Before studying the arts, the terms fine and applied arts must be defined. Fine arts became popular during the Renaissance era because of their aesthetic qualities. This art form allowed for individual expression and a new way of interpreting ideas. Fine arts can be many different things, such as: music, painting, theater, dance, film, sculpture, architecture and much more. Photography is a modern example of fine art. At the time when fine art became popular, cameras were not yet invented. However, today the photographs are considered an example of fine art. Personally, it's my favorite type of art and is one of my many hobbies. I love being able to capture a moment and keep it forever. The other type of art that needs to be defined is applied art. The main difference between these two art forms is that fine arts have aesthetic characteristics while applied arts do not. Applied arts are generally decorative, unlike fine arts which are used to express emotions. These decorative arts can be made from materials such as: glass, wood, stone, metal and textiles. Applied arts may also include architecture, pottery, basketry, costume, interior design, jewelry, tools, weapons, and bookbinding. An example of applied arts that I wear every day is my ring. My ring is made of metal and stones and twists into the shape of an infinity symbol. It's my favorite piece of jewelry that I own, which is why I wear it every day. Now that the terms fine and applied arts have been defined, we can move on to the purposes and functions of art. There are four purposes of art: to provide a record, to give visible or other form to feelings, to reveal metaphysical or spiritual truths, and to help people see the world...... middle of paper .... .. we will examine the differences between formal criticism and contextual criticism. Formal criticism involves analyzing the work of art as it is found without any outside or contextual knowledge. This means that you use only your five senses to critique a work of art. This form of criticism can apply to any art form and can include many different critiques of the same work of art. On the other hand, contextual criticism examines outside information to help find a deeper meaning behind the work of art. This background information may include information about the artist, culture, period, social and political conditions, and other criticism, to name a few. All of these facts can be researched and then applied to art criticism. This advance information can be used to help clarify certain aspects and create a deeper understanding of the artwork..