Humanities
"Art and Culture! Appreciating the human experience through creativity and expression. Dito natin maiintindihan ang kagandahan ng sining!"
1. What are the Humanities? 📚
The Humanities are academic disciplines that study human culture, expression, and experience. They help us understand what it means to be human.
| Discipline | Focus | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Arts | Art you see | Painting, Sculpture, Photography |
| Performing Arts | Art you watch/hear live | Music, Dance, Theater |
| Literature | Written expression | Poetry, Novels, Essays |
| Philosophy | Big questions of life | Ethics, Logic, Metaphysics |
| History | Past human events | World History, Cultural History |
| Languages | Communication systems | Linguistics, Foreign Languages |
Why Study Humanities?
They develop critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and communication skills - essential in any career!
2. Visual Arts: Art You Can See 🎨
Visual arts are created primarily for visual perception. They include traditional and contemporary forms.
Traditional Visual Arts
- Painting: Oil, watercolor, acrylic on canvas
- Sculpture: 3D art in stone, metal, clay
- Drawing: Pencil, charcoal, ink
- Printmaking: Woodcut, etching, lithography
- Architecture: Design of buildings & spaces
Contemporary/Modern Arts
- Photography: Capturing images with light
- Film/Video: Moving images, cinema
- Digital Art: Computer-generated imagery
- Installation Art: 3D immersive experiences
- Graphic Design: Visual communication
Elements of Art
Line
Path of a point
Shape
2D enclosed area
Form
3D shape
Color
Hue, value, intensity
Value
Light vs dark
Texture
Surface quality
Space
Positive/negative
3. Performing Arts: Art in Motion 🎭
Performing arts are time-based - they unfold before an audience in real-time.
| Art Form | Medium | Philippine Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Music 🎵 | Sound, rhythm, melody | Kundiman, OPM, Rondalla |
| Dance 💃 | Body movement | Tinikling, Singkil, Pandanggo sa Ilaw |
| Theater 🎭 | Acting, dialogue, staging | Zarzuela, Komedya, Bodabil |
| Opera 🎤 | Singing + drama | Philippine Opera Company productions |
Philippine Traditional Dances:
- Tinikling: Bamboo poles dance (National Dance)
- Cariñosa: Flirtation dance (Maria Clara)
- Singkil: Royal Muslim dance from Maranao
- Pandanggo sa Ilaw: Dance with oil lamps
4. Art Periods & Movements 🏛️
Art has evolved through various periods and movements, each with distinct characteristics.
| Period/Movement | Time | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Classical (Greek/Roman) | 500 BCE - 400 CE | Balance, proportion, idealized beauty |
| Medieval | 500 - 1400 | Religious themes, flat figures |
| Renaissance | 1400 - 1600 | Realism, perspective, humanism |
| Baroque | 1600 - 1750 | Drama, movement, contrast |
| Impressionism | 1860 - 1890 | Light, color, visible brushstrokes |
| Modern Art | 1860 - 1970 | Experimentation, abstraction |
| Contemporary | 1970 - Present | Diverse, conceptual, multimedia |
Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa, Last Supper
Renaissance
Vincent van Gogh
Starry Night, Sunflowers
Post-Impressionism
Pablo Picasso
Guernica, Les Demoiselles
Cubism/Modern
5. Philippine Arts & National Artists 🇵🇭
The Philippines has a rich artistic heritage, recognized through the Order of National Artists (highest recognition for Filipino artists).
National Artists (Visual Arts)
- Fernando Amorsolo: First National Artist, "Maestro of Light"
- Juan Luna: Spoliarium (1884 Gold Medal)
- Victorio Edades: Father of Modern Philippine Painting
- Guillermo Tolentino: UP Oblation sculptor
- BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera): Contemporary icon
National Artists (Other Fields)
- Nick Joaquin: Literature ("May Day Eve")
- Levi Celerio: Music (lyrics written on leaves)
- Lucio San Pedro: Music ("Sa Ugoy ng Duyan")
- Leonor Orosa-Goquingco: Dance
- Rolando Tinio: Theater
Exam Tip:
Fernando Amorsolo - First National Artist (1972), known for rural scenes bathed in light. Juan Luna's Spoliarium won gold at Madrid Exposition 1884.
6. Art Appreciation & Criticism 🔍
Learning to analyze and appreciate art helps us understand its meaning and value.
Steps in Art Criticism
Description
What do you see? (facts only)
Analysis
How is it organized? (elements/principles)
Interpretation
What does it mean? (feelings/ideas)
Judgment
Is it successful? Why?
Principles of Design
- Balance: Visual weight distribution
- Emphasis: Focal point
- Rhythm: Repetition/pattern
- Unity: Elements work together
- Contrast: Differences that create interest
Types of Balance
- Symmetrical: Mirror image (formal)
- Asymmetrical: Unequal but balanced (informal)
- Radial: Radiating from center
7. Practice Questions & Exam Tips 📝
Test Your Knowledge:
1. Who was the first Filipino National Artist?
Show Answer
Fernando Amorsolo (1972) - Known as the "Maestro of Light" for his luminous paintings of rural Philippine life.
2. What painting by Juan Luna won gold at the 1884 Madrid Exposition?
Show Answer
Spoliarium - A massive painting depicting dying gladiators in ancient Rome.
3. Which art period emphasized realism, perspective, and humanism?
Show Answer
The Renaissance (1400-1600) - Featured artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
4. What are the four steps of art criticism?
Show Answer
Description, Analysis, Interpretation, Judgment (DAIJ)
5. What is the national folk dance of the Philippines?
Show Answer
Tinikling - A dance involving bamboo poles that imitates the movements of the tikling bird.
Exam Tips!
- ✓ Elements of Art: Line, Shape, Form, Color, Value, Texture, Space
- ✓ First National Artist: Fernando Amorsolo (1972)
- ✓ Juan Luna: Spoliarium (1884 Madrid Gold)
- ✓ Art Criticism: Description → Analysis → Interpretation → Judgment
- ✓ Philippine Dances: Tinikling, Cariñosa, Singkil, Pandanggo sa Ilaw
Test Your Knowledge! 🧠
Ready ka na ba? Take the practice quiz for Humanities to reinforce what you just learned.
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