Function of Art and Factors Affecting the Style

Art serves several functions which are corollary to its purposes. These functions include but are not limited to
the following: personal, or individual, social, economic, political, historical, cultural, religious, physical, and
aesthetic.

1. Personal or Individual Function

Artists have their personal reasons for indulging in art. The English poet
Robert Browning expressed his love to Elizabeth Barett-Browning in the form of a
poem entitled “My Last Duchess”; Elizabeth did the same by means of the poem
entitled “How Do I love Thee?” Another poet, Edwin Markham, wrote the poem
“The Man with the Hoe” because he was inspired by the painting of a farmer that
he had seen earlier. Similarly, the composer of the song “Vincent” which is Don
Mclean was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s painting, “The Starry Night”. Others do
their thing because of their passion for their respective art forms. For instance, Gary
Valenciano renders concerts for free because he loves singing; Geleen Eugenio
provides free dance instructions because she enjoys dancing.
An artist may create out of a need for self– expression, or gratification. S/he might
have wanted to communicate a thought or point to the viewer. Perhaps the artist
was trying to provide an aesthetic experience, both for self and viewers. A piece
might have been meant to “merely” entertain others. Sometimes a piece isn’t meant
to have any meaning at all.
2. Social Function
Man is a social being and as such, he associates with his fellow beings. This
association is evident by the choral singing and group dancing in religious rites and other
practices. Oftentimes, houses are constructed by groups of
men for the smallest social groups in a society, the families.
Churches are built for communal worship. A drama is
performed by a group of performers called the cast before a
group of viewers known as the audience. Oral and written
literatures are handed from one generation to the next and enjoyed by people of
various races and ages. Jose Rizal’s novels were written to arouse social
consciousness. Museums, house paintings, and sculptures are viewed by many onlookers.
3. Economic Function
Many people believe that it does
not pay to be an artist. However, this belief
is negated by the facts that Joanne K.
Rowling, the author of the best-selling
Harry Potter series, became one of the
most highly-paid women in British history;
Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson raked
millions for their best selling records; Paintings of great painters such as
Da Vinci and Buonarroti are worth millions of dollars now and GMA-7 spent
millions of pesos for the set of “Indio” and “Encantadia” along with the costume of Richard Gutierrez in “Captain
Barbel”, among others.
4. Political Function
When Imelda Romualdez-
Marcos, a patroness of the arts,
became the governor of Metro
Manila, she promoted her
political programs by means of
arts. Part of her beautification
program was the painting of
murals along national roads and
GUERNIC busy streets frequented by
A
motorist. She was responsible
for the building of edifices in the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) Itak sa puso ni Mang
Complex; these include the PICC (Philippine International Convention Center), FAT (Folk Arts Theater, now
known as Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas), and the Film Center. Likewise, part of the Marcos administration’s
image-building program for the so-called New Society (Bagong Lipunan) was the writing compositions
inculcating the virtues of self-discipline, industry, unity, and cooperation.
As time passed, the visual and performing arts became more politically provocative, with artists using their
work to make statements or highlight certain issues. Pablo Picasso’s famous painting “Guernica” stands as
one example. Painted in the 1930s, “Guernica” highlights the inhumanity of the Spanish Civil War, which
brought dictator Francisco Franco to power in Spain.
5. Historical Function
Painting, sculptures, architectural works, and other art forms serve to record
historical figures and events. Painting of French kings, sculptures
of Philippine heroes, tombs of rulers (Pyramids of Egypt and Taj
Majal of India), and religious plays for example, the cenaculo
(passion play), not only commemorate but also celebrate historical
greats. The Our Lady of EDSA shrine is a sterling proof of Filipino’s
love of peace and freedom as it reminds those who passed by EDSA of the bloodless
revolution in Philippine history, emulated by other races all over the world.
6. Physical Function

