UNIT 1: Understanding the Realm of Reading Visual Arts
Why ART is important? were "very satisfied" with their creative jobs
o Art has existed as long as man.
o Art is present in cultures across the world.
o Most people have an appreciation for art.
o Art provides a deeper understanding of
emotions and self-awareness.
o Art is integral in our culture.
o Art helps in understanding emotions and self-
awareness.
COMMON ELEMENTS WHY ART IS IMPORTANT
1. Art communicates
2. Art encourages better communication and
critical thinking
3. Art innovates
4. Art is the expression of his time and his
people
5. Art makes you think
6. A work of art is unique
7. Art inspires
8. Art unites
9. Art bridges the gap between cultures
10. Art gives joy and relieves stress
11. Art gives you confidence
12. Art helps you do well academically
13. Art is a natural part of us
14. Art helps us achieve better self-awareness
15. Art improves our daily lives
Lesson 1: Debugging the “Myth of Starving
Artist”.
o Parents in Filipino culture commonly
discourage children from pursuing art due to
the belief that there is no money in it.
o The concept of artists suffering and starving
has become part of the cultural and societal
mindset.
o Pressure from society to pursue "real jobs"
such as doctors, engineers, and teachers, with
little emphasis on art.
o Survey of over 1300 art graduates in America
shows 92% found work after graduation and
(Brummer, n.d.).
Meaning, Most Art Graduates are not jobless.
o Historically, Michelangelo was believed to be
a struggling, starving artist, but recent
research revealed he was actually wealthy.
o Michelangelo had a fortune worth roughly
$47 million in today's currency, making him
the richest artist of the Renaissance.
o The concept of the starving artist is a myth,
created by societal constructs and not always
reflective of reality.
o Many artists do not come from
underprivileged backgrounds and do not
have to starve to be successful.
o The idea that art has to be obscure or
unpopular to be meaningful is a
misconception.
o Everyone can be creative and rise from the
bottom, and we should not hinder the power
of creativity.
Jeff Goins suggests doing these actions by:
1. Let go of the starving artist stereotype. as
it is not helpful and creativity can come from
all socioeconomic levels.
2. Use the advantages of art to earn the
attention of an audience. and serve them
with empathy, creating a built-in market for
innovation and growth.
3. Use money as a means, not a master.
o Do not make art solely for the purpose of
making money, but rather use money to
create more art and meaningful work.
o Embrace the opportunities of the modern age
and leverage tools and technology to spread
your work and honor the legacy of those who
came before you.
o Do not compromise your character while
pursuing your artistic endeavors and
business opportunities, and strive to create
meaning in the world through your art.
 Introduction to Art and the Visual Arts &
The Distinction of Arts and Visual Arts
Lesson 1. Introduction to Art and Visual Arts
o Historic development of the idea of art
o Ancient Greek definition of art as mimesis or
imitation of the real world
o Realism in ancient Greek sculpture and
pottery
o Jackson Pollock's intentional deviation from
copying existing objects in his art
o Leo Tolstoy's definition of art as
communication of feeling
o Limitations of Tolstoy's definition in terms of
confirming successful communication
o Clive Bell's proposal of art as significant form
or aesthetic pleasure
o Subjectivity of aesthetics and significant form
o Institutional theory of art or the "Artworld"
theory by George Dickie and Arthur Danto
o Question of what art is worthy of attention
and individual decision-making
o Importance of respecting individual
perspective in defining art
o Assistance from art scholars in
understanding ideas about art
o Visual arts are non-verbal and distinct from
verbal and literary arts.
o Visual arts communicate through perceptual
means, without dictionaries or formalized
grammar.
o Both the viewer and the artist-as-creator
engage in interpreting images that may not
have clear and defined interpretations.
These threefold aspects of visual art
demonstrate that engagement with art practice and
viewing offers a rich base for the engagement of the
mind.
o The artist-as-creator arranges the parts of a
whole to create a perspective for the viewer.
o Making art is a process of the mind and an
intellectual activity for the artist.
o Viewers are constantly called upon to process
non-verbal information in art.
o Our connection with things outside our
bodies is primarily perceptual, not confined
to cultural codes.
o Cultural influences may affect perception,
such as focusing and interpreting.
Meanwhile presentation, as an offering to the
visual sense, art can be seen to possess the
possibility of carrying information on three
different levels.
1. the aesthetic, the form there before the eye
2. as an icon, the ability to stand as a metaphor
and thereby to migrate into the verbal
register.
3. as representation, recalling, by virtue of
likeness, a mental picture of the place, thing,
or person.
Art matters because it is seen not as an ‘extra’
but as an extension of our sentient and
mindful being.
o Humans are natural gatherers of information,
and visual arts offer a glimpse of enormous
information triggered and guided by previous
experiences or expectations.
o In the 1980s, Howard Gardner and Elliot
Eisner discussed the contribution of visual
arts to cognition.
o Gardner suggested that a wider
representation of various intelligence or
symbol systems would broaden cognitive
abilities and bring balance to the curriculum.
