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.