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Art molds our actual life of feeling; by giving form to the world, it articulates human nature, sensibility, energy, passion and mortality. (Suzanne Langer)

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I resonate with this definition of art, as I believe that art can convey and connect our feelings, thoughts, and opinions to others. It is a medium through which we can immortalize our whole being and reality. With this, art can also be your political belief, making it a more powerful medium; thus, I chose Spoliarium by Juan Luna, which depicts the oppression of the Filipinos by the Spaniards.

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1. If art is defined as representation, does it take into account other art forms like instrumental music or the so-called abstract art, like the painting below by Kandinsky Art as “expression?"

Art itself is always about representation—first and foremost, it represents YOU. It serves as a reflection of your thoughts, emotions, and unique perspective. That is why representation in art is not bounded by its physical appearance; it can also take any form, from instrumental music to abstract art. What truly matters is that your art remains authentic to who you are and what you stand for. Otherwise, if it's not, then it loses its meaning and becomes useless, especially to the artists.

2. Among the key concepts, this is likely the most well-known dimension of art. You hear people say, “I paint (or dress) this way to express myself.” How does ‘expression’ relate to the artistic process, in general, or the artist, in particular? How does this compare with art as representation?

Art comes from people with different personalities, perspectives, and backgrounds in life. These influences shape their creative expression, making each piece of art deeply personal and unique. Basically, it is where the creative process begins. Art becomes deeply special if it captures the artist's expression behind it, allowing their vision to shine through.

As I see it, art as expression is more personal than art as representation, as the latter can become more politically and socially motivated. While the former is deeply rooted in personal reasons. It is the raw and authentic artistic process of how an artist develops their works, while representation is about who and what the art is meant and stands for. Expression is the backbone—the soul, while representation adds more meaning with social and cultural representations.

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Individual Reflection: Why indeed should the arts matter even to Science students?

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Individual Reflection: Why indeed should the arts matter even to Science students?

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As a communication and media student, one thing that I agreed the most with Mr. Dalisay's statements is that "arts are the key to those parts of us that reason and logic alone cannot reach." I have always believed that art is a window into someone's soul-a way for us to express our deepest emotions, thoughts, and dreams through creativity and imagination. Life is not just about survival, practicality, or logic; it's also about getting lost in wonder and allowing ourselves to be fully HUMAN. This is why arts remain essential, even for science students-it also nurtures their ability to feel, reflect, and innovate.

Moreover, I also agree with Mr. Dalisay's point that the field of arts and humanities plays a crucial role in our economic growth. Despite how often they're overlooked, these fields inspire innovation in people and contribute to sectors like entertainment, media, design, and education, that further develop our welfare as a society and nation.

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If this painting were an emotion, what title would you give it? What aspect of the painting can suggest “lightening” in the artist?

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Abbey with Oak Trees, Caspar David Friedrich

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Abbey with Oak Trees, Caspar David Friedrich

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-I would name this painting "The Sorrows of a Mortal" since it depicts a burial. The dried trees and darkness evoke the deep grief of saying goodbye to your loved ones, and the soft rays of sunlight that shine through them hint at hope. With these elements, the artists have been able to lighten their hearts by expressing their pain. They were able to express that despite the loneliness and sadness you feel today, time will carry you forward, and someday you will be okay again as you bring their memories with you as you continue.

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Abbey with Oak Trees, Caspar David Friedrich

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Visualize Carlos Angeles’s “Landscape II”

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Visualize Carlos Angeles’s “Landscape II”

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Read Salvador P. Lopez’s essay “Literature and Society”.  After reading the article, answer the following questions and post your answers in your padlet (at least three sentences). 

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Read Salvador P. Lopez’s essay “Literature and Society”.  After reading the article, answer the following questions and post your answers in your padlet (at least three sentences). 

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1) How can art be practiced for its own sake, separate from society?

According to Lopez's essay "Literature and Society," art is being practiced to express their creative and intellectual freedom. Much like creative writing, writers make stories based on what they read in books and what they feel or experience, rather than relying on public accounts. In a sense, creative writing is an egotistical output that focuses on the emotional and subjective ideas of the artist, allowing them to portray the world as an idealized and beautifully parallel society.

2) Why is it detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape?

Some artists and creative writers craft art as a form of escape from the real harsh narratives of the world. They wrote stories that are beautiful, peaceful, and filled with hope.

However, as a media and arts student, I believe that utilizing art to break free from reality and to see its beauty despite its dark times is a gift of optimism. This approach fosters resilience, giving hope to the hopeless and seeing the potential for positive change. It is not detrimental, as with these perspectives, these hopes provide grit and push the oppressed to take action against societal issues.

3) Why is it important for art to address the “problems of [the artist’s] time”?

As explained in the readings, art, specifically creative writing, is a significant and powerful tool that should be in line with social dialogues. Through this, they will be able to educate and influence the people's opinion, belief, and political stance, which results in a progressive society, and solve these problems. However, these art/critical written outputs should be timely and relevant; otherwise, they are only stories of the past that are most forgotten.

4) What does Lopez mean when he says that writers and artists should be “teachers of men”?