So, what are those 7 bits of intelligence
identified by Howard Gardner in his theory?

o Eisner argued that the mind develops
multiple forms of representation through
experiences gained through the senses.
o These forms of representation can be
grounded in visual perception, auditory
perception, tactile perception, etc.
Lesson 2. The distinction of Arts and Visual
Arts
THE DISCIPLINES OF VISUAL ARTS
1. Fine Art
o Visual arts encompass a wide range of
objects, including fine art.
o The distinction between craft and art is based
on the use or end purpose of an object, or the
material used.
o Craft is typically associated with objects that
have a functional purpose and follow
predetermined rules.
o Fine art, on the other hand, results from a
free and open-ended exploration without
predetermined outcomes.
o Fine art objects often combine elements of
both craft and art.
o Art stands on craft but goes beyond it,
resulting in surprising and original outcomes.
(Sachant, Blood, LeMieux, & Tekippe)
2. Decorative Art
o The decorative arts refer to arts or crafts that
focus on designing and manufacturing objects
that are both beautiful and functional.
o Examples of decorative arts include ceramics,
metalwork, furniture, jewelry, fashion, textile
arts, and glassware.
o In the past, painting and sculpture were
considered fine art, while activities such as
textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and furniture
making were grouped together as decorative
arts.
o The terms used to describe decorative arts
include ornamental, applied, and minor arts,
suggesting varying levels of importance.
(Getlein, 2010)
3. Contemporary Art
o There is no singular dominant definition of
contemporary art, but a common
understanding is that it refers to art that is
created during our lifetime, reflecting the
issues of our diverse, global, and rapidly
changing world. (Pantelic, 2016)
o Contemporary art is made by living artists
and often explores personal or cultural
identity, critiques social and institutional
structures, or redefines art itself.
o Contemporary art can raise difficult or
thought-provoking questions without
providing easy answers.
o Approaching contemporary art requires
curiosity, an open mind, and a commitment
to dialogue and debate. (Walker Art, n.d.)
We should understand that Contemporary art
also aims to understand the present, but the
present itself is now more fragmented and
shapeshifting.
 Subjects and Uses of Arts throughout History
o In art, there is always a subject that attributes, and emblems in the artwork. It
represents the artwork. may require consulting external materials
o Subject refers to what an artwork is all about. like books, myths, and standard
o The subject can vary and can include a representational practices for the subject
person, object, scene, or event portrayed in to understand these elements.
art. 3. Iconological interpretation is the
o It applies to various forms of art such as synthesis of materials collected from the
painting, dance, sculpture, music, and iconographical analysis with knowledge
architecture. of the period in which the artwork was
created. It involves interpreting the
ICONOGRAPHY
artwork in the context of the historical
o Iconography is the containment of deeper period and considering the general
meanings in simple representations. tendencies of the human mind to check
o It is a particular type of image used by an the sanity of the interpretation.
artist to convey a specific meaning.
The most famous paintings of all of Western
o Iconography can be traditional or
art to develop a deeper understanding of how
conventional images or symbols with
iconography works: Jan van Eyck’s, Arnolfini
religious or legendary subjects.
Portrait painted in 1434.
o It can also refer to a particular depiction of a
subject in terms of image content, such as the
number of figures used and their placing and
gestures.
o Raymond Drainville defines iconography as a
method for examining, categorizing, and
interpreting imagery in the age of social
media.
o Iconography has been used in the
investigation of works from the Italian and
Northern Renaissance, as well as in Each of the objects in van Eyck’s painting
archaeological contexts and studies of iconic has a specific meaning here beyond imagery. In
photography. fact, this painting may be a painted marriage
o Erwin Panofsky is a well-known art historian contract designed to solidify the agreement
associated with the formulation of the between these two families. It is especially
method of iconography. He divided it into important to remember that this is not a painting
three parts: of an actual scene, but an image constructed to
1. Pre-iconographic description is the communicate specific things.
fundamental step of identifying the
1. You notice that the bride holds her garment
components in a picture, based on
in front of her belly in order to appear
practical experience augmented by
pregnant. She wasn’t pregnant at the time of
research if needed.
the painting but this is a symbolic depiction
2. Iconographical analysis involves using the
to represent that she will become fruitful.
elements identified in the pre-
2. The little dog at her feet is a symbol of
iconographic description to identify
fidelity, and is often seen with portraits of
symbolic elements such as
women paid for by their husbands.
personifications, allegories, symbols,
3. The discarded shoes are often a symbol of the
sanctity of marriage.
4. The single candle lit in the daylight (look at
the chandelier) is a symbol of the bridal
candle, a devotional candle that was to burn
all night the first night of the marriage. Other
interpretations claim that the single candle is
a symbol of the presence of God.
5. The chair back has a carving of St. Margaret,
the patron saint of childbirth.
6. The orange on the windowsill and the rich
clothing are symbols of future material
wealth (in 1434 oranges were hand carried
from India and very expensive) and fertility.
