BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

A REFLECTIVE ESSAY ON HUMANITIES 1: ART APPRECIATION

OWEN M. TOLIN

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTANCY II NON-ABM

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Art Appreciation is the

knowledge and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities that identify all

great art. The more you appreciate and understand the art of different eras, movements,

styles and techniques, the better you can develop, evaluate and improve your own

artwork.

Additionally, art appreciation refers to the pursuit of knowledge and

understanding of the universal and timeless qualities characterizing works of art. It

invokes an analysis of the works based on acknowledged elements of composition and

principles of design, through which enjoyment of the humanities is enhanced.

Introduction to Art Appreciation is primarily intended for the Humanities course at the

tertiary level. Nevertheless, this may also be used as a reference material for other

courses in teaching the meaning and importance of art, its elements, and its

development in the Philippines. Now, how do we describe the lessons in each chapters

of the course subject?

First, we have to define what is Art? The word “art” comes from the

ancient Latin ars which means a “craft or specialized form of skill, like carpentry or

surgery”. Art has always been timeless and universal, spanning generations and

continents through and through. Art is man’s expression of his reception of nature. Art

is man’s way of interpreting nature. Unlike fields of knowledge that involve data, art

is known by experiencing. A work of art then cannot be abstracted from actual doing.

In order to know what an artwork is, we have to sense it, see or hear it, and see and

hear it.

How could an art be identifiable and could be appreciated if it doesn’t

have any elements? These elements of art are generally produced when something is
done to the medium after the technique is carried out. To enumerate, the elements of

art and design are the following: line, shape and form, color, space, texture, and

auditory.

Second, we need to identify if art is functional or not--- then, we shall

classify its functions. 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. Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are classified into

three: personal (public display or expression), social (celebration or to affect collective

behaviour, arts depicting political or social conditions), and physical (utilitarian, arts

having physical functions).

Third, art could be set into stages. The primary stage of engaging with

art is its perception. Subjectivity is illustrated in the way that selective perception

renders one or two details more prominent than others, prompting the viewer to focus

on some details as essential or as standouts. In the arts, there are also observable

qualities that the artwork holds that will point to its subject, and sometimes even to its

content. To recognize and grasp the message of the artwork, the viewer may sometimes

need to go beyond what is visible. There are various levels of meaning – factual,

conventional, and the possibility of a variety of meanings.

Fourth, there is a difference between an artist and an artisan; this is

one of the confusions in art. Artists were embedded in the development of culture, and

in turn, art was nurtured by the varying cultures in which it existed. On the other hand,

guilds, a place for artisan, were a type of social fellowship, an association structured

with rules, customs, rights, and responsibilities. With a lifetime commitment to a

particular trade, an artisan develops immense skill and expertise in his craft. The site

that saw the shift from a craftsman to an independent artist was a very personal space

for the artist himself, which is the studio.

 Even more so, is when it is hinged on the word “art” and suddenly it

becomes a bit fuzzy. Another source of confusion is the fact that in the colloquial,

“modern” and “contemporary” are considered synonymous. The complexity of

defining the term is attributed to the fact that people have dissenting views on the

interpretation of the “present,” of “today,” or what the “now” means— these are often

ideas that follow the word contemporary. While modern art saw the digression of

artists away from past conventions and traditions and toward freedom. There is the

famous adage of “anything goes.”

Fifth, and as for one of its timeline, history shows that China has been

at the leading edge of development especially in terms of cultural development.

Inhabitants of China in the past were able to produce primitive artisan works. Art in

Japan has undergone a series of transitions and periodization. From being an isolated

nation to that of embracing Western influences and modernization, Japan has

transitioned into a modern cultural mixing pot. It is evident how the Japanese were

able to infuse local and indigenous materials with modern Western subjects and focal

points. Throughout Philippine history, spanning from the pre-colonial period to the

contemporary period, different art forms have emerged in the Philippine art scene.

Before the colonizers came to the Philippines, ethnic minorities used art not only for

daily activities but also for religious rituals and practices. Most art forms used by ethnic

communities include pottery, weaving, carving, and the use of metalwork and jewelry.

Art was used by the Spaniards to propagate their Christian faith while at the same time,

subtly establishing their foothold in the country. The 1960s proved to be a period of

modernism and dynamism with a lot of styles, techniques, and methods emerging.

Most artworks were reflections of the political, social, and economic situation of the

Philippines during the Marcos administration. It was a period wherein people

embodied and advocated for nationalist ideals. This is the reason why there was a

paradigm shift of subjects in the artworks.

When it comes to art, in order for people to make sense of the work,

it would require understanding the visual elements where art was grounded on,
especially the principles of design. It is important to note that the audience of the

artwork must have a certain level of awareness to the style, form, and content of the

said work. Without such understanding, it would be difficult to appreciate the visual

arts in its fullness and entirety.

Lastly, the course subject sets its own purpose. To mention few,

theses are: to provide Humanities students with a general perspective of art, making

them see and appreciate their own world of arts from various vantage points; to

introduce Humanities students to visual arts (painting, architecture, and sculpture),

auditory arts (music and literature), and performing arts / theatre arts (drama and

dance) through the study of the types, mediums, basic elements, and principles of

organization of each form; to familiarize Humanities students with some of the

materials and processes involved in the production of art; to aid in the analysis of the

formal structure of various works of art considering the historical period and cultural

framework in which they were produced; to promote the development of critical

thinking in the field of arts and in other academic areas; and to develop among the

Humanities students an awareness of the current times and associate them with their

cultural heritage, thereby integrating the past and the present. At the end of each

chapter, evaluation activities are given to enhance the cognitive learning of the

students. Suggested enrichment exercises are also provided to make art appreciation

more interesting, meaningful, and enjoyable. ##