Artistic but thought-progressive outputs by writers and artists are not only propaganda tools but also educational dialogues that can teach all people their human rights. Additionally, as writers and artists, it is also part of their ethics to present what's right and truth, leading to the education of men.

5) Why does Lopez think that the highest form of art is emancipatory?

Art should be liberated and free from restraint by anyone, as one's output will further achieve its true potential and form. Just like the output, the artists and writers should also be given the chance to express their political, social, and personal views whenever and however they want. Liberation and empowerment must be the results for both the artists and the audience, as it is not only about beauty but also forces for freedom, justice, and social progress.

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Write a reflection on a popular foreign series (Korean, American, Japanese,
 European) you have already seen.

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Write a reflection on a popular foreign series (Korean, American, Japanese,
 European) you have already seen.

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Upon reading Louis Althusser’s “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses, one series that immediately crossed my mind is Squid Game, especially Season 2 Episode 3. In this episode, the most dominant ideology it portrays is the ideology of capitalism and poverty desperation--where poor individuals are trapped by debt and financial struggles, making them desperate enough to participate in deadly games for the chance of survival. Despite allowing them to choose whether to stay in the game or leave, people still chose to stay because of the ideology that they are poor and to get rich they need to be the last man standing. I realized how capitalist ideology manifests and supports individualism, competition, and the illusion of meritocracy, in which, they made people believe that success is attainable if one gives one's best abilities and achievements, but in reality, the system only favors the rich and exploits the people.

As I rewatched and criticized the episode, I realized that I watched the series before without fully understanding what it meant to tell. Before, I just watched it because it was a bandwagon. Now, I realize that this episode/series is not just to entertain but to tell and reflect the capitalistic struggles we are in. It is a social commentary on how people in the economy always follow structured rules and believe they have free choice, when in fact, they are being manipulated by those in power.

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MOD 3 Activity 3 - Read the poem “Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete” by Rene Estrella Amper. 

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MOD 3 Activity 3 - Read the poem “Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete” by Rene Estrella Amper. 

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The ideologies being presented in the poem are how industrialization and capitalism affected their lives. The farmers are getting poorer, while the rich are getting richer as they exploit and develop the farmer's land into industrialized. Because of this capitalistic and rich-favor system, people have no choice but either to sell their bodies and labor or leave the country. The poem is a commentary on the ideology of how Filipinos migrate to the US, hoping to live a better life. As a result, they sometimes lose touch with their roots, adopting Western ideologies and completely forgetting their homeland.

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Read Alice G. Guillermo, “Styles of Figuration,” in Art and Society.

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Read Alice G. Guillermo, “Styles of Figuration,” in Art and Society.

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Reflect on why classical art is considered representational but not realist?

-As I further studied the different styles of art, I came to understand the difference between representational art and realism. According to Alice G. Guillermo, classical art is considered representational because it depicts the recognizable, natural, and vivid elements of the world, drawing inspiration from ancient Rome and Greek culture. However, it is not considered realism. Classical art focuses on ideals of perfection and beauty, which often use natural alteration that detracts from the true essence of showing what actually is. In contrast, realism features more real people and serves as a social commentary of the real-life struggle of society, whereas classical art typically portrays gods and goddesses who lack a political and social perspective.

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Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed drawing faces. However, out of all the faces I drew, I rarely drew my own. The medium I'm most comfortable using in my artwork is pencil, as the darkness of charcoal can dramatically change a drawing. It adds volume and depth which can also evoke or intensify emotions. I also aimed to achieve realism by including detailed features of my face, like the wrinkles, the waviness of my hair, and the shadows. Nevertheless, I still haven't quite captured my real face.

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Based on Walter Benjamin’s ideas, can you consider the end-product of your project art? In what ways? (at least 3 sentences)

Walter Benjamin's essay aims not to determine whether traditional (original art) is better than the newer and replicated art. Instead, his main focus is on how technology and modernity have altered people's perceptions of art, as well as their views of the world and their relationships with others. Therefore, I can still consider this work of mine as art; however, its original meaning has changed and can now be interpreted with a more political perspective, such as the contrast of modern women and the women of Mona Lisa's time. Moreover, I have still put my own interpretation and style into it. The key term of this is "inspired by," which means I imitate the Mona Lisa without actually copying the whole thing, and add details with a 70s pop art style.

Unfortunately, because of this repetitiveness, as I'm sure that there are other artworks like this one, it loses the aura it holds as the audiences find this ordinary and usual. People today could not genuinely appreciate the arts they see, unlike how people from the past worshiped the arts and were mesmerized by them.

How do the concepts of “originality” and piracy affect the way we receive works of art?

For me, the concepts of "originality" and piracy draw the line of how we perceive art. We could not deny the fact that all arts are being democratized and made accessible with the help of technologies, especially AI, which results in people copying or altering the art carelessly. Most people, including artists, mistakenly believe they can freely replicate some artwork simply because it belongs to the public domain.

As a result, the ideas of originality and piracy serve as important reminders for creators to consider the implications of their work. They serve as guidelines and standards for both the artists and audiences on what to look out for. While these concepts may vary across different media, and the boundaries can sometimes be unclear, one thing remains certain: they remind us as artists of our purpose and more responsibility in the creative process.