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Philippine Art Forms Overview

Sep 2, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers the main art forms in the Philippines, their classifications, cultural influences, and key examples from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

True or False: Art Forms

  • Dance, theater, and music are not visual arts (FALSE).
  • Indigenous peoples' visual art is not just for entertainment (FALSE).
  • Contemporary art combines and experiments with forms (TRUE).
  • Colonizers significantly influenced Philippine visual arts, still evident today (TRUE).
  • Contemporary art is shaped by the artist's economic, social, political, and environmental context (TRUE).

Multiple Choice Questions

  • Visual art is the expression of ideas via images, structures, and tactile work (Answer: Visual Art).
  • Theater is a performing art focused on live drama performances (Answer: Theater).
  • Dance is not a visual art example; painting, sculpture, and architecture are (Answer: Dance).
  • Literary arts involve writing; visual arts use images (Both statements are true).
  • Architecture is about the design and construction of buildings and structures (Answer: Architecture).

Classification of Philippine Contemporary Arts

  • The seven major art forms: painting, sculpture, architecture, film, literature, music, theater, dance.
  • Arts are grouped into: visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts.

Visual Arts

  • Visual art conveys ideas through images, structures, and tactile work.
  • Examples: painting, sculpture, architecture, and film.
  • First Philippine paintings were commissioned during Spanish colonization.
  • Notable painters: Victorio Edades, Raul Agas, Rameer Tawasil.
  • Sculpture involves making three-dimensional objects; famous works include Bonifacio Monument by Guillermo Tolentino.
  • Architecture is the practice of designing buildings; examples: CCP by Leandro Locsin.
  • Film uses moving images to tell stories; Philippine industry began in 1897.

Literary Arts

  • Literary arts express ideas through writing: poetry, prose, drama.
  • Literature includes both written and sometimes spoken creative works.
  • Notable examples: "A Blade of Fern" (Edith Ocampo), "Dead Stars" (H.O. Santos).

Performing Arts

  • Performance arts involve actions/movements in front of an audience: music, theater, and dance.
  • Music is coordinated sound; contemporary Filipino music blends Western and modern influences.
  • Theater uses live performance to present real or imagined events to an audience.
  • Dance is expressive body movement, often to music; examples: Banga, Kuratsa, Singkil.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Visual Art — Expression of artistic ideas via images, structures, and tactile works.
  • Literary Art — Artistic expression through writing, including poetry, prose, and drama.
  • Performing Arts — Live art forms involving music, theater, and dance.
  • Sculpture — Art of creating three-dimensional objects.
  • Architecture — Art and technique of designing and constructing buildings.
  • Cinema/Film — Visual art using moving images to tell stories.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review and memorize definitions and examples of each art form.
  • Study notable Filipino artists and works mentioned.
  • Prepare for quiz on art classifications and region-specific examples.