The Five Purposes of Visual Art

Why artists do what they do best

Observe ritual Celebration Commemoration

Ceremonial

Express or communicate emotion, feelings, or ideas

Artistic expression

Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893

Create artistic objects used in everyday lives

Functional

Promote ideas or products – advertising, marketing, propaganda, ideology

Persuasive

Tell stories, describe/illustrate experiences, communicate ideas or information, document historical events

Narrative

Purposes of Music

Ceremonial

Music created or performed for rituals or celebrations.

Patriotic Music

Religious Music

Examples of Ceremonial music

Bridal Chorus Hail to the Chief (entrance of the President) Funerals Commemorative ceremonies Graduations Political events Holidays Religious rituals

Recreational

Music for entertainment or fun.

Game Songs Dance or

Social Events For Physical

Activities As a Hobby

Examples of Recreational music

Most of what we listen to daily System of a Down Lil’ Wayne Weezer Journey CCR NIRVANA ….country music….maybe

Artistic Expression

Music created with the intent to express or communicate one’s emotions, feelings, ideas, or experiences.

Music performed in a concert setting in front of an audience.

Artistic Expression Unlike recreational, artists of this type are

typically classically trained musicians or groups of musicians

Typically composed music The artistry is determined by the degree of

musical perfection The performer uses all of the elements of music

while maintaining a minimum of mistakes in notes, pitch, etc.

Examples of music for artistic expression Bach Beethoven Tchaikovsky Handel Haydn Mozart Wagner

Why do People Dance?

Purposes of Dance

Ceremonial Show praise/commemorate Usually performed through ritual Examples:

◦ Tribal dance for gods/goddesses◦ Religious based dances◦ Birthdays◦ Weddings◦ Basically, any life-altering event

Recreational

Have fun/socialize Any age group/society Examples:

◦ Homecoming◦ Aerobic dance (exercise)◦ Group dances (Electric Slide, Chicken Dance)◦ Ballroom – waltz, foxtrot, jitterbug, swing, salsa

Artistic Expression

Geared to entertain/perform for an audience Theatrical dance included Performers are usually extensively trained Examples:

◦ Ballet◦ Tap◦ Jazz◦ Even some of the recreational dances are now considered

artistic

Purposes of Drama

Need to express/communicate emotions/feelings/ideas◦ Need for social change◦ Universal themes (good/evil)◦ Show common ideas/emotions

Sharing the Human experience

Oral tradition◦ Narrative, Storytelling, Folktales, Religious

rituals/ceremonies

Passing tradition and culture

Entertainment◦ Adventure movies (Indiana Jones)◦ Sci-Fi (Star Wars)◦ Action (Batman)◦ Etc.

Recreation

Express/communicate emotion/ideas/feelings

When drama is performed on a stage in front of an audience

Artistic expression

Humans have a need to create and interact with art

Art is a tool for social education and moral enlightenment

Provides the means for understanding that goes beyond our normal methods of thinking

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

Beyond the purposes

Throughout history, art has been closely linked to religion and philosophy

Many have and still argue that the highest purpose of art is to enforce and teach about religion

Art and Morality

Art is often seen as a means of controlling composition, flow, form, weight, balance, color, depth, etc. to produce something that is beautiful

Beauty is very subjective – “ugly” art could be considered a beautiful representation of the grotesque

Art and beauty

Art serves as a human record, as does other records such as literature, music, drama, etc.

It represents what is significant to societies such as freedom, justice, peace, comfort, etc.

Artists address human concerns and allow the public to interact with their creations

Art as a Human Artifact

It is completely subjective (relies on your opinion of what you see)

Art can serve many purposes simultaneously

Art can be anything because every piece of art speaks to someone

The reality of Art’s Purpose

Take a few minutes to write a short 3-4 sentence summary of today’s notes in your own words.

Summary