Humanities – this comes from the Latin word humanitas which means human, cultured and refined.

Art – derived from the Latin word ars which means ability or skill

What is Art?

1. It is something created by man.

2. A product of training, discipline and creativity

3. A talent or skill or gift given only to a few

4. A means of personal expression wherein he has to create in order for his message to be given to
others.

5. Has to be shared and experienced by others

6. Has to be preserved throughout the ages as legacy to mankind. *

Importance of Arts

1. Art is a record of how man thought, lived, throughout the ages and this has to be preserved.

2. It can help us understand how others lived, thought and felt in their respective time or era

3. It reflects one’s culture (cultural awareness).

4. Art nourishes, enhances one’s life, humanity and being

5. Art is a form of self-expression, release, catharsis of the spirit

6. It helps develops our aesthetic sensitivity.

Aesthetics – the science of the beautiful, the good and the true. *

Characteristics of the art enthusiast

1. The viewer of the art must have a background or intellectual awareness, previous training, or
exposure.

2. Must have the ability to analyze more closely the work or art

3. Must have aesthetic sensitivity –have some kind of an inspired or intense feeling

4. Must also have some emotional reactions toward the art work.

5. Must show good breeding that will reflect cultural awareness

6. Must be open-minded, not biased; no prejudices. Observing and responding – expressing human
concern within a particular context is the humanistic part. *
Characteristics of the artwork

1. There must be sincerity in the artwork reflecting universal truths. Universal truths are permanent.
They are loved and enjoyed all through the ages.

Examples: democracy, love for humanity, unconditional love, faith, justice

2. Must reflect magnitude (wide in scope)

3. Must show craftsmanship or technique. *

Characteristics of the artist

1. The artist must have something to say and therefore must reflect universal truths.

2. Must know how to say it (technique)

3. He has intensity of feeling

4. Not motivated by material rewards but by the appreciation and acceptance of his creative output. *

MOOT characteristics of Artists

1. Must be temperament

2. Must be weird – eccentric, erratic, unconventional in behavior, strange. *

Concepts or ideas about art

1. Art is universal, in any race (in all ages),in all the countries of the world, creed, religion, art is present.

3. Art is ageless.

4. Art is not nature.

5. Art is not play.

6. Art is experience.