Venturing Into Humanities

On Functions of Art
RECALL!
 We learned that culture influences the kind of art we
produce and in return, art puts meaning to cultures
and manifests the kind of culture that human beings
belong to.
Art is not only something that is beautiful or
enchanting that is solely subject for interpretation or
analysis.
Art is not limited for the consumption of the intellect;
it also comes with different functions that provides
different benefits to our day to day living.
 INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understand the importance of studying humanities in

examining art
Read the art forms using the four planes of analysis
Explore the different functions or art; and
Identify the functions of art with objects at home.
WHAT IS HUMANITIES?

from the latin word “humanus”

To ascribe to being human, one needs to manifest
quality such as tenderness, rationality and sensitivity.
possession of being cultured and refined
humanities is a field that deals with the human
condition
Why do we study Humanities?
to describe how people process and document their
existence.
the importance on how man expresses his thoughts
and the manner of expressing them are vital to know
what happened in history
In the study of humanities, we will be keeping
these questions in mind as to understand the
motives behind art production:
a. How do human beings behave?
b. Why do they behave this way?
c. How do humans interact with each other?
d. How do human beings interpret the world around
them?
e. What kind of political, social and cultural
institutions do they form?
Approaches to studying Humanities
Synchronic - to look art as it is and not look at it as a
progression of events that contributed to the current
condition.
Synchronic Approach questions:
 What brush stroke technique did the artist apply in this art work?
 Judging from the pigments used, which art style does this belong to?
 What medium was used in the painting?
 What is the subject of the painting?
 Does the painting depict light and shadow?
 What lines were used in this painting?
 Is the painting symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Diachronic - analyzes the evolution of art forms over time, including the
duration of when the art form existed.

 Diachronic Approach questions:

How are the subjects of Renaissance Art compared to Baroque Art? What does it say about
the society at that time?
 Why is it that Renaissance paintings glorify the naked human body?
Why is it that Baroque paintings have subjects that are clothed?
 Why is it that Renaissance paintings are brighter compared to the tones and colors of
Baroque paintings?
Why is it that Baroque paintings tend to be more detailed than the Renaissance painting?
What does this depict about the beliefs and values at that time?
 Why is it that most Renaissance paintings and sculptures involve divine beings, and Baroque
mostly have normal human beings as subjects?
Understanding Works of Art
In assessing, evaluating and appraising works of art,
there could be a myriad of criteria that an onlooker or
an ordinary audience may use, however, there are four
planes of analysis that may be used to examine works
of art. According to an essay titled “Reading the
Image” by Alice G. Guillermo (2001), the image can be
examined using the basic semiotic plane, the iconic
plane, and the contextual plane, and the evaluative
plane.
Functions of Art
Personal Function - artist creates art because of his
need to express.
 Example:
 Kintsugi - art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer
dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum

Physical / Utilitarian Function – arts that makes our

lives physically comfortable.
 Example:
 Portable chair
Social Function
 usage of art for cultural, political and environmental issues.
 Cultural function - statues of national heroes, landmarks, wedding
ceremonies, weddings and etc.

 Political function – statues of great leader.

 Spiritual function – mass for Roman Catholic, praise and worship for
Born Again Christians, Ramadan for Muslims.
 it affects and influence the way we
think and feel to something.
• Pictorial forms – putting a cross message, humanitarian concerns as
well as ideological or political concerns.

• Satire (Caricature) – aim to ridicule an individual, groups or society

with the aim of sending across a message of awareness and change.

• Propaganda Literature – aims to move and to persuade peoples

minds, feelings and ideology.

• Advertising Art – aims the buying behavior of people.

Educational Function – an outlet or a procedure to express
ones or your feelings, emotions, thoughts, and ideas.

Forms of Art
 Fine arts – made for aesthetic through the senses especially visual and
auditory.

 Practical arts – intended for practical use or utility.

 Performing arts – involved movements,

gestures, and speaking.
Thank you For Listening
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