“FUNCTIONS

AND
PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVE
ON ART”
Lesson 3

By: Group 5
Learning Outcomes

• distinguish between directly functional and indirectly

functional art;
• explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspective on
the art;
• realize the function of some art forms in daily life, and
• apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetics in real
life scenarios
Content:
 The Greek Philosopher Aristotle claimed that every
particular substance in the world has an end, telos
which translate to “purpose”
 Every substance, Defined as formed matter, moves
according to a fixed path towards it aims.
 This telos, According to Aristotle, is intricately linked
with function.
 For a thing to reach it purpose, it also has to fulfill its
function.
“Functions of Arts”
“Functions of Arts”
– An inquiry on the function of arts is an inquiry on what art is for.
Ex: What is the Rizal Monument for?

- When it comes to function, different art forms

comes with distinctive functions.
- Some art forms are functional than others.
 “Functions of Arts”
Architecture and Applied Arts Painting and Literature
• The value of the art in
• One can look at the
question lies ion the value of the product of
practical benefits one gains art in and for itself.
from it.
• Obviously made for specific
purpose.
“Functions of Arts”
Does it mean that paintings and literary works can never
have any function?
• Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibustirismo
• The novels accrued value and as a consequence,
FUNCTION
• The are functional in so far as they are designed to
accomplish some definite end.
“Personal Functions of Arts”
“Personal Functions of Arts”
• The personal function of art are varied and highly subjective.
• Function depends on the artist who made the art.
• An artist can may create an art out of self-expression,
entertainment, or therapeutic purpose.
• In some orphanages and home for abandoned elders, art is
used to help residents process their emotions or while away
their time.
 “Personal Functions of Arts”
"To be naked is to be deprived
of our clothes, and the word
implies some of the
embarrassment most of us feel
in that condition. The word
"nude," on the other hand,
carries, in educated usage, no
uncomfortable overtone. The
vague image it projects into the
Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass mind is not of a huddled and
By: Michael with a Book defenseless body, but of a
Angelo By: Vincent Van Gogh
balanced, prosperous, and
“Social Functions of Art”
“Social Functions of Art”
• Art is considered to have a social function if and when it
addresses a particular collective interst as opposed to a
personal interest.
• Art may convey message or protest, contestation, or
whatever message the artist intends his work to carry
“Social Functions of Art”
• Political art is a very common example of an art with a
social function.
• Art can also depict social condition such as photography
(pictures of poverty)
• Performance act like plays or satires can also rouse
emotions and rally people toward a particular end.
“Physical Functions of Art”
“Physical Functions of Art”
• The physical function of art can be found in artworks that
are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose.
• Architecture, jewelry-making, interior design all serve
physical function.
“Physical Functions of Art”
Paintings and buildings can both be symbols,
but buildings also serve a physical function.
Many objects have both physical and aesthetic
duties. Architects, Industrial and Graphic
Designers, Interior Decorators-all of these
professionals have to balance form and
function. Art shares responsibility for the built
environment: how it looks and how it works.
Sometimes how it looks improves how it works,
and sometimes the opposite occurs.
“Other Functions of Art”
“Other Functions of Art”
• Music was principally used for dance and religion.
• The ancient world saw music as an instrument to facilitate
worships and invocation to Gods.
• Music was essential for synchronicity of dancers.
• Music guarantees that warriors were simultaneous.
• Today, Music has expanded its functions and coverage.
• There’s a lot of music that has no connection to dance or religion.
• Music is also used as accompaniment to stage plays and motion
pictures.
“Other Functions of Art”
• Sculptures have been made by man most particularly in religion.
• In the roman catholic world, the employment of sculptures for religious
purposes has remained vital, relevant and symbolic.
• Rizal and Bonifacio monument and commemorative coins (Pope Francis)
• Arhcitecture may be the most prominent functional arts.
• Unlike other forms of arts, Building take so much time to erect and
destroy.
• One cannot dismiss taking into consideration the function of a
building before construction.
• It is also in architecture where one can find the intimate
connection of function and form.
“Philosophical Perspective on
Art”
1. Art as an Imitation.
2. Art as a Representation.
3. Art as a Disinterested Judgement.
4. Art as an Communication of Emotion.
“Philosophical Perspective on Art”

– Art as an imitation
In Plato's The Republic, paints as a picture of artist as imitators
and art as mere imitations.
In his description of the ideal republic, Plato advices against the
inclusion of art as a subject in the curriculum and in the bannin of
artist in Republic.
In Plato’s methaphysics or view of reality, the things in this world
are just copies of the original, the eternal, the true entities that can
only be found in the World of Forms.
 “Philosophical Perspective on
Art”
– Art as an imitation
Plato was convinced that artist merely reinforce to the beliefs in copies
and discourage men to reach for the real entities in the World of Forms.
Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artist for two reasons:
1. They appeal to the emotion rather to the rational faculty of men.
2. They imitate rather than lead one to Reality.
Poetry rouses emotions and feelings and thus, clouds rationality of
people.
“Philosophical Perspective on
Art”
– Art as an imitation
Art is just imitation of imitation. A painting is just and imitation of
nature, which is also just an imitation of reality in the World of
Forms.
Art then is to be banished, alongside the practitioners, so that the
attitudes and actions of the members of the Republic will not be
corrupted by the influence of arts.
For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty replacement
for the real entities that can only be attained through reason.
– Art as a Representation
Aristotle, Agreed with plato that art is a form of imitation.
However, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in
revealing the truth.
The kind of imitation that art does is not antithetical to the
reaching of fundamental truths in the world.
Unlike plato who thought that art is an imitation of another
imitation, aristotle conceived of art as representing possible version
of reality.
– Art as an Representation
For aristotle, all kinds of art do not aim to represent reality as it
is, it endeavors to provide a version of what might be or the myriad
possibilities of reality
In Aristotelian worldview, Art serves two particular purposes:
1. Art allows for the experience of pleasure (horrible experience
can be made an object of humor).
2. Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its
audience things about life (cognitive).
“Philosophical Perspective on
Art”
– Art as a Disinterested Judgment
Immanuel kant, in his critique of judgment, considered the
judgement of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can be
universal despite its subjectivity.
Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective.
However, even subjective judgments are based on some universal
criterion for the said judgment.
How and in what sense can a judgment of beauty, which ordinarily
is considered to be subjective feeling, be considered objective or
universal?
– Art as a Disinterested Judgment
How are these two statements different?
1. “I like this painting.”
2. “Thing painting is beautiful.”
• The first is clearly a judgment of taste (subjective), while the
second is an aesthetic judgment (objective)
• Making an aesthetic judgment requires us to be disinterested
judgment. In other words, we should try to go beyond our
individual taste and preferences so that we can appreciate art
from a universal standpoint.
“Philosophical Perspective on
Art”
– Art as a Communication of Emotion
According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge role in communication
to its audiences 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 fom the past and present.!
Group 5!
Prepared by:
Mark Ivan E. Leonardo
Group Members:
Kristine Malcontento
Jayson Blanco
Arlen Dolontap
Claire Ann Aldana
Rica Sandra Congreso
Edric Dacles