Chapter 15 Art and the Aesthetic

Chapter Outline  The Pervasiveness of Art  Forms of Artistic Expression  Art and Culture

Art  When something's purely utilitarian or functional nature is modified for the purpose of enhancing it's aesthetic qualities and thus making it more pleasurable for our senses.

Aesthetic  Qualities that make objects, actions, or language more beautiful or pleasurable, according to culturally relative and variable standards.

Art  A cultural universal.  Art is not viewed as something separate and distinct among most traditional peoples.  American Indian peoples had no word for art in their languages.

Body Arts  Artificial artistic enhancement or beautification of the human body by painting, tattooing, scarification, or other means.  Physical Alterations: hair styles, head shaping, food binding  Body painting  Tattooing and scarification

Visual Arts  Arts that are produced in a material or tangible form, including basketry, pottery, textiles, paintings, drawings, sculptures, masks, carvings, and the like.

Visual Arts  Basketry  Ceramics  Paintings  Jewelry  Clothing  Masks  Sculpture

Visual Arts: 2 Factors  Form - the result of a combination of style and function.  Ornamentation - design added to the physical form of an object.

Performance Arts  Forms of art such as music, percussion, song, dance, and drama that involve sound and/or stylized body movements.

Performance Arts Refers to arts that use sound and movement.  Music  Song  Dance  Theater/drama

Art in a Cultural Context  Religion  Gender  Identity

Social Functions of Art  Express individuality.  Define and reinforce gender differences.  Public display of ethnic or group affiliation.  Social status or rank.

Quick Quiz

1. Which of the following is not considered artistic? a) hair styles b) adding trees in the yard c) seasoning our food d) none of the above

Answer: d  Hairstyles, adding trees in the yard and seasoning our food are all considered to be artistic.

2. Which of the following is not a form of artistic expression? a) scarification b) music c) the use of human or animal pictorial representations among Muslims d) dance

Answer: c  The use of human or animal pictorial representations among Muslims is not considered a form of artistic expression.

3. Which of the following is true? a) Western art is mostly religious in its themes b) Classical Greek art was mostly secular c) Western art has become increasingly secular since about 1700 d) in ancient Greek drama the roles of men were played by women

Answer: c  It is true that Western art has become increasingly secular since about 1700.