Lesson 3:

Functions and
Philosophical
Perspectives on Art
LESSON OUTCOME

By the end of this lesson, the students should be able

to:
1. Distinguish between directly functional art and
indirectly functional art;
2. Explain and discuss the basic philosophical
perspectives on the art;
3. Realize the function of some art forms in daily life;
and
4. Apply concepts and theories on beauty and
aesthetics by creating a stone art.
 Activity

Look around your house and identify a product of

art. Take a picture of that product of art in your
household and make an electronic collage,. Trace the
beginning of this item and identify what functions it
has in history (e.g., a painting of the Last Supper in
your dining room or a spoon).
LESSON PROPER
Functions of Art:
 Roughly and broadly, the functions of
art are classified into three: personal
(public display or expression), social
(celebration or to affect collective
behavior), and physical (utilitarian).
Does Art Always Have to Be Functional?
 The value of a work of art does not depend on
function but on the work itself.
 Despite these, efficiency cannot be mistaken as
beauty. While it certainly determines beauty in some
works of art, an efficient functional object is not
necessarily beautiful.
Philosophical Perspectives on Art:

I. Art as an Imitation.
 For Plato, when one ascribes beauty to another
person, he refers to an imperfect beauty that
participates only in the form of beauty in the
World of Forms.
 Philosophical Perspectives on Art:

II. Art as a Representation

 Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in
revealing truth. It allows for the experience of
pleasure. art also has an ability to be instructive and
teach its audience things about life; thus, it is
cognitive as well .
Philosophical Perspectives on Art:

III. Art as a Disinterested Judgment

-Immanuel Kant, in his Critique of Judgment,
considered the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone
of art, as something that can be universal despite its
subjectivity.
Kant mentioned that judgment of beauty, and
therefore, art, is innately autonomous from specific
interests.
 Philosophical Perspectives on Art:

IV. Art as a Communication of Emotion

 Art plays a huge role in communication to its audience’s
emotions that the artist previously experienced.
In the same that language communicates information to
other people, art communicates emotions.
As a purveyor of man’s innermost feelings and thoughts,
art is given a unique opportunity to serve as a mechanism
for social unity.
• Art is central to man’s existence because it makes
accessible feelings and emotions of people from the past
and present.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Does art necessarily have an end?
When an artist creates a work of
art, does he have an end in mind?
Do all artworks have a function?
Does the function make an object
a work of art?
PROCESSING QUESTIONS
What art form/artwork has changed something
in your life? Why account for the experience.
Does art always have a function? Why?
Support your response. Provide your own
example.
If an artwork ceased to have a function, will it
remain an art? Why?
Do you think that art can be a catalyst for
change?
LESSON SUMMARY
Art has remained relevant in our daily
lives because most of it has played some
form of function for man.
The different functions of art may be
classified as either personal, social, or
physical.
Art may serve either as imitation,
representation, a disinterested judgment,
or simply a communication of emotion.
 Let’s Do this

Transform an ordinary stone into a piece of art

according to your desired subject or image. What is
the form you created and what inspires you in
creating the piece? Place your output in your
miniature garden.