is ultimately centered on expressing human feelings and thoughts. It provides enjoyment
and stimulation, particularly when one tries to understand and appreciate the arts.

Lecture: Visual Arts, Painting, and Study of Colors

Visual Arts may  be grouped according to:

1. Graphic Arts -  painting, drawing, sketching, photography, advertising, architecture, sculpture,

drafting ( fine arts ), video editing, film-making, graphic designs, and printmaking.
2. Plastic Arts - sculpture, carving, molding, pottery, ceramic, interior and exterior design, and
landscape.
 
PAINTING 
Painting is a category in visual and fine arts that involves the application of paint,
pigment, color, or other medium.  Through painting, the artist expresses his / her
emotions and perceptions using creative imagination.  The artist also reveals his / her
inner state of mind through different media and elements.
The Function of  painting can be classed according to its  intended function.  It can be a
personal expression of the artist;  an objective  observation;  a social or  political
commentary;  or a recording of a scientific and technological advancement.
 
The Study of Colors:
Properties of Color:
   1. Hue - is the particular identity of a color
   2. Value - denotes the lightness and darkness of a color.
 3. Intensity - pertains to the brightness or dullness of a  color.
 
 Color Interpretation:
Some Colors and their symbols  are as follows:
   1.  Red - passion, love, energy, war, courage, strength, blood, festivity, bravery, and
danger.
   2.  Orange - sweetness, delight, and happiness.
   3.  Yellow - sunshine, warmth, and light
   4.  Green - freshness, hope, growth, still water, and vegetation
   5.  Blue - coolness, sky, water, and peace
   6.  Violet - royalty, shadows, penance, power, mourning, and grace
   7.  Black - grief, death, loneliness, life-giving earth
   8. Pink - natural love
   9.  Yellow green - jealousy
   10. White - simplicity, beauty, and intelligence
   11. Brown - conservative, personality, humility, confidence, earth and  autumn.

Introduction to Humanities
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The Concepts of Humanities/ Art Appreciation

The term "humanities" comes from the Latin word  HUMANUS, meaning human, refined, and
cultured.  The humanities deal with the study of ancient and modern languages, literature, law,
history, philosophy, religion, films, and visual and performing arts.   
Scholars working in the humanities field are often described as  "  humanists " .The humanities
and art appreciation offer emphasis in the appreciation of the arts.  Artists convey their thoughts,
beliefs, values, and feelings through the various fields of art which can be visual, popular,
literary, gustatory  ( taste ), decorative, or performing as in music and dance.  
 
Significance of Studying the Humanities:
The study of the humanities is essential as the world becomes smaller, so  to speak, with today's
modern information technology.   The humanities  bring us in contact with the best things life
has to offer --- history, music, dance, art, media, philosophy, and literature.   Studying and
gaining access to these fields enrich the quality of life.
 
The 4 E'S of Learning Humanities:

1.  Exploration - through exploration, a sense of discovery and unending search for something new
and different is developed.  This process  occurs during he first step in learning.
2. Exposure - after exploration, the student enters an environment where there is access to the
needed medium or media. 
3. Experience - this stage entails the full use of all human senses.  It is also the most personal and
intimate, process.  Experience is a test in skill and patience, and should not lessen and dull the
senses even after the task has been fulfilled.
4. Enjoyment - this last stage is a kind of release and discovery.  Enjoyment is a state of mind after
attaining success especially if the learner has reached a higher level of understanding.  
 
The Three Domains in Learning the Humanities:

1. Cognitive Learning - refers to the acquisition of knowledge, facts, and information, principles,
and ideas, and the  ability to reason and think critically.
2. Psychomotor Learning - is the relationship between cognitive functions and physical movement. 
Psychomotor learning is shown through physical skills  such as coordination, manipulation,
grace, strength, speed, and action.  These physical skills demonstrate fine motor skills like using
precision instruments and motor skills as seen in the body's movements in dance.
3. Affective Learning - known as attitudinal learning which refers toe the formation of good and
acceptable attitudes, judgments, appreciation, and values through the acquisition of knowledge.  

