The Power of the Arts The Purposes and Lessons of Art Created by: Laura Dedic Madison Central High School

What is ART? It varies: –The expression of the human experience. –Intuition –An expression controlled by certain aspects of the mind. Emotion The will The intellect –Imitation –Skill –Propaganda There is no unanimous agreement on any one of these suggested definitions.

The Power of the Arts Art fulfills a variety of purposes. “Great art reveals the spirit of the age that produced it.” – Lewis & Lewis, The Power of Art Studying the arts can teach us many lessons.

Lines: –Direction, texture, movement Color Shape/form: –Natural vs free-form –Positive vs negative Art Criticism P N P

Value Texture: –Tactile Objects Balance

Unity Space Rhythm/movement Art Criticism –1pt perspective 2 pt perspective

Art Criticism Realism: Primarily concerned with imitating NATURE.

Emotionalism: Primarily concerned with expressiong a FEELING/EMOTION. Art Criticism

Formalism: Primarily concerned with DESIGN/COMPOSITION. Art Criticism

Reasons for Creating Art 1. Ceremonial Reasons Ritual Celebration Artworks created to support worship Express spiritual beliefs

Reasons for Creating Art 2.Artistic Expression Art expresses and communicates emotions Expresses ideas Self expression To decorate or beautify objects

Reasons for Creating Art 3.Narrative – to tell a story Describe and illustrate experiences Communicate information Document important or historical events

Reasons for Creating Art 4. Functionality A.K.A. utilitarian Art objects used in everyday life –Pottery –Quilts –Baskets –And many more…

Reasons for Creating Art 5.Persuasive Artworks that promote ideas, philosophies, or products –Advertising –Marketing –Propaganda –Ideology, etc.

Propaganda

Think and Discuss 1. What is the frequency of your visits to museums and/or art exhibits?

2. How often do you listen to music? Do you generally judge a piece of music on its reproduction of natural sounds? On the message? Could or should art be judged similarly? Think and Discuss

3. Do you think the sunset could be beautiful if there were no one around to view it? Is the beauty within us? What is its source? Think and Discuss

4. Do you prefer movies with happy endings? Does this have anything to do with the overall quality of the film? Should the mood or subject matter of an artwork dictate our evaluation of it? Think and Discuss

5. Do you admire design in home furnishings or clothing? Can you admire nonfunctional design in an artwork? If not, why? Think and Discuss

6. Do you, or have you, found disagreement with our parents on the matter of taste? Could we be imprisoned by our generation? Think and Discuss

“Whatever the type of art in question, the first step in learning to appreciate art is simply learning to look and/or listen.” Lewis & Lewis, The Power of Art