HUM 100: Art Appreciation Module 2, Week 2

Divisions of Art Study

Humanities or the study of arts was limited to aesthetics or art appreciation and/or art history during the second half of the
20th century. With the onset of the new milenium and the recent developments in various disciplines, the study of humanities
has extended art to art production and art criticism. At present, art appreciation, art history, art production, and art criticism
serve as the four divisions of art study.
Aesthetics or Art Appreciation. Aesthetics, the science of beauty, is the division of art in which the student learns to
admire the artists, value highly different works of art, and appreciate the role of art in society.

Art History. Art history is the division of art in which the student acquires knowledge of the artists, their backgrounds,
their master pieces, and their significant contributions in various fields of art.

Art Production. Art production is that division of art study in which the student learns to use his creativity and apply
his artistic knowledge and skills in producing his own works of art.

Art Criticism. Art criticism is that division of art study in which the student learns to use his judgment in evaluating
different artworks based in the criteria set.

FUNCTIONS OF ART
Art serves several functions which are corollary to its purposes. These functions include but are not limited to the following:
1. Aesthetic Function- Through art, man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature. He benefits from his own work and
from those done by his fellowmen. Example: Landscape paintings remind us of the beauty of our natural environment.
2. Utilitarian Function- Through art, man is provided with shelter, clothing, food, beautiful surroundings, personal
ornamentals, entertainment, language, transportation, and other necessities and conveniences of life. Example: Roads
and bridges help us reach distant places with much ease (transportation).
3. Cultural Function- Through the printed matter, art transmits and preserve skills and knowledge from one generation
to another. Example: Folk songs, dances,and arts help preserve our traditions.
4. Social Function- Through civic and graphic art, man learns to love and help each other. Examples: Films and
performances remind us that socialization is an important aspect of our humanity.

PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART

1. Art as mimesis - According to Plato, art is an imitation of the real that was an imitation of the ideal. Art is an imitation
of an imitation.
2. Art as representation - Aristotle, on the other hand, believes that the aim or art is not to represent the outward
appearance of things but their inward significance.
3. Art for art’s sake - For Kant, art has its own reason for being, It implies that an art is best understood as an
autonomous creation to be valued only for its success as it organizes color and line into a formally satisfying and
beautiful whole.
4. Art as an escape- The ceremony of doing or creating art touches the deepest realms of the mind and the sacred
dimension of the artistic creative process, The sacred level of art not only transforms something into art but also
transforms the artist at the very core of his or her being.
5. Art as functional- Art is meant to be used, to enrich our lives to be spiritually potent, to educate, to support or protest
existing power structures, to entertain and so on.

Sources: Caslib, B.N, Garing, D.C., & Casaul, J.A. (2018). Art appreciation. Quezon City. Rex Printing Company, Inc.
Boonggaling,.C.C.G., Ipan-Bongabong, M.C.L., Panisan, W.K., &Trinidad,M.A.B. (2018). Art appreciation. Malabon
City. Mutya Publishing House, Inc.