journal 3- the functions of the decorative arts

i have written what i learned from various readings about functional art below:

herman muthesius- the significance of applied art

muthesius characterizes applied art in 3 aspects: artistic, cultural and economic. its artistic sense started out being an expression of the artist, but as time progressed, creators looked at past ideas and art forms to create. applied art has a cultural sense because we use these forms every day. our use for things may change over time as a whole and there is a need for things now that there wasnt a need for many years ago. it is very progressive. finally, the economics of applied art influence the product because cheaper materials make for a better value for the manufacturer and such. all three factors influence the final product. 

the influence of stained glass windows used in a modern home

walter gropius- manifesto of the staatliche bauhaus in weimar

gropius stresses the importance of the structure of a buliding or product. if the structure is not sturdy or working, the product will not work to its full potential. while ornimentation is important and adds beauty and catches the eye, it is not the most important part.

the gargoyles on notre dame cathedral do not give any structural support to the building but add something very interesting to look at

le corbusier- type needs: type furniture

le corbusier's most important point is that human scale is important for all products. an artist or designer must take into account a human's needs before designing their product because if it is not to scale, it is pointless. all humans have the same basic needs when it comes to sizing and scale of objects, even though their individual bodies are different.