Different Views in the Study of Sciences and the Humanities

 
                                 SCIENCE                         versus                  HUMANITIES
                               Objective                            -----                                Subjective
                          Theories / Hypotheses         -----                                Experience
                             Experimental                       ------                               Exploratory
                             Analytical                             -------                              Understanding
                             Facts                                    --------                             Interpretation
                             Definition                             --------                             Description
                             Empirical                              --------                            Explanatory
                            Judgment                             --------                            Opinion - based
                            Quantitative                          --------                            Qualitative
 
Some Famous Artists:

1. Plato - ( 428 - 348 BC ) -  classical Greek philosopher  and mathematician;  a student of

Socrates;  writer of philosophical dialogues;  founder of the Academy in Athens, the first
institute of higher learning in the western world.
2. William Shakespeare   ( 1564 - 1616 BC ) -  regarded as the best playwright and poet of
all time.  His plays were considered as literary genius.  His sonnets written in an
exquisite manner brought out striking images conceived with man's personality and
problems.
3. Vincent van Gogh  ( 1853 - 1890 )  -   Dutch post - impressionist painter.  His
works had a far - reaching influence on 20th century art for their vivid colors and
emotional impact.
4. Pablo Picasso  ( 1881 - 1973 ) -  a Spanish painter, draftsman, and sculptor known
for cubist paintings with hidden objects and messages.
5. Fernando Amorsolo  ( 1892 - 1972 )  -  a portraitist and painter of rural
landscapes.  He is best known for his mastery in the use of light in his
masterpieces.  He is  considered as the Father of Filipino Painters.
The Study of ARTS:
The term " art " is derived from the Latin word  " ars "  which means ability or skill.  It
covers the areas of artistic creativity that seek to communicate beauty through the
senses.   Art is a person's way of expressing his / her  ideas  and feelings through his /
her creation and expression.
The study of arts is related to the judgment of aesthetic value.  Interpretations of art and
beauty possess two concepts of value:  aesthetics and taste.   Aesthetics is the
philosophical notion of beauty.  Taste varies according to class, cultural background and
education. 
 
How an Artist Should Express Himself / Herself
The artist can be considered sensitive and creative.  He / She can see and feel what an
ordinary person cannot.  His / Her imagination can extend far beyond the thoughts of
an  ordinary person.  To be an artist, one must express himself / herself using the
following:

1.   Skill - the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum
outlay of time and / or energy.
2.  Talent - a natural capacity to do something.  This is the ability that someone is born
with.  A person is inclined to have special abilities in  music, dance , acting, sports, or
the like.
3.  Motivation - the driving force that initiates, guides, and maintains goal - oriented
behaviors which lead to the achievements of one's objectives.  It is what causes someone
to take action, whether to grab a snack to satisfy his / her hunger or to enroll in college
to earn a degree.
 
GROUPING THE ARTS
1. Spatial ( Visual ) Arts:  These are the forms which are  primarily visual in nature.  Some
examples are ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, as well
as modern visual arts:   photography, videos, and film - making and architecture.
2. Popular Arts:  Popular arts encompass all forms of popular culture.  Pop culture is the
totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, images, and other phenomena that showcases
what is prevalent, well - liked, and trendy.  Some forms of pop culture are Pilipino
romance novels, computer games, illustrated  comics, and music videos.
3. Literary Arts:  The literary arts involve creative writing.  Creative writing comes in
many forms - fiction,  poetry,  or non - fiction - that  go beyond the normal professional,
journalistic, academic, and technical styles or types of writing.   Works that fall under
the category of creative writing include:  novels, epics, short stories, poems, screenplays,
and stage dramas.
4. Performing Arts:  The performing arts include all forms of art that use the human body,
face, and presence as media.  Examples are:  dance, opera, drama, magic shows, sports,
and circus arts.  Artists who participate in the performing arts are called performers.  
5. Decorative Arts:  Decorative arts commonly deal with the creation of ornamental and
functional works using a variety of materials such as ceramic, wood, glass, metal, textile,
and the like.  The field includes the production of ceramics, glassware, furniture, and
furnishings, and  the conceptualization of interior design, but not usually architecture.
    
AESTHETICS AND BEAUTY
Aesthetics originated from the Greeks and has something to do with the  appreciation of
art and beauty.  
Beauty is the quality of things as perceived by the person judging the objects.
Determining whether something is beautiful depends on the faculty of sight and a
person's own sentiments for beauty which vary in every individual.  Beauty is
acknowledged to be a perfection of the senses and faculties, to perceive with exactness
the most minute objects, and to let nothing escape unnoticed and unobserved.