7. The circular mirror at the back reflects both
the artist and another man, and the artist’s
signature reads, “Jan van Eyck was
present”—both are witnesses to the
betrothal in the picture. (We don’t think of
this much anymore, but a promise to marry
was a legal contract). The circular forms
around the mirror are tiny paintings of the
Stations of the Cross– moments near the end
of the life of Jesus.
LESSON 1: Different kinds of Subjects in Art
1. Narrative Art
o This type of art tells a story through a
sequence of events or as a moment in an
ongoing story.
o It was particularly evident during the
medieval period in the Christian tradition.
o Byzantine artists and the church depicted
biblical scenes as a narrative in their
artwork, showcasing a visual storytelling
approach.
2. Nudism
o The art of nudism has its roots in the
upper Paleolithic period, with depictions
of fertility deities.
o Nudism became popular during the early
Greek time, where sculptures of nude
figures were common.
o Nude art in Western Art tradition was
used to express ideals of male and female
beauty.
o In modern art, the depiction of the
unclothed human body is transformed
into an aesthetic object without utilitarian
or commercial purposes.
o Contemporary artists often confront
viewers with expressions of sexuality and
discomfort through unclothed bodies.
o The judgment of whether such artwork is
artistic or pornographic is subjective and
has evolved throughout history.
3. Religious Art
o Religion has used the arts for rituals and
teaching purposes.
o Most world religions have utilized arts for
worship, preaching, inspiring devotion,
and converting non-believers.
o The Christian Church commissioned
artists and artisans to depict stories of
Christ, angels, and saints in various art
forms such as murals, paintings, mosaics,
and stained-glass windows.
o Sculptures of biblical figures and
architectural structures were commonly
seen in churches, basilicas, convents,
mosques, and monasteries.
4. Personification and allegory
o Personification and allegory often go
hand-in-hand in texts and images.
o Personification art involves attributing
human attributes to non-human objects.
o Allegory in art uses symbols or elements
in the composition to represent spiritual
or moral meanings.
o Allegorical or symbolic scenes were
commonly depicted in Greco-Roman art,
where the Gods represented ideals such
as love, desire, or violence in the Western
tradition.
5. Genre
o Artists have historically depicted scenes
from everyday life, observing people in
their usual activities and daily tasks.
o These types of paintings are known as
genre paintings, which portray everyday
life and are often depicted in a naturalistic
or realistic style.
 o Genre paintings often focus on rural life,
and artists like Fernando Amorsolo are
known for their depictions of life in the
province.
o Genre paintings provide insights into the
daily lives, activities, and culture of
people, capturing moments from ordinary
life in an artistic and often relatable way.
6. Portraiture
o Portrait is a painting of a human figure,
depicting the face, bust, or full figure.
o Can show a single person or a group of
people in various poses.
o Portraits are used to mark milestones in
people's lives.
o Occasions such as baptisms, weddings,
and graduations are common events for
portrait sittings.
7. Nature
o Artists are fascinated with their natural
and physical environment.
o Seascapes depict marine life, water forms,
sailing ships, and boats.
o Landscapes depict sceneries on land such
as mountains, forests, trees, gardens, etc.
o Cityscapes depict urban life in cities.
8. Still Life
o Still life refers to inanimate objects
arranged in an indoor setting.
o It can include objects such as fruits,
flowers, food, musical instruments, etc.
o Still life is arranged deliberately by the
artist.
o It can depict human interests and
activities through the arrangement of
objects.
o Still life subjects are readily available and
easily organized by the artist.
9. Protest Art
o Satirical art conveys strong hesitance or
dissent towards something.
o Artists in the early medieval period used
satirical art to express discontentment
and disapproval against the tyranny of
Rome.
o Early Christian art was done secretly due
to the consolidation of power under the
Roman empire.
o In modern times, people fighting for their
rights use effigies, placards, and
streamers as forms of protest to raise
their voice.
10. Fantasy Art
o Fantasy art is an art of imagination.
o The subjects in fantasy art are often far
from reality and suggest the strange,
irrational, and absurd.
o There are no limits imposed on an artist's
imagination in fantasy art, as it can go
beyond the real and the possible.
11. Abstract and Non-Objective Art
o Abstract art and Non-Objective art do not
present descriptions, stories, or
references to identifiable objects or
symbols.
o They depart from what is present in real
life by focusing on visual elements such as
lines, shapes, and colors to convey
feelings, emotions, and concepts.
o The artist simplifies and reorganizes
objects and elements according to their
artistic expression.
o The original objects or subjects may not
be identifiable unless the artist has named
them in the title.
Lesson 2: HISTORY OF ART
o The history of art dates back to the earliest
activities of humanity.
o Art has existed even before the birth of an
artist and continues to exist after their
passing, making their work a part of history.
o Art history as a separate discipline emerged
in the 19th century in the West, but stories
about art were passed down through
generations even before that.
o Art history is not just storytelling, but it is
interested in proven facts, which are
documented in various forms.
o Documents can include tangible or intangible
forms of art, and they are considered
 permanent and counted as evidence in the
study of art history.
o The study of art history encompasses the
development of art from prehistoric times to
contemporary times, as different artistic
styles have developed over time.
