Functionality of ART

What Are the Functions of Art?
By Shelley Esaak, About.com

Question: What Are the Functions of Art?
Answer:
Smarter people than I have written entire books about this question. My attempt, here - which will probably come across as overly simplified - will be to hit the highlights. Disclaimers abound.

First, proceed with this caution: No piece of art can be "assigned" a function (or functions), either in essay form or in casual conversation, if it isn't first considered within the proper context. Trying to classify function depends on context.

Ideally, one can look at a piece and know (approximately) where it came from and when. The best-case scenario includes identifying the artist, as well, because s/he is half of the contextual equation (i.e.: What was the artist thinking at the time s/he created this?). You, the viewer, are the other half (i.e.: What does this piece of art mean to you, living right now?). These are all factors that should be considered before trying to assign functions. Besides, taking anything out of context can lead to misunderstanding, which is never a Happy Place to visit.

That said, the functions of art normally fall within three categories. These are personal, social or physical functions. These categories can, and (often) do, overlap in any given piece of art.

READ more on this article here:
http://arthistory.about.com/cs/foreducators/f/functions.htm