Lecture 2 Functions and Philosophy of Art

FUNCTIONS AND
PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Prof. Yvette S. Garrovillas
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
• At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
• Distinguish directly functional and indirectly functional art
• Explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspectives on the art
• Realize the function of some art forms in daily life
• Apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetics in real life scenarios
• Aristotle claimed that every
particular substance in the world has
an end, telos in Greek, which
translates into purpose
• Every substance, defined as formed
matter, moves according to a fixed
path towards its aim.
FUNCTIONS OF ART
• An inquiry on the function of art
is an inquiry on what art is for.
• Example: What is the Rizal
monument for?
ARCHITECTURE AND APPLIED ARTS
 The value of the art in

question lies in the
practical benefits one
gains from it
PAINTING AND LITERATURE
• One can look at the value of

the product of art in and for
itself
PERSONAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
• The personal functions of art are
varied and highly subjective
• Functions depends on the artist
who created the art
• An artist may create an art out of
self-expression, entertainment or
therapeutic purpose
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF ART
• Art is considered to have a social
function if and when it addresses a
particular collective interest as
opposed to a personal interest
• Art may convey message of protest,
contestation or whatever message
the artist intends his work to carry
PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF ART
• The physical functions of art
can be found in artworks that
are crafted in order to serve
some physical purpose
• Architecture, jewelry-making,
interior design all serves
physical functions
SPIRITUAL FUNCTION OF ART
• Artists create to express

spiritual beliefs
PHILOSOPHY OF ART
• the study of the nature of art,

including concepts such as
interpretation, representation
and expression, and form. It is
closely related to aesthetics, the
philosophical study of beauty
and taste.
ART AS AN IMITATION
• In Plato’s The Republic, paints a
picture of artists as imitators and
art as mere imitation
• In his description of the ideal
republic, Plato advises against the
inclusion of art as a subject in the
curriculum and the banning od
artists in the Republic
ART AS AN IMITATION
• In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality,
the things in this world are only copies
of the original, the eternal and the true
entities that can only be found in the
World of Forms
• For example, the chair that one sits on is
not a real chair. It is an imperfect copy
of the perfect “chair” in the World of
Forms
ART AS AN IMITATION
• Poetry awakens emotions and feelings
thus, clouds rationality of people
• Art is just an imitation
• 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
ART AS REPRESENTATION
• In Aristotelian worldview, art
serves two particular purposes:
• Art allows for the experience of
pleasure
• Art also has an ability to be
instructive and teach its audience
things about life
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 recognized that judgment of beauty is
subjective
• However, even subjective judgments are
based on some universal criterion for the
said judgment
ART AS A COMMUNICATION OF EMOTION
• According to Leo Tolstoy, 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
HOW ARE THESE TWO STATEMENTS
DIFFERENT?
1. I like this painting
2. This painting is beautiful
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. What art form/ artwork has changed something in your life? Why Account
for the experience.
2. Does art always have a function? Why?
3. If an artwork ceased to have a function, will it remain an art? Why?
OFFLINE TASK
• Look around your house and identify a product of art.

Attached a picture of that product of art in your
household. Trace the beginning of this item and identify
what functions is has in history. (e.g., a painting of the
Last Supper in your dining room or a spoon).
THANK YOU!

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FUNCTIONS AND

 The value of the art in

• One can look at the value of

• Artists create to express

• the study of the nature of art,

• Immanuel Kant, in his Critique of

• According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a

• Look around your house and identify a product of art.

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