1. Ancient Art
o Ancient art evolved from prehistoric times to
the early Roman period.
o Arts during different periods were focused on
divination.
o Images were carved and sculpted into human
figures as symbols of beliefs, used for
worship and rituals.
o Early Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans also
focused on architecture in their art.
o Architecture became common during the
Neolithic age for primitive people.
o Structures were built for religious and
spiritual activities in polytheistic societies.
2. Medieval Art
o Medieval art refers to the Middle Ages,
spanning from the 11th to the 15th century in
Europe.
o Art in this period primarily focused on
religion and the making of Christian
scriptures.
o Despite being controlled during the early
Roman period, art in the medieval era
centered on religious themes.
o The church became the central and
authoritative figure during this time, and
religious ideas were the principal subject in
painting, sculpture, and architecture.
o There were four styles in the art that
flourished during this era:
 Early Christian art
 Byzantine art
 Romanesque art
 Gothic art.
o Each style has distinctive characteristics and
features highlighting the different trends and
changes in their artistic works.
3. Renaissance Art
o Renaissance refers to the 15th century, which
is considered one of the highest moments of
civilization in the history of art.
o The term Renaissance means rebirth, as it
ushered in a new outlook on man and the
world, and revival, as there was a renewed
interest in classical learning from ancient
Greek and Roman texts.
o The ideals of classicism, which were the
artistic standards of the ancient Greeks in the
classical period, became the standards of
Renaissance artists.
o The spirit of scientific inquiry and
investigation was an important characteristic
of the Renaissance, leading to more
naturalistic portrayals of the human figure.
o Freedom of artistic expression became
evident during the Renaissance, in contrast to
the Middle Ages where medieval artists were
often suppressed in their artistic freedom.
o Renaissance artists were able to express
themselves freely due to the secularization of
the arts, and they experimented with new
mediums, techniques, and artistic styles.
4. Post-Renaissance Art
o Post-Renaissance art emerged in the 17th
and 18th century in Europe during the time
of the Reformation, a religious upheaval.
o Early post-Renaissance art was characterized
by movement, energy, restlessness, and
elaborate ornamentation in sculptures and
architecture.
o Two art movements emerged in the mid part
of the period: Neoclassicism and
Romanticism, each with its own set of
characteristics.
o Neoclassicism aimed to revive and
incorporate Greek and Roman influences into
art and architecture, emphasizing order,
symmetry, and simplicity of style.
o Romanticism emphasized the individual
freedom of the artist and their subjective
reaction to the world, including nature,
people, and events, with an interest in social
issues, heroic elements, and patriotic and
nationalistic movements.
5. Digital Art
o Digital art is an artistic composition that
utilizes technology as part of the presentation
process, such as computer-generated art,
 scanned images, or art created using tablets
and digital painting techniques.
o Digital art is often seen in cartoon shows,
movies, and online platforms, and can be
easily shared through websites and social
media.
o It allows artists to have creative freedom
through the use of digital tools like cutting
and pasting moving images.
o Digital art can be distributed electronically
and viewed online by anyone with internet
access.
o There are various types of digital art,
including art games, computer art scene,
computer music, cyber arts, digital
illustration, digital imaging, digital painting,
and digital photography.
6. Modern Art
o Modernism in art began in the 19th century
and continued into the 20th century,
resulting in various art movements with
different styles and techniques.
o Modernism rebelled against academic art and
abandoned traditional Western art traditions.
o Modern art is influenced by social factors
such as advancements in science and
technology.
o Modern artists emphasize individual
experimentation and sensibility, rejecting
traditional and conventional forms.
o Modern art often changes colors, flattens
images, and avoids creating illusions of depth
and distance.
o This period relied on reviving older styles
rather than creating new ones, and was not
considered particularly innovative in the arts.
7. Contemporary Art
o Contemporary art is art produced by artists
living today.
o It is continuously in process and continuously
changing.
o Contemporary art is heavily driven by ideas
and theories of what is and can be considered
art.
o It involves the use of multimedia.
o The medium used by artists is an important
feature of contemporary art.
o Artists can freely choose from various
mediums, including technology such as
television, photography, cinema, digital
technology, performance, and everyday
objects.
o Contemporary art is never fixed, but open to
many possibilities.
o The idea is often more important than the
visual articulation in contemporary art.
8. Asian Art
o Ancient Asian civilizations had flourishing
trade relationships, leading to the sharing of
culture and belief systems.
o Artworks were used as representations of
their cultural identity in China and Japan.
o China and Japan integrated Western ideas
into their art, but China remained
conventional in some art principles.
o Asian art focused on cultural, philosophical,
and religious associations.
o Artists in Asia crafted and designed objects
with religious and political associations.
9. American Art
o European and American artists continued
experimenting with abstraction during this
period.
o Another group of artists focused on American
subjects and representational styles, known
as American scene arts.
o Two groups within the American scene
movement had different approaches but
shared nationalistic sentiments.
o Regionalists focused on rural environments
and promoted American virtues.
o Social Realists were interested in promoting
social justice in their artwork.
