Module II
Functions of Art and Philosophy
At the end of this module, the pre- service teacher (PST) are expected to:
1. Distinguish directly functional and indirectly functional art;
2. Explain and discuss the basic philosophical perspectives on the art;
3. Realize the function of some art forms in daily life; and
4. Apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetic in real scenarios.
Functions of Art
Ideally, one can look at a piece of art and guess with some accuracy where it came
from and when. This best-case scenario also includes identifying the artist because they
are in no small way part of the contextual equation. You might wonder, "What was the
artist thinking when they created this?" when you see a piece of art. You, the viewer, are
the other half of this equation; you might ask yourself how that same piece of art makes
you feel as you look at it.
These—in addition to the time period, location of creation, cultural influences, etc.—are
all factors that should be considered before trying to assign functions to art. Taking
anything out of context can lead to misunderstanding art and misinterpreting an artist's
intentions, which is never something you want to do.
There are two classifications of art and these are the (1) functional arts which have
obvious purposes. Examples of which are architecture, weaving, furniture-making, and
few other crafts. (2) non-functional arts which seem to be no other end than to amuse or
provide a pleasant escape from life’s daily problems. Examples are paintings, sculpture,
literature, music and theatre arts.
Within art, there exist purposes referred to as functions for which a piece of art
may be designed, but no art can be "assigned" a function—either in scholarly studies or
casual conversation—outside of the proper context. Art forms exist within very specific
contexts that must be considered when classifying them. Whether a particular piece of
art has existed for centuries or has yet to be created, it is functional in some way—all art
exists for a reason and these reasons make up the functions of art.
Determining the Function of Art
The functions of art apply not only to the artist that created a piece but to you as
the viewer. Your whole experience and understanding of a piece should contribute to the
function you assign it, as well as everything you know about its context. Next time you
are trying to understand a piece of art, try to remember these three points: (1) personal,
(2) social, and (3) physical functions. Remember that some art serves only one function
and some all three (perhaps even more).
Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has an end, or telos
in Greek, which translates into “purpose”. Every substance, defined as formed matter,
moves according to a fixed path towards its aim. This telos, according to Aristotle, is
intricately linked with function. For a thing to reach its purpose, it also has to fulfill its
function.
The functions of art normally fall into three categories: physical, social, and
personal. These categories can and often do overlap in any given piece of art.
Physical
The physical functions of art are often the easiest to understand. Works of art that
are created to perform some service have physical functions. If you see a Fijian war club,
you may assume that, however wonderful the craftsmanship may be, it was created to
perform the physical function of smashing skulls.
A Japanese raku bowl is a piece of art that performs a physical function in a tea
ceremony. Conversely, a fur-covered teacup from the Dada movement has no physical
function. Architecture, crafts such as welding and woodworking, interior design, and
industrial design are all types of art that serve physical functions.
Social
Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life as opposed
to one person's point of view or experience. Viewers can often relate in some way to
social art and are sometimes even influenced by it.
For example, public art in 1930s Germany had an overwhelming symbolic theme.
Did this art exert influence on the German population? Decidedly so, as did political and
patriotic posters in Allied countries during the same time. Political art, often designed to
deliver a certain message, always carries a social function. The fur-covered Dada teacup,
useless for holding tea, carried a social function in that it protested World War I (and
nearly everything else in life).
Art that depicts social conditions performs social functions and often this art comes
in the form of photography. The Realists figured this out early in the 19th century.
American photographer Dorothea Lange (1895–1965) along with many others often took
pictures of people in conditions that are difficult to see and think about.
Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya
(1746–1828) and English portrait artist William Hogarth (1697–1764) both went this route
with varying degrees of success at motivating social change with their art. Sometimes the
possession of specific pieces of art in a community can elevate that community's status.
A stabile by American kinetic artist Alexander Calder (1898–1976), for example, can be
a community treasure and point of pride.
Personal
The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to explain. There are many
types of personal functions and these are highly subjective. Personal functions of art are
not likely to be the same from person to person.
An artist may create a piece out of a need for self-expression or gratification. They
might also or instead want to communicate a thought or point to the viewer. Sometimes
an artist is only trying to provide an aesthetic experience, both for self and viewers. A
piece might be meant to entertain, provoke thought, or even have no particular effect at
all.
Personal function is vague for a reason. From artist to artist and viewer to viewer,
one's experience with art is different. Knowing the background and behaviors of an artist
helps when interpreting the personal function of their pieces.
Art may also serve the personal function of controlling its viewers, much like social
art. It can also perform religious service or acknowledgment. Art has been used to attempt
to exert magical control, change the seasons, and even acquire food. Some art brings
order and peace, some creates chaos. There is virtually no limit to how art can be used.
Finally, sometimes art is used to maintain a species. This can be seen in rituals of
the animal kingdom and in humans themselves. Biological functions obviously include
fertility symbols (in any culture), but there are many ways humans adorn their bodies with
art in order to be attractive to others and eventually mate.
From one point of view, we may consider art as having the general function
of satisfying:
1. Our individual needs for personal expression.
2. Our needs for display, celebration and communication
3. Our physical needs for utilitarian objects and structures.
Philosophical Perspectives on Art
Art as an Imitation
In Plato’s The Republic, paints a picture of artists as imitators and art as mere
imitation. In his perception of the ideal republic, Plato advises against the inclusion of art
as a subject in the curriculum and the banning of artists in the Republic.
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.
Plato was convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief in copies and
discourage men to reach for the real entities in the World Form. He was deeply
suspicious of arts and artists for two reasons. (1) They appeal to the emotion rather to the
rational faculty of men (2) they imitate rather than lead one to reality.
Poetry rouses emotions and feelings and thus, clouds rationality of people. Art is
just an imitation of imitation. A painting is just an imitation of nature, which also just an
imitation of reality in the World of Forms. Art then is to be vanished, alongside the
practitioner, so that the attitudes and actions of the members of the Republic will not be
corrupted by the influence of the arts. For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a
petty replacement for the real entities than can only be attained through reason.
Art as Representation
Aristotle agreed with Plato that art is a form of imitation. However, he 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.
Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle
conceived of art representing possible versions of reality. For Aristotle, all kinds of art do
not aim to represent reality as it is, it endeavors to provide a version of what might be or
the myriad possibilities of reality.
In Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes: (1) Art allows for the
experience of pleasure (horrible experience can be made an object of humor. (2) art also
has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about life (cognitive).
Art as a Disinterested Judgement
Immanuel Kant, in his Critique of Judgement, considered the judgement of beauty,
the cornerstone of art, has something than can be universal despite its subjectivity. He
recognized that judgement of beauty is subjective. However, even subjective judgements
are based on some universal criterion for the said judgement.
How and in what sense can a judgement of beauty, which considered to be a
subject of feeling, be considered objective or universal? How are these statements
different? (1) “I like this painting.” (2) “This painting is beautiful.” The first is clearly a
judgement of taste(subjective), while the second is an aesthetic judgement (objective).
Making an aesthetic judgement requires us to be disinterested. In other words, we
should try to go beyond our individual tastes and preferences so that we can appreciate
art from a universal standpoint.
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.
As a purveyor of man’s innermost feelings and thoughts, art is given a unique
opportunity to serve as mechanism for social unity. Art is central to man’s existence
because it makes accessible feelings and emotions of people from the past and present.