Lesson 1.

Study of
Humanities
Prepared by:
LIFE GABRIEL F. OSUMO, LPT,
MEd-LT
 Objectives
Define humanities, art, art appreciation,
and artistic importance in contemporary
society
Characterize the assumptions of art
Clarify misconceptions about art
Categorize the works of art by citing
personal experience
Describe the functions and philosophy of
art
 Origin and Meaning of
Humanities
What is Humanities?
 derived from the Latin word "humanus,"
focuses on the study of human culture,
including literature, philosophy, and history.
 They provide general knowledge and
intellectual skills, highlighting the best
accomplishments of humanity, such as the
works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Rizal.
 They connect us with others, help us address
shared challenges, and make us more humane,
cultured, and refined individuals.
 Definition of Art, Art Appreciation, Art
History, Creativity and Imagination

Art
 a subject within the humanities lacks a
universal definition because it is subjective,
varying according to individual perceptions.
What one person finds beautiful and
meaningful, another may see as ugly or
meaningless.
 Different authors define art based on their
perspectives, and its meaning has evolved,
influenced by multicultural contexts.
 With each new art movement, the definition
and acceptance of what constitutes art are
continually challenged.
 Definitions are given by various authors
1. Art is derived from the Latin word “ars,” meaning ability or skill - J.V.
Estolas ‘
2. Art is taken from the Italian word “artis,” which means craftsmanship, skill,
mastery of form, inventiveness, and the associations that exist between
form and ideas, between material and technique. - A. Tan
3. Art is a product of man's need to express himself - F. Zulueta
4. Art is concerned itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings
by means of sensuous medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words and
film - C. Sanchez
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the world - Plato
 Art Appreciation
Ariola (2014) discussed that…
 Art appreciation involves understanding the universal
qualities that define great art.
 It focuses on exploring visual art forms and the basic
principles of visual literacy to enhance the enjoyment
of art by general audiences.
 Art appreciation can be subjective, influenced by
personal preferences, or based on design principles and
social or cultural acceptance.
 While modern art critics and historians often dismiss art
appreciation as lacking in depth, it remains a pursuit of
knowledge that enhances one's enjoyment of art
through analysis of composition and design.
 Art HISTORY
Art history is the study of art objects within their
historical and stylistic contexts, distinct from art
criticism and art theory (Mansfield, 2002).

 Art history examines art in terms of genre, design,

format, and style, covering painting, sculpture,
architecture, and more.
 The discipline of art history involves different
methods of studying visual arts, focusing on
historical development.
 It differs from art criticism, which evaluates artistic
value, and art theory, which explores the
fundamental nature of art.
 Art historians analyze individual objects to
understand their style, meaning, visual function,
symbolism, and effectiveness (Elkins, 2006).
Creativity and Imagination
The key difference between creativity and imagination lies
in their application. Imagination involves thinking of things
that are not present or real, while creativity involves doing
something meaningful with those imaginative ideas to
create new and valuable outcomes (Naiman, 2016)