 Understanding Art through Art Theories
Lesson 1. Art Theory: Aesthetic Theories o Expressivism is inadequate as an explanation
of the value of art.
o Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy
o Katharsis or purging is a theory that suggests
concerned with the feelings aroused by
art arouses emotions in us and allows us to
sensory experiences.
vent them, purging us of emotional
o Aesthetics examines the nature of art and
disturbances.
beauty.
o Katharsis can be found in the writings of
o Aesthetics is defined as the study of
Plato and Aristotle, but it is especially
principles and appreciation of beauty.
associated with Aristotle.
o Immanuel Kant characterized the
o Aristotle argues in his Poetics that the value
appreciation of beauty as the "judgment of
of tragedy and epic poetry derives from their
taste" with two parts: subjectivity and
ability to focus the audience's feelings of fear
universality.
and pity in a way that relieves them of these
o Subjectivity is based on the individual
feelings.
viewer's feeling of pleasure or displeasure.
o Katharsis purges emotions harmlessly,
o Universality refers to common views about
without the need for negative actions that
art.
usually accompany them.
o Kant believed that the beauty of art can only
be appreciated when the viewer is It should be observed straight away that
"disinterested," deriving pleasure not based Aristotle cannot be said to have a general
on desire. theory along these lines.
o The viewer's subjective judgment should be
First, the Poetics is not a work about art, but
disinterested for a universally valid measure
only two forms of it – tragedy and epic poetry,
of taste.
although Greek tragedy included music.
o Romanticism is a common way of expressing
aesthetics. Second, it is incomplete. We know about, but
o Eugène Delacroix was a Romantic painter do not possess, a second volume on comedy, and
who sought to express human emotion and perhaps Aristotle had something quite different
experience in his work. to say about it.
o Delacroix used brilliant color and vigorous
Third, the word ‘katharsis’ only appears
brushstrokes to depict beauty, violence,
twice. Of course, there is nothing to stop us
tragedy, and ecstasy.
generalizing where Aristotle did not and
o Delacroix's work, "The Death of
expanding upon his suggestive remarks.
Sardanapalus," depicts the Assyrian king
observing carnage with dispassion. o The value of art is associated with its
o Historical accounts indicate that contribution to our mental or psychological
Sardanapalus destroyed his possessions, but well-being.
Delacroix relied on his imagination for o Art allows us to rid ourselves of emotions
interpretation and embellishment of the that could be disruptive or destructive.
scene. o Art provides imaginary objects for us to vent
our emotions on, rather than real objects.
3 Different Aesthetics Theories:
o Venting emotions through art can be
1. Aristotle’s Aesthetics: Katharsis beneficial in managing and processing
o Expressivism is too simplistic as a emotions in a constructive way.
description of the relation between art and
emotion.
2. Platonist Aesthetics Lesson 2. Art Theory: Psychological Theories
o Plato's philosophy suggests that there is an
Right/Left Brain Theory
eternal unchanging 'Form' for everything,
including art. Roger W. Sperry's research in the late
o Philosophical aesthetics, in contrast, argues 1960s proposed the concept of right brain and
that art is a socially and historically left brain thinking, suggesting that the human
determined concept. brain has two distinct ways of processing
o Art is not a fixed or final entity, but rather information.
evolves and differs in different times and
o The right brain is visual, intuitive, and
places.
processes information holistically.
o The concept of art is not an unchanging
o The left brain is verbal, analytical, and
'Form' but a socially constructed and
processes information sequentially.
historically determined notion.
o It has been assumed that people with a
o There may be further objections to
dominant right brain are more creative, as
philosophical aesthetics, but they are not
they can visualize the whole picture and
deemed useful in this context.
work on multiple aspects simultaneously.
3. Yoruba Aesthetics
o According to this theory, when creating art, it
o Fagg's observations on African art challenge
is beneficial to deliberately engage the
scholars to frame studies in terms of African
dominant way of thinking to enhance the
concepts
creative process.
o Tribal cultures conceive things as four-
o By consciously using either the right or left
dimensional objects with energy or life force
brain approach, artists can experiment with
being dominant
different strategies and produce varied
o African art should be understood in its
results.
cultural depth as an expression of local
o This understanding of right brain and left
thought or belief systems
brain thinking can help artists to be more
o Interest in African art was part of a larger
mindful and intentional in their creative
phenomenon called primitivism
process, rather than relying solely on
o Primitivism referred to less complex, less
autopilot.
sophisticated, or less advanced cultures,
o It's important to note that while Sperry's
excusing European domination
theory has been influential, current research
o Artists admired "primitive" arts of Africa and
suggests that the concept of strict right brain
Oceania as instinctive, unchanging, and
vs. left brain dominance may be overly
primordial
simplistic and that both hemispheres of the
o Artist's work is influenced by aesthetical
brain work together in complex ways to
theories based on feelings and emotions
process information and engage in creative
o Aristotle's aesthetics involve the concept of
tasks (Boddy-Evans, 2019).
