Lesson 3: Contemporary Art Forms and their practices from the
various regions
The arts are classified in distinct forms: architecture, visual arts, music, literary arts, dance, dramatic arts,
cinema and broadcast arts, and new media. However, the arts in the regions have evolved and taken a new
form. The arts in the regions have combined to create integrative art. Because of this, there is now an
interconnection among the arts, resulting in the combination of arts.
In order to understand more about the topic, you are going to read and comprehend the discussion presented
in this portion. This will help you discover and understand new concepts and skills about the topic.
Integrative Art to Philippine Contemporary Art
The art are classified in distinct forms: architecture, visual arts, literary arts, dance, dramatic arts, cinema and
broadcast arts, and new media. However, the arts in the regions have evolved and have taken a new form. They
are no longer what they were several years ago.
The arts in the regions have combined to create integrative art. Because of this, there is now an interconnection
among the arts, resulting in the combination of arts.
Contemporary art forms in the regions now include the following: choreography, musical instruments, literary
and music composition, visual design, theatrical performance, and cinema. Try to analyze these integrated
contemporary art forms in the regions.
Choreography
Choreography is an arrangement or design for dance movements usually accompanied by music. It is the art of
dancing that is composed of a series of dance steps and movement to create a story. It has become an integrated
art, for it incorporates both dance and music.
In the regions, there is a minimal number of contemporary dances because the traditional dances are still being
widely practiced. However, the choreography of these traditional dances have varied through generations.
Modifications are done to adapt to contemporary times.
Contemporary choreography are mostly seen in the productions iof street dancing for regional festivals.
Musical Instruments
A musical instrument is any tool or device that produces sound. It consists of an array of shapes and styles from
the simple to the complex. One interacts with a musical instrument in a way that it produces a sound, like a
guitarist plucking the strings of his guitar or a drummer beating his gong. Examples of traditional musical
instruments in the Philippines are the kulintang, gangsa, and the kutyapi.
Integration of arts is seen through the intricate design of musical instruments, representing visual arts; and
their functions, which is primarily to create music. A musical isntrument alone is an example of integrated art.
One notable Filipino, National Artist for Music Lucresia Kasilag, infused the sounds of naive instruments on new
forms, such as theater and pictures. Some of her remarkable works are Orientalia Suite for Piano and Chamber
and Philippine Percussion Instruments, and Improvisations No 3 and 4 for Moslem gamelan and tipaklong.
Literary and Musical Compositions
Literary works are written works meant to be read, sung, or delivered in a play. They can be written in prose or
in poetry form. Musical compositions, on the other hand, are not written but notated (represented by muscial
symbols). Since they use symbols particular to their field, they must be learned.
These two types of compositions are some of the easisest art forms to integrate with another form. Literary
pieces, such as novels, short stories,and epics are the most common bases of other forms like theater and
cinema. A theater without a playwright is nothing; so is a cinema without a scriptwriter.
In the contemporary times, the most common examples are the movie adaptations of some well-known literary
pieces, such as “Bata, Bata, Pa’no ka Ginawa?” and “Dekada ‘70,” novels by Lualhati Bautista that were turned
into films by Chito Roῆo; and Mars Ravelo’s comics “Darna,” “Captain Barbell,”and “Dyesebel,” which were
adapted into numerous movies and TV programs through time.
It is the same with musical compositions. Anotated work must be performed to be appreciated. Aside from
recitals, compositions are now being enjoyed in dance, theater, cinema and broadcast arts, and even in new
media.
Visual Design
Visual Design is a composition or layout of lines, shapes, and color to form patterns on paper; textile, or any
piece for that matter. It can be found in either two- dimensional works like painting and drawing; or three-
dimensional works like installation and sculpture.
Integration of arts in visual design happens in several hybrid art forms like installation videos and the like.
Theatrical Performance
The staging and execution of a production, like drama, opera, festivals and the like fall under the form called
theatrical performance. It pertains to a public presentation of a dramatic or musical entertainment. It involves a
lot of teamwork that includes the producer; the director, the cast, and the crew of workers. Technology, wether
traditional, digital, multimedia, innovative, or alternative, is a vital part of any performance.
Contemporary theatrical performance is experimental, innovative, controversial, and interdisciplinary, going
beyond theater and other art forms, like puppetry, cinema, and sculpture. It also goes out to other disciplines
like psychology, and the social and political sciences.
One specific example of a contemporary theatrical performance is PETA’s Rak of Aegis, a musical tribute to the
Filipino 90s band, Aegis. It used the integration of music, theater, and dance to create a hybrid piece of art.
Cinema
The cinema is the most popular of the art forms; yet, it is the youngest of
all. It appeared only in early 1900s in Manila and later spread in the regions. It has gained public acceptance
since then. The characteristics of the cinema is similar to the theater; except that it is not a live performance
and the action is seen in a flat screen.
However, in the advent of technology, even the theater- known to produce live performances-has been brought
to the cinema. One recent example is the 2012 comedy-musical, I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! a movie
tribute to the prized trio of the 80s, the APO Hiking Society.
A lot has happened in the contemporary art scene since its onset in the 70s. In the regions, art forms are now
collaborative and community-based, fostering values of camaraderie, cooperation, team-building, and pride of
place.