 Imagination is about envisioning the impossible or

unreal, while creativity focuses on using imagination to
explore what might be possible.
 Creativity requires knowledge, motivation, freedom,
intelligence, and energy to turn imaginative ideas into
reality.
 Imagination and creativity are often confused, but they
are not the same; it's possible to be imaginative without
being creative.
 Everyone is born with imagination, but creativity is a
learned skill.
 RELEVANCE OF ART
APPRECIATION
 Art appreciation is crucial in life and varies based
on personal preferences and cultural influences.
It is particularly significant for students in
developing key skills.
 Art appreciation is vital in everyday life. People's
appreciation of art varies due to personal
preferences, including:
1. Aesthetics and form.
2. Elements and principles of design.
3. Social and cultural acceptance.
Art appreciation is subjective. For students, art
appreciation enhances visual thinking and analytical
skills, enabling them to observe, describe, and
provide evidence for their observations. Even small
efforts in art observation can lead to a greater
appreciation of art.
Art appreciation holds significance for others as well, for various reasons:
1. can help the person make sense of his, world by
broadening his experience and understanding of the
things around him.
2. can help the person imagine even the unimaginable.
3. can connect a person’s life and experience the past,
the present, and the future or sometimes
simultaneously.
4. can help transport the individual to different places
and cultures through literature, films, Visual arts, and
other forms of art.
5. allows the individual to see himself, his family
dynamics as well as his community through different
lenses of great art.
6. enable the individual to better empathize with those
who suffered and endured for their lives through
great art forms.
7. data science provides empirical facts and theories,
but it is the role of humanists to infuse these facts
Methodologies Used in Art History
Art historians use a variety of
methods to gain insight into
the artworks they study. The
choice of method depends on
the art historian's individual
preferences, as well as the
nature of the artwork itself.
Here are some of the most
common methodologies:
 Formalism This is the study
of art by analyzing its principles
and elements of design, such as
color, line, shape, and texture. It
focuses on the visual aspects of art
alone.

Paul Cezanne
The Gardener Vallier (c.1906)
 Iconography This
approach focuses on the
identification, description,
and interpretation of the
content of images. It
involves understanding
the symbols, themes, and
motifs in an artwork.
William Blake
The Good and Evil Angels (1795–?c.1805)
 Marxism This approach
views art as a part of the
superstructure of a society,
shaped by the economic
base. It considers how art
reflects, challenges, or
reinforces societal structures
and ideologies.

Francisco Goya's 'Saturno

devorando a su hijo' (1819-1823)
 Feminism
This approach
analyzes art from a
gender-conscious
perspective. It often
involves understanding
the representation of
women in art and the
Homeworkers roles of women as art
Margaret Harrison (1977) producers.
 Psychoanalysis This
approach, influenced by
the theories of Sigmund
Freud and Carl Jung,
interprets art as a
projection of the artist's
subconscious.

Melancholy by Edvard Munch

1894
Lesson 2.
Basic Assumptions of
Arts
An assumption is a thing that is accepted as
true or as certain to happen, without proof. It is
something that you accept as true without
question or proof. Below are some assumptions
about art:
1.1 Art is universal
Art has always been timeless and universal,
spanning generations and continents
(Slideshare. net, 2019). Oftentimes, people feel
that what is considered artistic are only those
which have been made a long time ago. This is
a misconception. Age is not a factor in
determining art. “An art is not good because it
is old, but old because it is good” (Dudley et
al., 1960).
 Art is Universal

In every country of the world, art exists

because it is important to people’s
lives. It is the oldest and most
important means of expression
developed by man in any culture. Man
learned to draw before he could even
start to talk as evidenced by some early
paintings in caves and trunks of trees –
shown in prehistoric times. Art has been
created by all people of the world at all
times; it has lived because it is liked
and enjoyed. The elements and forms
of art apply to all arts everywhere
(Ariola, 2018).
 Art is Universal

