Module 1

According to Collins and Riley (as cited in Caslib, Garing & Casaul, 2018), "art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination,
and expression" (p.13). No wonder, art is not simply an object or just a thing. In the words of Janson and Janson (1992), art
is also an object, but not just any kind of object. Art is an aesthetic object. It is meant to be looked at and appreciated for
its intrinsic value. Its special qualities set apart, so it is often placed away from everyday life, in museums, churches, or
caves"

Imagination is not restricted within the parameters of norms; it is limitless.

Visual arts include painting, sculpture, and architecture

Performing or combined arts are music, dance, film, theater, literary, and performance poetry

Digital arts, on the other hand, are created and presented using an electronic device

Applied arts refer to fashion design, furniture design, graphic design, industrial design, and interior design.

Assumptions of Art

1. Art is universal.
2. Art is not nature.
3. Art involves experience.

Creativity, imagination, and expression produce art. As products, art can be classified or categorized as follows: visual arts,
performing or combined arts, digital arts, and applied arts. In addition, there are some assumptions of art: (1) Art is
universal., (2) Art is not nature., and (3) Art involves experience.

Module 2

Functions of Art

According to Aristotle, each substance has its telos (a Greek word for end), which translates into purpose. As matter,
substance moves in accordance with a set course towards its goal. For example, in the end, a seed becomes a plant, or a
cocoon turns into a butterfly… This telos is associated with function (Caslib et al., 2018).

Personal

It is varied and highly subjective. Its function depends on the person – the artist who created the art. It may be in the
following personal forms when artworks are for self-expression, entertainment, catharsis (Caslib, et al.,2018).

Social

Art is considered to have a social function if and when it addresses a particular collective interest. Political art is a very
common example of art with social function. It can also depict social conditions through photography (Caslib, et al.,2018).

Physical

It is the easiest to spot and understand. It can be found on artworks that are crafted in order to serve some utilitarian
purposes (Caslib, et al.,2018).

Historical

Art is a tool for depicting important events of the past for the purpose of recognition and as a remembrance,
commemoration, and celebrations, immortalization and solemnification, and honor-giving (Coursehero.com, n.d.)

Religious

Artists may create, design, or make artworks to emphasize the spiritual support of cultures (Wilson, Bongabong,
Boongaling, Trinidad, & Ta-a, 2018)
Aesthetic

"Art becomes influential for man to be aware of the beauty of nature. Aesthetic is when there is the real feelings of
appreciation for nature's beauty and are manifested through the appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the
artwork" (Panisan et al., 2018, p. 6).

Philosophical Perspectives on Art

1. Art as an Imitation

According to Plato, "art is an imitation of the real that was an imitation of the ideal. Art is an imitation of an imitation"
(Panisan, et al, 2018, p. 6).
Art as Representation

"For Aristotle, all kinds of art including poetry, music, dance, painting, and sculpture, do not aim to represent reality as it is.
What art endeavors to do is to provide a vision of what might be or the myriad possibilities in reality...Aristotle conceived
of art as representing possible versions of reality" (Caslib, et al, 2018, p. 32).

3. Art as a Communication of Emotion

According to Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace and Ana Karenina, "art plays a huge role in communication to its
audience's emotions that the artist previously experienced. Art then serves as a language, a communication device that
articulates feelings and emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the audience. In the same way that language
communicates information to other people, art communicates emotions" (Caslib et al, 2018, p. 33). Engaging in various
forms of art places the audience or viewers at the receiving end of the artists who communicate their feelings and
emotions.

4. Art for Art's Sake

Art for art's sake is a slogan coined by Victor Cousin, a 19th-century French philosopher; it's derived from l’art pour
l’art. Art for art's sake "expresses the belief held by many writers and artists, especially those associated with Aestheticism,
that art needs no justification, that it need serve no political, didactic, or other end" (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia,
2015).

Creativity, imagination, and expression produce art. As products, artworks have functions. When one speaks of function,
one is practically talking about the use of the object whose function is in question, an inquiry on the function of art is an
inquiry on what art is for. Alternatively, the answer to the question “what is it for” is the function of whatever the “IT” in
the question refers to (Caslib et. al, 2018). In other words, some of the specific functions of art are aesthetic, historical,
personal, physical, religious, and social. Knowing the functions of art would augment one's knowledge of the three
assumptions of art: (1) Art is universal., (2) Art is not nature., and (3) Art involves experience., and some philosophical
perspectives on art: (1) Art as imitation, (2) Art as representation, (3) Art as communication of emotions, and (4) Art for art's
sake.

Module 3

Visual Arts

"Taking off from the scientific reference, elements of art are akin to the atoms that are defined as the units or "building
blocks" of matter...Elements are the necessary preconditions for the creation of art" (Caslib et al., 2018, p.79). In this
module, the elements of visual art are line, shape, form, space, color, texture, and perspective.

Auditory Art

"Together with literature, music as an art form is classified as an auditory art. However, some would argue that it is under
the broad category of performance art. Either way, music, much like the visual arts, has its building blocks or elements"
(Caslib et al., 2018, p.93). In our module, we will focus on the following elements of auditory art (especially music): rhythm,
dynamics, melody, harmony, and timbre.
Elements of Art

1. Line- This is regarded as the most basic visual element. A majority of art is initially conceived in terms of contour
lines (Janson & Janson, 1992). A line refers to a point moving at an identifiable path-it has length and direction. It
also has width. It is one-dimensional; however, it can either define the perimeters of the artwork (edges) and/or
become a substantial component of the composition (Caslib et al., 2018).

