LESSON 2
ART: FUNCTION
AND PHILOSOPHY

TOPICS
1.Functions of Art
2.Philosophical Perspectives on Art

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. understand the functions of art for the individual as well as
how art is significant for cultures and societies.; and
2. explain and discuss some of the key philosophical
perspectives on art.

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
Compared to other activities of man, art is generally regarded as
impractical, not meant to meet the requirements of day-to-day living.
Architecture, weaving, furnituremaking, and a few other crafts have
obvious purposes and are therefore classified as functional. But
painting, sculpture, literature, music, and the theater arts seem to
serve no other end than to amuse or provide a pleasant escape from
life’s daily problems. Thus, they are classified as non-functional.
However, all arts have a function, for man, the maker, creates things
because he has a particular need for them (Ortiz et al., 1976).

We may consider art as having the general function of
satisfying:
1. Our individual needs for personal expression
2. Our social needs for display, celebration, and
communication
3. Our physical needs for utilitarian objects and
structures
To know the function of a particular work of art, you must
be able to answer the question, “WHAT IS IT FOR?” (Ortiz et
TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
When it comes to function, different art forms come with
distinctive functions. There is no one-to-one correspondence
between an artwork and its function. Some art forms are more
functional than others. Architecture, for example, as an art, is
highly functional, just like most applied arts.
Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are classified
into three: personal (public display or expression), social
(celebration or to affect collective behavior), and physical

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
ART AND THE INDIVIDUAL (THE PERSONAL FUNCTION)
The personal functions of art are varied and highly
subjective. This means that its functions depend on the
person- the artist who created the art. An artist may create
artwork out of the need for self-expression. This is the case for
an artist who needs to communicate an idea to his audience.
It can also be mere entertainment for his intended audience.
Often, the artist may not even intend to mean anything in his
work.

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
Arts are vehicles for the artists’ expression of their
feelings and ideas. Likewise, for us, layman or non-artists, the
arts also serve as a means of expression for us. Art helps to
educate our senses and sharpens our perception of colors,
forms, textures, designs, sounds, rhythms, and harmonies in
our environment. Art makes us more aware and appreciative of
the things around us. Visual and auditory “literacy” through
contact with the arts can lead us to an intensified awareness of
the beautiful in life. It can thus make our existence less
humdrum; it can refine and elevate our aesthetic taste.

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
Works of art make us aware of other ways of
thinking, feeling, and imagining that have never occurred
to us before. They offer us fresh insights into nature and
human nature so that we gain a better understanding of
ourselves and the world around us. They help us improve
our lives. This is especially true of literature, drama, and
cinema, which capture and vivify human experience (Ortiz
et al., 1976).

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY (THE SOCIAL FUNCTION)
One cannot conceive of a society without
art, for art is closely related to every aspect of
social life (Ortiz et al., 1976).

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
Art performs a social function when:
It seeks or tends to influence the collective behavior of a people (INFLUENCING
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR)
 Many works of art influence the way we think, feel, or act.
 They can bring about in us decisions to collectively change, correct, or improve
upon the human condition.
 Paintings, photographs, posters, and cartoons have been used to express
humanitarian concerns as well as ideological or political comment.

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
It is created to be seen or used primarily in public situations (DISPLAY AND CELEBRATION)
 One function of sculpture and painting is a commemoration of important personages in
society.
 Often they serve to record important historical events or reveal the ideals of heroism and
leadership that the community would want the young to emulate.
 The arts are also linked to rituals. Rituals have played an important role in people’s lives
and have influenced the growth of certain arts as well.
 Public celebrations, such as festivals, involve rituals of some kind, and these, in turn,
employ the arts.
It expresses or describes the social or collective aspect of existence as opposed to
individual and personal kinds of experiences (SOCIAL DESCRIPTION)
 Artworks are vital historical documents. They describe aspects of existence at certain
periods. Because many of them focus on facets of daily life, they tell us what the
societies that produced them were like.

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
Influencing Social Behavior
We Can Do It Poster.
Image from Google
Image.
Influencing
Display and Celebration
Pahiyas Festival. Image
from Google Image
Manunggul Jar.
Image from Google
Image.
Social Description

Art is considered to have a social function if
and when it addresses a particular collective
interest as opposed to a personal interest.
Political art is a very common example of art
with a social function. Art may convey
messages of protest, contestation, or whatever
message the artist intends his work to carry.
TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART

TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONS OF ART
ART AND THE PHYSICAL WORLD (THE PHYSICAL FUNCTION)
The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot
and understand. The physical functions of art can be
found in artworks that are crafted to serve some
physical purpose. The best examples are the kitchen
utensils we have at home since they were not just
displayed but also serve a physical function.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
More on conceptualizing the functions of art:
 What is Art for?
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn0bDD4gXrE)
 Cases for Political Art | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfXad3HVox4)
Guide question: Will you consider art as something “political”? Or it’s just “neutral”
and unbiased?

TOPIC 2: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART
Three (3) philosophers have their different takes on the nature, function, and purpose of arts
to human beings (Caslib et al., 2018 pp. 31-33).
 In The Republic, a renowned masterpiece of Plato, he described the
artists as imitators and art as mere imitation or mimesis.
 Plato was convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief in copies
and discourage men to reach for the real entities in the World of
Forms.
 Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two reasons:
o They appeal to the emotion rather than the rational faculty
of men.
o They imitate rather than lead one to reality.
 For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty replacement
for the real entities that can only be attained through reason.
PLATO: ART AS AN IMITATION

 Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in revealing truth.
 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 of reality.
 Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle
conceived of arts as representing possible versions of reality.
 Art serves two particular telos or purpose:
o Art allows for the experience of pleasure.
o Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about
life; thus it is cognitive as well.
ARISTOTLE: ART AS REPRESENTATION

 Kant considered that the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as
something that can be universal despite its subjectivity.
 Judgment of beauty, and therefore, art, is innately autonomous from
specific interests.
 Even aesthetic judgment is a cognitive activity.
 For Kant, when one judges a particular painting as beautiful, one in effect
is saying that the said painting has induced particular feeling of
satisfaction from him and that he expects the painting to rouse the same
feeling from anyone.
KANT: ART AS DISINTERESTED JUDGMENT

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
More on the philosophical perspectives on art
through the discussion of aesthetics:
 Aesthetics: Crash Course Philosophy #31
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDL4Zf2yEa4)
Guide question: How does philosophy’s take on art
helps you better understand its essence/nature?