In the Comparative Study,one of the assessed criteria, Criterion B. Interpreting Function and Purpose may be new or confusing for some students. This page interprets function and purpose and offers some practical teaching activities. Can you sit on it? Function and purpose is a fancy way of saying, what is it made for? Some art works have a very clear purpose: a designed object, such as a chair or a vessel has a practical function as well as a decorative function. You have probably seen many examples of art with a religious purpose, or a narrative purpose (telling a story, as in history painting), and art that has a mainly personal, expressive function. Some art functions as a status symbol, conferring power or wealth to the owner, and there is work that is created with the intent to shock or disturb.
Function and Purpose may be more relevant when discussing certain artworks, i.e. religious, ceremonial, commemorative, propaganda, and less with others.
ToK and Art Questions Does all art have a social function? Does all art have an expressive function? Does all art have a function? Some different functions that art can have (remember, a single artwork can have more than one!)
Expressive function – expresses the artists’ feelings
Descriptive function – records the likeness of a place or person or other subject.
Conceptual function –the idea or concept behind the work is more important than the object
Practical function-has a practical use, such as clothing, vessels, furniture, a building
Religious function – tells a religious story or is an object of devotion.
Historical narrative function- tells a story of an event in history
Commemorative function – made to honour someone (like a statue of a famous person)
Political function- serves a political purpose, such as propaganda.
Symbolic function – symbolizes certain beliefs or ideas without representing them.
Decorative Function- used to adorn the body, a room, a building etc.
Ritual function – used as part of a ritual or ceremony, or has magical powers.
Shock function – intended to shock or upset the viewer
can you think of more?
Citations:
McReynolds, Heather. "IB Visual Arts: CS Example 1." IB Visual Arts: CS Example 1. Inthinking, 6 June 2015. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://www.thinkib.net/visualarts/page/17991/cs-example-1>.