"katharsis" or purging of emotions through
art Perceptual Process
o Platonist aesthetics focus on mirroring the
unchanging form of an object through o Perception in art involves a complex
mimesis relationship between visual stimuli and
o Yoruban aesthetics emphasize the fourth personal understanding.
dimension of time and the need to look o Perception is not a universally established
beyond what is easily observed in matrix, but is conditioned by the context of
understanding something. observation and evaluation, including
 political, social, cultural, gender, and racial o Conceptual artists pursue artistic originality
factors. and representation in various ways, making it
o Perception affects how we see art, attribute challenging to define conceptual art.
meanings to it, and is also an active factor in o Despite the uncertainty about the nature of
artistic creation. conceptual art, there are recurring
o Previously established notions of value from characteristics and general aims that may be
multifaceted perceptual conditionings impact considered fundamental to most conceptual
assertions about the meaning of art. art. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
o Both the views of the artist and the observer 2017)
contribute to the understanding of art, with
Lesson 3. Art Theory: The Theory of the
no distinction in their importance.
Artist as an Outsider
o Historical examples show that perception
affects the meaning attributed to art and can Avant-Garde Artists
change over time.
o Avant-garde originates from the French
o Universal postulates may persist, but are
language, meaning "vanguard" or "fore-
often dependent on social mores of a given
guard".
time.
o It was first used in the military to describe a
o Perception and opinions are closely linked in
small troop of skilled soldiers who explored
relation to art.
ahead of the army.
o Evaluation of artistic styles has changed
o Avant-garde artists are those who develop
throughout history, contributing to the
fresh and surprising ideas in art, literature,
connectedness between opinions and
and culture.
perception of art. (Anapur, 2016)
o Henri de Saint-Simon introduced the term,
Conceptual Process suggesting that artists should be at the
forefront of social progress and radical
o "Conceptual art" refers to an artistic
reforms.
movement that reached its peak between
o Avant-garde was adopted as an adjective for
1966 and 1972, with artists such as Joseph
artists who explored new techniques and
Kosuth, Robert Morris, Joseph Beuys, and
subject matter.
Adrian Piper among its adherents.
o Avant-garde art was often shocking and
o Conceptual art absorbed lessons from other
controversial, going against existing norms.
20th-century art movements and aimed to
o The Salon des Refusés in Paris in 1863
free art from the Modernist paradigm.
marked the first use of avant-garde in
o Conceptual art sought to overcome the idea
relation to arts.
that art's main aim is to produce something
o Renowned painters like Courbet, Manet, and
beautiful or aesthetically pleasing, and
Pissarro organized their own shows,
instead focused on making us think.
featuring legendary paintings.
o Conceptual artists believed that artistic
o Avant-garde became a symbol of progress,
institutions promoted a conservative and
exploration, and innovation.
consumerist conception of art, and they
o The concept of avant-garde has evolved and
aimed to encourage a revisionary
changed over time.
understanding of art, the artist, and artistic
experience. Outsider Artists
o The highly individualized character of
o "Outsider art" refers to works produced by
conceptual art makes it elusive and difficult
artists outside the established art world or
to pinpoint a specific common denominator.
conventional boundaries of official culture.
o The term was first used in 1972 by art critic
Roger Cardinal as an English equivalent of
the French term "art brut" coined by Jean
Dubuffet.
o Dubuffet focused on paintings/drawings by
psychotics in insane asylums and amassed a
collection managed by his Compagnie de l'Art
Brut.
o The concept of Outsider art is wider than Art
Brut and includes works by uneducated, self-
taught, and geographically remote artists, as
well as asylum inmates.
o Examples of Outsider art include the work of
James Dixon, an Irish landscape painter who
started painting at the age of 72 on Tory
Island.
o Outsider art describes works created outside
the norm, not simply unconventional artists.
o It does not include followers of art
movements like Dada, or well-documented
drawings/paintings of autistic artists within
the mainstream art scene.
Other Types of Outsider Art
1. Naïve Art
o Outsider art originally referred to art created
by artists without formal training or
qualifications.
o Henri Rousseau 'Le Douanier' (1844-1910)
was a celebrated outsider artist.
o Outsider art was characterized as
spontaneous, intuitive, bold in design,
simplistic in form and color, and lacking in
conventional motifs.
o The genre of outsider art was established in
the 19th century.
o Since then, it has spawned "pseudo-naïve" or
"faux-naïve" works, often created by highly
trained, polished artists.
o These works are now available in art
galleries worldwide.
2. Primitive Art
o 'Primitivism' or 'primitive art' is sometimes
used synonymously with 'Outsider art' to
describe art by untrained and
unsophisticated artists.
o However, 'primitivism' more accurately
refers to art from contemporary tribal
cultures, such as Aboriginal, Oceanic, Native
American, African, or Alaskan art.
o The term 'primitivism' is now considered
politically incorrect by some critics of
modern art.
o Alternatives terms used to describe similar
art genres include "folk art", "vernacular art",
or "intuitive art".