Here are some examples that show that art is

universal (from ruelpositive.com).
 In the Philippines, the works of Jose Rizal and
Francisco Balagtas are not being read because they
are old.
 Florante at Laura never fails to teach high school
students the beauty of love, one that is universal
and pure.
 Ibong Adarna, another Filipino masterpiece, has
always captured the imagination of the young with
its timeless lessons.
 When we recite the Psalms, we feel in communion
with King David as we feel one with him in his
conversation with God.
 When we listen to a Kundiman or perform folk
dances, we still enjoy the way our Filipino ancestors
while away their time in the past.
1.2 Art is cultural
According to Dr. Mariano Ariola (2018), art
contributes to the understanding of past and
present cultures. Through art, people learn
about their culture’s values and strengthen
their culture’s
identity. Through art, people feel proud of
their customs, traditions, and beliefs they
give a sense of belonging.
The artists’ work such as painting, sculpture,
music, dances, ceramics prints, and others
are records of their society’s culture. They
create within the person’s sensitivities toward
their community, their country, and the world
around them.
1.3 Art is not nature
Art is not nature because it is
man-made. Art is man’s
interpretation of what he
perceives as art. Art is man’s
way of interpreting nature.
Nature, such as the mountains,
the volcano, lakes, rivers, and
land terrains are made by God
and not by man. Thus, art is
made by man at all times (Ariola,
2018).
1.4 Art involves experience
 Unlike data-driven fields, art is
understood through direct sensory
experience. To truly know what a work of
art is, one must see, hear, and engage
with it.
 A complete artistic experience occurs
when a work is finished satisfactorily.
Similar to solving a problem or
concluding a conversation, there is a
sense of fulfillment and closure in
experiencing art.
 Artists often use their personal
experiences and emotions as a basis for
their work. They express these through
their art, sometimes focusing on societal
issues or personal struggles.
 Art involves
experience
 Many artists, like Ang Kiukok, use
expressionism to convey intense
feelings. For Kiukok, his works reflect
societal issues, using his art to express
anger and frustration.
 The perception of art is highly individual
and subjective. How one perceives art
depends on their tastes, biases, and
personal experiences, making it a value
judgment.
 Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is an
iconic example of expressing feelings
through art. His use of swirling stars,
bold strokes, and gloomy colors reflects
his emotional state, conveying a unique
atmosphere and mood.
1.5 Art as an Expression
According to Jeff Lee (2016), art is a form of
expression of the deepest emotions of the
mind. According to him, the egoic mind
(conscious mind) and the echoic mind
(unconscious mind) together make up the
totality of thinking.
Artistic expression may be expressed 100%
in the conscious mind but those who are
extremely artistic or right-brained individuals
may be more creative and can recognize the
value of linking seemingly unrelated
thoughts or ideas, methods, and concepts
because of their frequent practice (Ariola,
2018).
1.6 As a form of Creativity
 Creativity and Imagination: Art reflects
an artist's creativity and is brought to life
by human imagination.
 Subjectivity in Art: Artists create based
on what they want, imagine, or observe,
using unique shapes, lines, and colors.
 Role of Color: Colors are central to
expressing an artist's emotions, ideas, and
the mood of the artwork. They convey
deeper meanings and add beauty.
 Art as Creative, Not Imitative: Art is
born from creative skills and imagination,
highlighting its originality rather than mere
imitation.
NATURE OF
ARTS
 2.1 Art is a diverse range of
human activities
Art is a diverse range of human
activities in creating visual,
auditory, or performing artworks,
expressing the author’s
imaginative or technical skill,
intended to be appreciated for
their beauty or emotional power.
In their most general form, these
activities include the production of
works of art, the criticism of art,
the study of the history of art, and
the aesthetic dissemination of art.
2.2 Art represents reality
Representation is the use of signs that
stand in for and take the place of
something else. It is through
representation that people organize the
world and reality through the act of
naming its elements. Signs are arranged
to form semantic constructions and
express relations. Art represents reality
since it is often depicting objects or
scenes from the world. An artwork can
depict a scene such as a cafe a
restaurant, or a park or garden. There is a
sense in which art represents the mind’s
eye or what the imagination perceives.
2.3 Art is an expression
The expression contained in
the form is an attempt to
translate the unnamed and
the unknown. Intrinsic to our
existence as humans is our
quest to create meaning,
and art allows that process
to take place. Making
meaning involves
understanding our
surroundings and marking
our experiences.
2.4 Art serves as a means of
communicating of emotions
The purpose of works of art may be to
communicate political, Spiritual, or
philosophical ideas, to create a sense of
beauty to explore the nature of
perception for pleasure, or to generate
strong emotions. Art is an act of
expressing feelings, thoughts, and
observations of human conditions. A
fundamental purpose common to most
art forms is the underlying intention to
appeal to, and connect with, human
emotion.
2.5 Art matters
The arts matter because they
allow us to express ourselves
and illustrate the world around
us in a different light, helping us
to gain an understanding of
people and society, and give
hope while living in this world Art
matters because it illustrates the
human experiences.
2.6 Art is universal
Art can be found in every corner of the world.
Art is everywhere and it is embedded into the
way of life of the people. Exclusivity is out of
bounds when we speak of arts because it is
for everyone. Art is the true Esperanto, an
artificial international language, the one form
of culture that is genuinely beyond national
limitations. Art knows no barriers; not even
language is a barrier to understanding it. For
example, foreign art is displayed in museums
throughout the world, and paintings such as
the Mona Lisa, and Sistine Chapel, and photos
of well-known places are readily viewed. We
have also some foreign performers performing
in the country.
2.7 Art is creation
It is the combination of already
existing material elements into new
forms that become the realization of a
preconceived idea. Both hut and
picture rose in the imagination of their
makers before they took shape as
things. The material of each was given
already in nature; but the form, as the
maker fashioned it, was new. In its
essence and widest compass art is the
making of a new thing in response to a
sense of need. The very need itself
creates, working through man as its
agent.
FUNCTIONS OF
ART
Art serves specific functions: Every art
form fulfills a particular need or purpose.

