Arts and Humanities
M. Cox
Introduction to Humanities
What are the Humanities?
• Humanities is the study of Human activity.
Humanities
• These are the broad areas of human creativity and study, essentially involved with values and generally not using scientific standards
• Humanities are subjective
• Science is objective
Humanities
• In Medieval times, the term “Humanities,” distinguished that which pertained to human from that which pertained to God
• During this time, mathematics, sciences, the Arts, and philosophy were considered humanities.
Humanities
• Theology and related subjects were dealt with divinity
• These were the study of God.
Humanities
• Today the Humanities are those broad areas of human creativity that are distinct from mathematics and the “hard,” sciences.
Five Areas of Humanities
• Visual Art
• Drama
• Music
• Dance
• Philosophy
Aesthetics
• The study of the beauty of Art
Art
• Should clarify or reveal values
• As you deepen your understanding of values, you will deepen your understanding of what art is all about.
• Taste is an exercise in values.
Art
• The arts are a subset of the Humanities.
The Arts
• The arts are non-restrictive.
• They are communicative.
• They are entertaining.
Taste
• Taste is improved by education.
• You gain appreciation by understanding the background information about a work of art.
• A sensitivity to the art form will intensify your response.
What is a work of Art?
Subject
• The part of the work that can be easily recognized
• Subject can be a person or an object
Form
• The artists unique way of using the elements, principles and media in the work.
Content
• Most important part of any work.
• The message the artist is trying to communicate.
• The content may be an idea or a theme. Ex. Patriotism, love, anger
Theories of Judging Art
Imitationalism
• Thinks art should imitate what we see in the real world.
Formalism
• Feels that the elements and principles are the most important part
Emotionalism
• Believes that the art must appeal to the viewer through their emotions.