SOC SCI 1 - CHAPTER 2 PART 2 DISCIPLINES of ART

ART PRODUCTION
FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS of ART - Is the process of responding to observations, concepts,
Objective: emotions, and other experiences that we encounter in the
- Discuss the importance of understanding the context of world and interpreting these responses by creating
art artworks that employ human skill, intuition and
- Explain how society , culture and history influence the imagination to raw materials or medium with appropriate
creation of art tools and technique of execution.
- Explain the need to support contemporary art - is the presentation of ideas and feelings by creating
FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF ART expressive images through the application of tools and
• The source of all art is human imagination or creative mastery of techniques to a material.
thinking. This process begins with an idea or concept, ART CRITICISM
which is given physical form through the imaginative use - Help us defer our judgment process and understand why
of materials or media. we respond the way we do.
•Creativity is the ability to bring forth something new that - Involves learning other criteria for judgment beyond our
has value. It is usually thought of as a central to the making personal likes and dislikes.
of art. - Means describing, analyzing, interpreting, and
evaluating works of art for the purpose of understanding
FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF ART and appreciating art.
Form - allows the work to be perceived by the senses and - Seeks answers for the perception and description of
its ideas to be communicated through the arrangement of works of art, what they mean through analysis and
elements as a whole. Form is made up of interpretation., knowing their worth and value through
1. Formal elements such as line, shape, color, texture, judgment
mass, volume, space, among others
2. Overall composition (which is the arrangement of those FOUR-STEP PROCESS IN ART CRITICISM
formal elements) which refers to its size, proportion, and -> 1ST STEP • DESCRIPTION
so on -> 2ND STEP • ANALYSIS
3. Materials and technique from which the artwork is mad -> 3RD STEP • INTERPRETATION
Language - is a medium by which cultural meanings are -> 4TH STEP • JUDGMENT
formed and communicated. It is the primary means by 1st step DESCRIPTION (What do you see?)
which we form knowledge about ourselves and the social - in this step, you collect information about the subject of
world through the interpretation of meanings. Art as a the artwork.
language is about meaning-making beyond textual and - use the elements and principles of art (line, color, shape,
verbal means. The language of art interprets reality and texture, value, space, form)
does not simply reflect it like a mirror. To represent • Describe what you see
Mode of Production - in producing art, political economy - For example, you might say, “This is a small-scale portrait
plays a big role. It explores the questions of who owns and painting of a young woman, shown from the mid-torso up,
controls the institutions of economy, society, and culture. against a dark background. She is clasping her hands in
It interrogates how corporate institutions and government front of her chest and looking up and slightly to the
apparatuses control creative industries and how they viewer’s right. She wears a pink dress, and a long veil that
shape ideology or belief systems central to politics falls behind her head.”
• Describe the use of line
- Curved lines can create a calming effect, while jagged
lines might feel harsher and wild, or create a sense of
energy. Rough, sketchy lines create a sense of movement
and freedom, while smooth, solid lines feel more still and
carefully planned. A line of sight or action might be
suggested by the arrangement of figures and objects
within a scene.
• Talk about how color is used in the work
- For example, do the colors clash, or are they
harmonious? Does the work use a variety of colors, or is it
monochromatic (all shades of blue, for example)?
• Describe the use of space in the work. 3rd Step INTERPRETATION
- “Space” refers to the areas around and between objects (What message does this artwork communicate?)
in a work. When talking about space, focus on things like - this step deals with the content of the work.
depth and perspective, overlapping of objects, and the use Assumptions and guesses are made about the possible
of empty space versus space crowded with details. meaning of the work.
• Make note of the way shape is used in the work. - what is the meaning of the work?
- Are the shapes in the work geometric, with straight lines - What mood (playful, sad, joyful, mysterious, peaceful,
and perfect curves, or are they more natural? Is the work terrifying) idea (truth, pride, honor courage, wisdom,
dominated by any one particular type of shape, or do you authority, compassion, tension, relaxation) does it express
see a variety of different shapes? • Try to identify the purpose of the work.
In other words, what do you think the artist was trying to
2nd Step ANALYSIS (How is the work organized?) say with the work? Why did they create the work? Try to
- in this step, it deals with the work’s compositional summarize the overall meaning of the work, as you see it.
qualities. • Describe your own reaction to the work.
- The art elements and art principles that organize them. - Now it’s time to get a little more subjective. Think about
- How are elements of art arranged in this artwork? how you feel while looking at the work. What do you think
- Describe the formal properties (balance, contrast, is the overall mood of the work? Does it remind you of
emphasis, unity, pattern movement, rhythm) anything (ideas, experiences, other works of art)?
Balance: How do the colors, shapes, and textures in the - Use expressive language to talk about your reaction to
piece work together? Do they create a balanced or the work. For example, is the mood of the work sad?
harmonious effect, or is the piece imbalanced in some Hopeful? Peaceful? Would you describe the work as
way? beautiful, or ugly?
