Functions and Philosophical Perspectives on Art

Functions of Art
Arts is a much needed avenue for people to:

1. Express freely oneself;

2. Socially express his need for display,
celebration and communication; and
3. Physically express the need for utility of
functional objects.
 The matrix below shows the difference of the art forms as identified:

Functional art forms Non- functional art forms

(the need for life to be better) ( the need to express aesthetics and
beauty)

Ex. Architecture,weaving, furniture- Ex. music, dance and theater

making

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Functional Art Forms are those which may benefit the cause
of man’s existence. They are art forms which give people
sustenance as to need for life to be better. This benefit is
mostly financial in nature.

Non-functional art forms, on the other hand, Nonfunctional

art is art that serves no utilitarian purpose. Nonfunctional art
also encompasses paintings, sculptures and all manner of
fine art. These pieces usually seek to engage with the viewer
on an intellectual, emotional or aesthetic level.

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 Philosophical
Perspectives
on Art

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 Plato
 Art as an imitation - Things in this world
are only copies of the original

 They appeal to emotion rather than

reason.
 They imitate rather than lead one to
reality.

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 Aristotle

 Art as representation – an attempt to

represent what things might be.

 Art allows for the experience of

pleasure.
 Art has an ability to be instructive and
teach audience about life.
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 Immanuel Kant
 Art as a disinterested Judgment – judgment of
beauty can be universal despite its subjectivity.

 Subjective taste does not focus on the

properties of the object itself but rather on
the pleasure one experiences as he responds
to it.
 Universal taste is non-aesthetic and does not
consider the beauty of the work, but rather,
9 the artwork is appreciated for what it is.
 Leo Tolstoy
 Art as a communication of emotion – art
plays a huge role in communication to its
audience’s emotions that the artist
previously experienced.

 If language communicates information,

art communicates emotions.
 It makes accessible feelings and
emotions of people from the past and
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present.