The Importance of the Arts

Arts have a particular significance in our lives. They become much a part of our daily living as we
surround ourselves with beautiful things we like. Arts are involved in most of the objects we see and use
and the music we hear everyday. The interest in appreciation and beauty is one of the main concerns of
the arts. All the arts that we see and hear have a purpose as well as expression; they occupy some place
in our judgement. Since the arts are records of man’s experiences and aspirations, they certainly affect
us in many ways.

Kind of Subjects

1. Landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes

Artists have always been fascinated with the beauty of their physical environment. These have been
the favorite subjects of the Chinese, Japanese and some Filipino painters like Fernando Amorsolo.

2. Still life

It is another composition which some artists love paint. Inanimate objects such as flowers, fruits,
vegetables. Kitchen utensils and etc. are among their favorites. They usually choose these objects to
illustrate their beauty when touched by the painters.

3. Animals

These have been presented by artists from almost every period and place. Vigor and grace of
animals in motion have captured painters’ imagination and sculptors’ imaginations too. Common
animals are carabao, horses, dogs and sarimanok.

4. Portraits

These are realistic likeness of a person in a sculpture, painting, drawing or print. Portaits are used to
mark significant milestones in peoples’ lives.

5. Figures

Figures like human body either nude or clothed.

6. Everyday life

Artists also depict the daily routines and undertakings of human life in their art works.

7. History and Legend

Historical places and legends of many things become a rich source of subjects.

8. Religion

Church rituals and religious activities have been of great importance of the arts.
 9. Mythology

The Greek and Roman mythology are great sources of art subjects. Stories of Greek and Roman
mythology center on the gods, goddesses and heroes. Each god had his own province and was known by
some symbols.

10. Dreams and fantasies

Under the influence of Freudian psychology, the surrealists have tried to depict dreams in their work
of art. Subjects of this sort attempt to show what is in a man’s mind, as well as the appearance of his
outside world. They try to show thoughts and dreams that are not controlled by reason or any conscious
order.

Ways of Presenting the Subject

 Realism- the manner of presenting the subject depends to a large extent on the interest,
imagination, creativity and purpose of the artist. Since no art is even a duplicate of nature, even
when the artist chooses a subject from nature, he selects, changes and arranges details to
express the idea he wants to convey. When objects are depicted in the way they would normally
appear in nature, the presentation is said to be realistic.
 Abstraction- another way of presenting a subject when an artist becomes interested and
engrossed in one phase of a scene that he does not show the subject at all as an objective
reality, but only his idea and feeling about it. This is a technique of simplifying and reorganizing
objects and elements according to the artist’s creative expression.
 Distortion- a technique employed by the artist to dramatize the shape of a figure to create an
emotion effect. When the figure has been drawn so that proportions differ obviously from the
natural appearance and measurements, the said figure is distorted. Distortion could also mean
twisting, stretching, or deforming the natural form and shape of the object. It is usually
employed in caricatures so that the message and targets of ridicule would appear grotesque and
hateful.

Artists are called many varied names. These are the following:

1. The Visual artists

This includes the painter, the architect and the sculptor. Other artists are photographers,
filmmakers, and graphic artists.

Painter- paints pictures and objects from his own imagination. He says, “I think, I see.”

Sculptor- draws and carves from original designs and sketches. He makes scale model statues of human
beings, monuments, buildings and decorations in clay and chisels statues form marbles, stone, wood
and clay.

Architect- plans, designs, and constructs public and commercial buildings private residences, theaters,
factories, schools and other structures. He plans the layout of structures and coordinates the structural
ornamentals elements into a unified design.
 2. Artists in Music and Dance

These artists are composed of musicians, singers and composers.

Composers- put tones together and compose melodies and songs. He conceives and originates pieces of
music. He is a song writer. He says, “I think, I her.”

Musicians- called by other names such as composer, performer, instrumentalist, symphonist, organist,
pianist, violinist, flutist, harpist, trumpeter, bugler and drummer. He may be a music leader,
bandmaster, choirmaster, and concertmaster or song leader.

Singer- is a songster, an opera singer, prima donna or a diva. He may be a vocalist or a soloist. He is also
an artist who sings aesthetically to delight and entertain others.

Choreographer- an artist who composes or teaches choreography, or the art of representing stage
dancing by signs or music. He composes or arranges dance movements or patterns to accompany a
piece of music or to develop a theme.

Dancer- an artist who moves his body artistically. Danseuse- a female ballet dancer; danseur- a male
ballet dancer.

3. The Literary Artists

Known as poets, novelist, writers, authors, playwrights and dramatists.

Poet- puts words aesthetically together in verse form. He says “This is the way I can best express my
inner thoughts and feelings.”

Novelist- a writer of fiction with originality. He is a writer of stories.

Author- known as a writer. He is also called a poet.

Playwright- writes plays and adapts his materials for the stage, radio, television or motion pictures
production.

Dramatist- writes compositions in prose and poetry arranged for excitement to be performed by actors
and actresses on stage.

CLASSIFICATION OF ARTS:

The arts may also be grouped into the following:

1. Visual arts

These artworks are perceived by our eyes.

2. Graphic arts

Flat dimensional surface such as painting, drawing, photography, and other products of printing industry
such as commercial arts like books, advertisements, signs, posters and other displays of advertisement.
 3. Plastic arts

These are visual arts which have three-dimensional forms. The aesthetic factor lies in the styling.

a. Architectural designs
b. Landscapes of gardens, parks, playgrounds and gold courses.
c. Interior design for beauty and convenience.
d. Crafts or the design of making jewelry and ceramics
e. Design of clothing apparel
4. Performing arts

Include the theater, play dance and music. They involve movements, speaking and body gestures.

5. Literary arts

Include short stories, poetry, drama and novel.

6. Popular arts

These include film, radio and television. This group is characterized as gay and lively.

7. Gustatory art of cuisine

This involve skill in food preparation

8. Decorative arts

They are visual objects produced for beautifying houses, offices, cars and other structures. They are also
called as applied arts.

Sources:

Guillermo, Alice M.et al. Art , man and society.Manila:University of the Philippines,1988

Ortiz, Ma.Aurora R.et al. Art Perception and Appreciation.Manila:University of the East 1976