Layman's view: To some, art may seem to

have little function, but it often has a defined
role.

Architecture: Highly functional, as buildings

and structures are created for specific
purposes.

Music and Dance: Historically used in rituals,

worship, social entertainment, and military
contexts.

Painting and Sculpture: Serve various

purposes, such as narrating events, portraying
people, instructing (e.g., Christian art),
commemorating, and personal expression.

Metalworks and Crafts: Items like gates,

lamps, armor, weapons, ceramics, glassware,
textiles, and furniture are designed for specific
3.1 Aesthetic function
Through art, man becomes conscious
of the beauty of nature. He benefits
from his work and those done by his
fellowmen. He learns to use, love, and
preserve them for his enjoyment and
appreciation.
2.2 Utilitarian function
With the creation of various forms of art, man
now lives in comfort and happiness. Through
art, man is provided with shelter, clothing,
food, light, medicine, beautiful surroundings,
personal ornamentals, entertainment,
language, transportation, and other
necessities and conveniences of life. Art does
not only enrich man’s life. It also improves
nature through landscape gardening, the
creation of superhighways, and through
propagation and conservation of natural
resources.
2.3 Cultural function
Through printed matter, art transmits
and preserves skills and knowledge
from one generation to another. It
makes man aware of his cultural
background, making him more
knowledgeable and making his life
more enduring and satisfying.
2.4 Social function
Through civic and graphic arts,
man learns to love and help each
other. International
understanding and cooperation
are fostered and nations become
more unified, friendly,
cooperative, helpful, and
sympathetic.
2.5 Political Function
Art reinforces and enhances a sense of
identity and ideological connection to
specific political views, political
parties, and politicians.
2.6 Educational function
There are art symbols and signs to
illustrate knowledge and attitudes that
are not expressed in words.
2.7 Spiritual function
Some artworks express spiritual
beliefs, customs, ceremonies,
and rituals about the meaning
and destiny of life. These
artworks may have religious
significance.
4. Functional and non-functional arts
Escalona (1992] classified arts into functional and
non-functional:
Functional arts - These are the arts that have
practical usage. An example of this classification is
a chair. It is not only the form of the chair that is
presented. Its functional purpose is also highly
appreciated. For example, is the peacock chair
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, “the greatest
American architect of all time," recognized by the
American Institute of Architects in 1991.
Non-Functional arts - These are arts that have no
purpose except that of giving pleasure or life
enhancement. An example of this kind of
classification is a painting. Grant Wood's painting
may amuse us, and/or provide a detailed
commentary about rural mid-western America,
and /or move us deeply.