3. Collections
o Jean Dubuffet's Collection de l'Art Brut is the
biggest assembly of Outsider art.
o It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and
contains over 5,000 items.
o The Musgrave Kinley Outsider Art Collection
is another smaller group of Outsider art.
o It is located at the Irish Museum of Modern
Art (IMMA).
o The collection features artists such as Aloise,
Carlo, Henry Darger, Madge Gill, Hauser, J.B.
Murry, Sekulic, Oswald Tschirtner, Van Genk,
Scottie Wilson, Wolfli, Zemankova, and other
lesser-known modern artists. (Encyclopedia
Of Art Education, n.d.)
4. Folk Art
Traditional Meaning
o Jean Dubuffet's Collection de l'Art Brut is the
biggest assembly of Outsider art.
o It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and
contains over 5,000 items.
o The Musgrave Kinley Outsider Art Collection
is another smaller group of Outsider art.
o It is located at the Irish Museum of Modern
Art (IMMA).
o The collection features artists such as Aloise,
Carlo, Henry Darger, Madge Gill, Hauser, J.B.
Murry, Sekulic, Oswald Tschirtner, Van Genk,
Scottie Wilson, Wolfli, Zemankova, and other
lesser-known modern artists. (Encyclopedia
Of Art Education, n.d.)
A Current Definition
o Folk art is utilitarian or decorative art
created by unaffluent social classes in rural
 areas of civilized but not highly industrialized
societies.
o It can also include art produced by ethnic
minorities in more developed societies who
live in separate communities apart from the
mainstream.
o Folk art may be found in Central and Eastern
Europe, as well as other continents, although
their number is shrinking.
o Examples of folk art include art created by
peasants, artisans, tradespeople, and
nomadic groups like gypsies.
o Folk art may also encompass art produced by
ethnic minorities such as Amish Mennonite
communities. (Encyclopedia of Art Education,
n.d.)
Lesson 4. Art Theory: Popular Theories
Realism
o Realism was the first art movement to
emerge in the 19th century as a reaction
against Neoclassicism and Romanticism.
o Realist artists aimed to depict the everyday
and ordinary, focusing on the present rather
than historic, heroic, or exotic subjects.
o Gustave Courbet was one of the leaders of the
Realist movement and exhibited a painting
titled "The Artist's Studio" in 1855, which
was a real allegory of his life as an artist.
o Realistic art goes beyond natural appearance
to express additional ideas about the social or
philosophical reality of the subject matter.
o Courbet's painting was shown in the annual
Salon, the official venue of the École des
Beaux-Arts, but was widely criticized for
lacking decorum and being too realistic in its
depiction of a ritual event.
Beauty
o The nature of beauty is a enduring and
controversial theme in Western philosophy
and is one of the fundamental issues in
philosophical aesthetics, along with the
nature of art.
o Beauty has been considered one of the
ultimate values, along with goodness, truth,
and justice, and has been a central theme in
the works of ancient Greek, Hellenistic,
medieval, and modern philosophers.
o Some philosophers, such as Roman Ingarden,
argue that aesthetic pleasure, which is
associated with art, has a distinctive
character of its own and is different from
other pleasures, such as those derived from
sensory experiences.
o Beauty has been traditionally associated with
art, and the pleasure that accompanies
beauty has been observed since ancient
times.
o "Emigrants Crossing the Plains or The Oregon
Trail" is a painting that reflects the
philosophy of Manifest Destiny, which
promoted the idea that the assimilation of
land and natural resources in the western
parts of the United States was a God-given
right and duty.
o Beauty in art is not solely about the physical
beauty of the subject, but also the subjective
concept of what is considered beautiful by
the artists and the viewers.
Lesson 5. Art Theory: Theories based on
Functions of Art
Art for Art’s sake
o Whistler and other artists broke away from
traditional art education and exhibition
systems.
o They believed in the freedom to follow their
own creative voices and pursuits.
o Whistler adopted Japanese principles of
beauty in art.
o He pursued "Art for art's sake" - creating art
for the sake of expressing what he found
elevating, harmonious, and pleasing to the
senses.
o Whistler believed that art should be
independent of emotions and other external
influences.
o He referred to his works as "arrangements"
and "harmonies."
o He emphasized the aesthetic qualities of art
over narrative or symbolic meanings.
Art should be independent of all claptrap—should
stand alone, and appeal to the artistic sense of eye
or ear, without confounding this with emotions
entirely foreign to it, as devotion, pity, love,
patriotism, and the like. All these have no kind of
concern with it, and that is why I insist on calling
my works “arrangements” and “harmonies.”
(Sachant, Blood, LeMieux, & Tekippe).
