Humanities
Art Appreciation, Philosophy, and Cultural Studies
In This Lesson
Elements of Art
What are the Elements of Art?
The visual building blocks that artists use to create works of art. They are the fundamental components present in all visual art forms.
Line
A path created by a moving point.
- Horizontal: Calm, peaceful
- Vertical: Strength, stability
- Diagonal: Movement, energy
- Curved: Soft, organic
Shape & Form
Enclosed areas defined by lines.
- Shape: 2D (circle, square)
- Form: 3D (sphere, cube)
- Geometric: Mathematical shapes
- Organic: Natural, irregular
Color
Created by light reflecting off objects.
- Hue: Name of color (red, blue)
- Value: Lightness or darkness
- Intensity: Brightness or dullness
- Primary: Red, yellow, blue
Value
The lightness or darkness of a color.
- Tint: Color + white
- Shade: Color + black
- Tone: Color + gray
- Creates depth and dimension
Space
Area around, between, or within objects.
- Positive: Objects themselves
- Negative: Empty area around
- Perspective: Creates depth
- Overlapping: Shows distance
Texture
Surface quality - how things feel or look.
- Actual: Real texture (rough, smooth)
- Implied: Visual illusion of texture
- Adds visual interest
- Creates realism
Art Movements
Renaissance (14th-17th Century)
"Rebirth" of classical Greek and Roman ideas. Emphasized realism, perspective, and human anatomy.
Artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael
Impressionism (1860s-1880s)
Captured light and movement with visible brushstrokes. Painted everyday scenes outdoors.
Artists: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas
Expressionism (Early 20th Century)
Expressed emotional experience through distorted forms and bold colors.
Artists: Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Cubism (1907-1920s)
Broke objects into geometric forms, showing multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
Artists: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque
Surrealism (1920s-1940s)
Explored dreams and the unconscious mind. Created bizarre, dreamlike imagery.
Artists: Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst
Pop Art (1950s-1960s)
Used imagery from popular culture, advertising, and mass media.
Artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns
Introduction to Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
The study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and reality. Greek: "philos" (love) + "sophia" (wisdom) = "love of wisdom"
Branches of Philosophy
- Metaphysics: Nature of reality, existence
- Epistemology: Theory of knowledge
- Ethics: Right and wrong conduct
- Logic: Principles of valid reasoning
- Aesthetics: Nature of beauty and art
Major Philosophers
Socrates (469-399 BC)
Socratic method, "Know thyself"
Plato (428-348 BC)
Theory of Forms, The Republic
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Logic, ethics, metaphysics
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Categorical imperative
Filipino Philosophers
- Jose Rizal: Nationalism, education, reform
- Roque Ferriols, SJ: "Pilosopiyang Filipino"
- Emerita Quito: Filipino values, ethics
- Leonardo Mercado: Filipino thought patterns
Philippine Literature
Pre-Colonial Period
Oral traditions before Spanish arrival.
- Epics: Biag ni Lam-ang, Hudhud, Alim
- Folk Songs: Kundiman, Harana, Kumintang
- Riddles (Bugtong): Traditional puzzles
- Proverbs (Salawikain): Folk wisdom
Spanish Period (1565-1898)
Religious literature and nationalist works.
- Doctrina Cristiana (1593): First printed book
- Noli Me Tangere (1887): Jose Rizal
- El Filibusterismo (1891): Jose Rizal
- Florante at Laura: Francisco Balagtas
American Period (1898-1946)
Introduction of English and new literary forms.
- Free Verse Poetry: Modern forms
- Short Stories: Philippine Magazine
- Essays: Social commentary
- Writers: Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzalez
Contemporary Period
Modern themes and diverse forms.
- Themes: Identity, social issues, globalization
- Forms: Poetry, fiction, drama, essays
- Languages: Filipino, English, regional
- Writers: F. Sionil Jose, Lualhati Bautista