Contrast: Does the work make use of contrasting colors, • Back up your interpretation with examples
textures, or lighting? Contrast can also be found in the use - Use examples from your description and analysis of the
of different shapes or contours, like jagged versus curved work to explain why you think and feel the way you do
lines, or geometric versus natural shapes. about the piece.
Movement: How does the work create a sense of - For example, “I believe that James Sant’s portrait of a
movement? Is your eye drawn through the composition in young bride is intended to give a sense of the bride’s
a particular way? spiritual devotion. This is indicated by the line of the
Proportion: Do the sizes of the different elements in the composition, which draws the viewer’s eye upward,
work appear the way you would expect, or are they following the upward gaze of the subject. It is also
surprising? For example, if the work shows a group of suggested by warm light, coming from a source
people, do any of the figures look larger or smaller than somewhere above the young woman.”
they would in real life?
• Identify the point(s) of focus of the work. 4th Step JUDGMENT (Is this a successful work of art?)
- Look at the work and make note of which feature(s) jump - Judging a work of art means making a decision about its
out at you right away, or keep drawing your eye back to success or lack of success.
them. - In this step, one expresses the success or failure of the
Ask yourself why your eye is attracted to the feature(s) in artwork and establishes its value in society.
question. For example, if you find yourself fixating on one -Do you think this is a successful work of art? Why or why
figure in a group, is it because that figure is larger than the not?
others? Are they closer to the viewer? More brightly lit? -What is the value or relevance of the artwork in
• Look for themes in the work contemporary society
- The use of a color scheme to give the work a particular • Decide whether you think the work is successful or not.
mood or meaning. See, for example, the paintings of - our goal here isn’t necessarily to decide whether the art
Picasso’s Blue Period. is “good” or “bad.” Instead, focus on whether you think the
- Symbolism and religious or mythological imagery. For work is “successful.”
example, look at the use of figures and symbols from - For example, think about the following: Do you think the
classical mythology in Renaissance works like Botticelli’s work says what the artist wanted it to say? Did the artist
“Birth of Venus.” use their tools and techniques well? Is the art original, or
- Repeating images or motifs within a work or group of does it imitate other works?
works. For a good example of this, look at how plants and
flowers are used in many of the paintings of Frida Kahlo
• Explain how you are judging the work. AESTHETICS
- Once you have decided on a few aspects of the work to - Refers to the nature, beauty, and value of a work of art. -
judge, clearly state the focus of your evaluation. It is a branch of Philosophy that examines the nature,
- For example, you might say that you are judging the piece meaning, and value of art and other things, from an
on how well organized it is, how well done it is technically, aesthetic point of view.
and how successfully it portrays the intended mood or - The study of aesthetics help us understand what
themes. distinguishes art form other kinds of phenomena, the
• Summarize why you think the work is successful or issues that such differences give rise to, and how one may
unsuccessful. justify judgments about art objects.
- In a few sentences, explain your judgment of the work.
Give specific reasons for your judgment, using your The THREE AESTHETIC THEORIES OF ART CRITICISM
interpretation and analysis of the work. IMITATIONALISM, FORMALISM, EMOTIONALISM
- For example, “I believe this work is successful because Aesthetic Theories
the use of light, shape, gesture, and line all work together - views in which we can interpret and value art
harmoniously to portray the mood of the subject.”
IMITATIONALISM and LITERAL QUALITIES
ART HISTORY - It is the realistic presentation of the subject matter
- It is the study of art, past and present, and its - People with this point of view feel that an artwork
contributions to cultures and society. should imitate life-that it should look life-like –before it
- The primary purpose of art history is to establish the can be considered successful.
timeline and sustain the systematic sequence of events in - this is often seen in portraiture where skill of artists like
the development of culture and traditions of art. Fernando Amorsolo is assessed through their ability to
(refer the definition of each on page 20 in your e-book) depict human faces and their identity by brush stroke.
Range of forms:
a.Attribution e. Function FORMALISM and FORMAL QUALITIES
b.Authenticity f. Style - Places emphasis in the formal qualities and the
c.Iconography g. Psychology arrangement of the elements of art using the principles of
d.Provenance h. Connoisseurship art.
- Critics said that it is composition is the most important
Range of forms: work of art.
a. Attribution - where, when, why and by whom was the (How do the Elements cone together to create balance?)
work made
b. Authenticity - scholarly verification is made to EMOTIONALISM and EXPRESSIVE QUALITIES
document and affirm the attribution of the artwork. - this Theory focuses in the content of the work of art.
c. Iconography - the meaning of the objects, symbols and - Some critics claim that no object can be considered art if
motifs of the artwork it fails to arouse an emotional reaction from the viewer
d. Provenance - the history of the ownership of the
artwork, who were the previous owners, what were the
circumstances behind the transfer of ownership across
generations
e. Function - the general function of the artwork, why was
it created?
f. Style - remarkable characteristics or qualities that
identify the work.
g. Psychology - what personal factors help the artist to his
or her time and the work to a particular social or cultural
tradition?
h. Connoisseurship - how does intensive study of the work
reveal or help resolve the problems of authorship,
ownership and physical condition.