Although a line is simple, it has variations given its orientation/direction, shape, and thickness. And these variations of lines
suggest meaning or message being conveyed by the artist (Caslib et al., 2018).

Horizontal – It is normally associated with rest or calm.

Vertical – It connotes elevation or height, which usually means exaltation or exaltation for action.

Horizontal + Vertical = It means stability and firmness.

Diagonal – It conveys movement and instability, although progression can also be seen.

Crooked – It is reminiscent of violence, conflict, or struggle.

Curved – It bends or coils, and alludes to softness, grace, flexibility, or even sensuality

2. Shape- It refers to two dimensions which are height and width.

There are two major types of shapes: geometric and organic. Geometric shapes find their origin in mathematical
propositions while organic shapes are those readily occurring in nature, often irregular and asymmetrical.

3. Form- It refers to three dimensions: height, width, and depth.

4. Space - It is related to shape and form.It is usually inferred from a sense of depth, whether it is real or simulated.
Real space is three-dimensional. A common technique applied by artists to achieve space is overlapping
5. Color -

Properties

• Hue – This dimension of color gives its name. It can be subdivided into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors
• Intensity – This refers to the brightness or dullness of colors. It is identified as the strength of color
• Value – It pertains to the lightness or darkness of colors. Value is used by artists to create an illusion of depth and
solidity, a particular mood, to communicate a feeling, or in establishing a scene (e.g. day and night). Moreover, each
primary color has a range of values based on the addition and diminishing quantity and quality of light.
• Tint – It is a lighter color than a normal value (e.g. pink for red).
• Shade – This is a darker color than the normal value (e.g. maroon for

Harmonies- To understand the intensity of colors, color harmonies are to be considered. Color harmonies are integral
considerations not only for pictorial arts but also for art forms.

Color harmonies are monochromatic, complementary, analogous, split-complementary, and triadic.

Meanings- Just like lines, color conveys message and meaning too. Each color represents not only the refraction of a prism
but a deeper one. Read the psychology behind each color below. And for more information on the psychological properties
of colors

BLACK is associated with death and gloom.

WHITE commonly stands for purity and innocence.

BLUE is the color of heaven.

RED is associated with blood; it signifies anger, provokes fear, and impels people to action.

ORANGE suggests assertiveness or appetite.

GREEN is normally the color of nature, and it promotes the feeling of well-being. In addition, it implies abundance or
bounty.

6. Texture- Like space, texture can be either real or implied. This element in an artwork is experienced through the
sense of touch and sight. This element renders the art object tactile. Some of the words used to describe texture
are rough or smooth, hard or soft, hairy, leathery, sharp or dull. Try to identify the texture applied by the artist in
the image below. Rely on your sense of sight.
7. Perspective

The following are the three types of perspective grounded on the number of vanishing points used by artists:

[a] One-point perspective is often used in depicting roads, tracks, hallways, or rows of trees; this type of perspective shows
parallel lines that seem to converge at a specific and lone vanishing point, along the horizon line.

[b] Two-point perspective makes use of two vanishing points, which can be placed along the horizon line. It is often used in
depicting structures such as houses or buildings in the landscape that are viewed from a specific corner.

[c] Three-point perspective allows a viewer to look at a scene above or below. As the name suggests, it makes use of the
three vanishing points, each corresponding to each axis of the scene.

• Auditory Art - "Together with literature, music as an art form is classified as an auditory art. However, some would
argue that it is under the broad category of performance art. Either way, music, much like the visual arts, has its
building blocks or elements" (Caslib et al., 2018, p.93). So, here are some elements of auditory art, especially music:
[1] rhythm, [2] dynamics, [3] melody, [4] harmony, and [5] timbre.
• Rhythm -It is the pulse of the music.

It is often associated with meter and tempo. Meter, on one hand, or a time signature (e.g. 3/4 ) is indicated at the
beginning of a piece of music; meter also shows the number of beats per measure and the value of the basic beat. On the
other hand, tempo refers to the fastness or slowness of music. Concerning tempo, some Italian terms like adagio (a slow
tempo), allegro ( a quick, fast, or lively tempo), and accelerando (gradually speeding up) are used to describe it.

• Dynamics - It refers to the loudness and softness of music. Two common terms to illustrate dynamics are piano (p),
which means quiet, and forte (f), which means loud.
• Melody - It relates to pitch which refers to the highness or lowness of a note or musical sound.
• Harmony - It arises when pitches are combined to form chords which refer to the playing or hearing of two or
several notes simultaneously.
• Timbre - This is often likened to the color of music. It is the quality that distinguishes a voice or an instrument from
another" (Caslib et al., 2018, p. 94).

Identifying and differentiating the different elements of art and recognizing the meanings of colors and lines are very
important. The mere fact that we become aware of these aspects of artworks could help us better understand and
appreciate artworks especially non-figurative artworks given their esoteric nature. In addition, these elements of art and
principles of design are like the connectors which could break the wall between the viewers and listeners, who happen to
be us, and the artworks, which are the forms or the media used by the artists to convey their inner thoughts including their
deepest emotions.