Religion
o Art, aesthetics, and philosophy in the 20th
century focused on artistic interpretations of
how art assumed the role of religion in
revealing the essence of life.
o Art forms were considered to have broader,
more intense, and convincing interpretations
of life and the world compared to traditional
religions.
o Visual arts and other forms of art have not
been involved in persecution or warfare,
unlike traditional religions, and have been
intolerant only in an intellectual context.
o Religions like Christianity have been central
culture bearers, but have also faced
challenges in fulfilling their claims.
o Richard Shusterman explored the idea that
art can be a useful and superior substitute for
religion, free from its disadvantages, and
leading towards greater understanding,
peace, and harmony.
o Shusterman argued that art sustains valuable
features of religion while minimizing or
refining the negative aspects.
o Shusterman aims to formulate an aesthetic
where experience occupies a central position,
emphasizing experimentation, creative
exploration, and involvement rather than
passive reception or distant observation.
o Shusterman's philosophy is influenced by his
experiences outside of scholarly texts, and he
values reflection on life's adventures and
learning from them. (Carrol, 1999)
Morality
o Morality and art are often connected,
especially in art that provokes and disturbs,
as it can stir up personal beliefs, values, and
morals of the artist and the viewer.
o Judgment of art is influenced by society's
value judgment at a given time in history.
o The relationship between the artist and
society is intertwined and sometimes at odds,
but neither needs to be sacrificed for the
other, and art is subjective in its
interpretation.
o Art can be vulnerable to ethical judgment,
especially when there is a lack of historical
context or understanding of the art, but this
does not make ethical judgment wrong or
irrational.
o Appreciation of art and styles changes over
time, and taste remains subjective.
o Ethics can be a consideration for artists, but it
should not hinder free expression, and artists
may have contrasting beliefs, values, and
ideologies with societal values.
o The power of free artistic expression is
important, and art should be judged based on
the merits of the work itself, not solely on the
artist's character. (Sachant, Blood, LeMieux, &
Tekippe)
Lesson 6. Art Theory: Theories based on
Comparison Between the Arts
Art as poetry
o Poetry was considered an art, and the idea of
painting being comparable to it contributed
to painting being considered an art as well.
o Hieronymus Bosch, a Netherlandish painter,
created a triptych called "In the Garden of
Earthly Delights" depicting a macabre fantasy
landscape with nude human figures, animals,
and strange creatures.
o Dramatic poetry represents human affairs by
simulating events on stage.
o Plato and Aristotle believed that painting is a
form of imitation or verisimilitude, similar to
holding a mirror up to nature.
o Painters aim to reproduce the appearances of
things, including people, objects, and events.
o Greek stories of painter Zeuxis praised his
ability to create pictures with surpassing
likeness.
o Plato and Aristotle considered dance and
music as subservient to the purposes of
representation in drama, rather than
separate art forms.
o They viewed music and dance as primarily
imitative or representational arts in
conjunction with drama and painting.
Fine Arts
o A "system of the fine arts" refers to a
categorization of certain practices, such as
painting, poetry, dance, music, drama, and
sculpture, as distinct from other practices
like astronomy and chemistry.
o In the eighteenth century, a canonical way of
grouping practices into the fine arts emerged,
which is still reflected in contemporary arts
programs and art centers.
o The fine arts contributed to the elaboration of
the hierarchy of genres, leading to the
categorization of painting based on subject
matter and asserting independence from
artisanal skills.
o Academic theory's discourse on art resulted
in oversimplification and precepts that
guided artistic production and aspired to
excellence.
o Theoretical development offered a path for
aspiring artists and provided a terrain for the
practice of fine arts.
Lesson 7. Art Theory: Symbolic
Communication Theory
Semiotics
o Conventionalist approach consistent with
core argument against resemblance theory
o Representation is arbitrary and conventional,
determined by rules or codes
o Conventionalist approach sees
representations as signs with referents
established by conventions
o Pictorial representation viewed as a kind of
language
o Actor proceeds by imitation, not strictly
coded signaling
o Lexicographical or semiotic representation
conditional and depends on a code
o Art historians invoke Peirce's tripartite
definition of a sign and three types of signs
(index, icon, symbol)
o Borrowings from Peirce's semiotics warrant
critical scrutiny
o Selective and lack historical consideration
o Peirce's writings composed between 1867
and 1914, but often treated as universally
true or latest word in semiotic theory
o Handling Peirce's work in standard manner
has entailed some costs, according to the
chapter's argument.
Symbolic Communication
o Symbolic communication gives access to a
unique system of representation
o Symbols condition our experience and open
the world of abstraction
o Humans project themselves into natural
processes, seeing design and purpose
o Art is a creative process that objectifies
humanity and reflects it back to us
o Symbols are independent of direct reference
and allow us to imagine other worlds
o Symbols are a prerequisite for language,
myth, literature, and science
o Humans naturally see the universe in
symbolic terms, according to Hirschfeld
(2010)
What are the 7 Art Theories?
1. Art Theory: Aesthetic Theories
2. Art Theory: Psychological Theories
3. Art Theory: The Theory of the Artist as an
Outsider
4. Art Theory: Popular Theories
5. Art Theory: Theories based on Functions of
Art
6. Art Theory: Theories based on Comparison
Between the Arts
7. Art Theory: Symbolic Communication
Theory