Houses and other buildings are constructed to protect their occupants

and all the others inside them. At times, paintings serve to protect the walls and
ceilings of some buildings, while sculptures serve to as columns of some
buildings as in Greek and Roman architecture.
The physical functions of art are often the easiest to understand. Works of art
that are created to perform some service have physical functions. But it should
be something durable which serve lasting function.
7.Cultural Function

Buildings, furniture (chairs, tables, etc.), clothes,

and the like form part of the country’s material culture
(tangible), while music, dance, and language having
different dialects like Iloco, Tagalog, Itawes , Ibanag,
Gaddang and many more, which is incorporated in oral and
written literature and drama, form part of its non-material
culture (intangible). Therefore, paintings, sculptures, architectural works, songs, dances, dramas, and literary
pieces are embodiments and representation of a nation’s culture.
8. Religious Function
Almost all art forms, if not all, evolved from religion. People in the olden times worshipped their gods in
the form of songs and dances. The earliest dramatic forms were religious in nature. The first Greek paintings
and sculptures were those of gods and goddesses. The first great architectural works were built for religious
purposes: the pyramids were built to entomb the pharaohs, the mausoleum of Rome served as a cemetery, and
the churches and mosques were constructed for religious worship.
9. Aesthetic Function

Artworks serve to beautify. Paintings are used to decorate houses and other buildings. Sculptures
serve to decorate churches and similar edifices. Tall buildings are sights to behold. Set designs, as well
costumes and props, make dramas, dance performances and song renditions not only realistic but also
appealing to the audience.

Factors Affecting the Style

Every artist has his way of presenting his work. Such is called art style. Such style is affected by the following
factors geographical, historical, social, ideational, psychological, and technical.

1. Geographical Factors. The place where the artist stays influences his works. Marble sculptures are plenty
in Romblon because marble abounds in that province in the same way as wooden sculptures abound in Paete,
Laguna (named after paet meaning chisel) where wood carving is the primary occupation of the male population.
Moreover, Eskimos live in Igloos because their place is cold, but in Hawaii Tahiti, and other Pacific islands, the
natives reside in grass shacks because there are tropical places.

2. Historical Factors. Historical events exert a great influence on artists, particularly the writers. Jose Rizal
novels, Noli me Tangere and El Felibusterismo, graphically highlight the events that took place in the country
during the last century of Hispanic rule. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables realistically depicts the French Revolution.
The song “ Magkaisa” is the product of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, while Juan Luna’s “Spoliarium” is a painting
of the Filipino oppression by the Spaniards.
3. Social Factors. Social relationships affect artists, too. Society, at most times dictate the types of paintings,
sculpture, songs, dances, literary pieces, and movies to be produced. Independent films such as “Kubrador”
and “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo” show present– day realities in Philippine society.

4. Ideational Factors. The ideas coming from various people also influence artists. The Father of
Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, proposed ideas that have influenced the surrealist painters. The idea that the
human body is the most beautiful figure to present as an art subject gave rise to the school of thought called
nudism. Painters opted to produce paintings of nude males and females. In sculpture, nudism became a fad with
the creation of nude figures of male gods known as Apollo statues. Furthermore, different ideologies were
propagated around the world with the proliferation of essays and other writings from renowned writers.

5. Psychological Factors. At times, the works produced by the artist are affected by their psychological
make– up or frame of mind. For instance, the first painting of Edvard Munch, “The Sick Child”, is an effect of his
unfortunate childhood experience of contracting a long illness after losing his loved one at an early age. Vincent
van Gogh’s painting entitled “The Starry Night” was believed to be completed during his stay in asylum in St.
Remy, during the most tormented period in his life.

6. Technical Factors. Techniques matter as far as artistic styles are concerned. In fact, painters employ a
variety of techniques to make their works unique. Different brushes produce different strokes. If there are no
brushes, painters use their hands. Those without hands make use of their mouths or feet. Moreover, those with
airbrushes or similar equipment produce painting with the use of such equipment. Additionally, paintings can
rendered realistically, surrealistically, impressionistically, and so on.