2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 4
Available Online: 22 February 2026
Author/s:
Astorga, John Mark
Northern Zambales College, Inc., Philippines (Markapinya14@gmail.com)
Abstract:
The philosophy of Art for Art’s Sake, which emphasizes the autonomy of art from moral, political, and social functions, has long been a subject of debate within the field of aesthetics. While Western aesthetic theory, particularly the ideas of Immanuel Kant, promotes the notion that art exists primarily for beauty and pleasure, the applicability of this philosophy in non-Western cultural contexts remains contested. This study examines the challenges of implementing the concept of Art for Art’s Sake in Philippine art and literature, where artistic expression has historically been intertwined with religion, colonial experience, and social realities. Using a qualitative research design, the study employed document analysis as its primary method of inquiry. Relevant scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, and dissertations, were purposively selected based on their discussion of aesthetic autonomy and the social function of art within both Western and Philippine traditions. The collected documents were systematically reviewed to identify philosophical arguments and cultural perspectives regarding the relationship between aesthetic value and ethical or social responsibility in artistic production. Findings indicate that the strong connection between art, religion, politics, and collective identity in the Philippine context presents significant limitations to the full adoption of the Art for Art’s Sake philosophy. Artistic works are often expected to reflect social realities and communal experiences, making purely autonomous art appear detached or irrelevant. The study concludes that although aesthetic beauty holds intrinsic value, it cannot be entirely separated from ethical and social considerations within Philippine artistic traditions, highlighting the need to integrate aesthetic excellence with cultural and social significance.
Keywords: art and literature, traditions, religion, colonial experience, social realities
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26073
Cite this article:
Astorga, J. M. (2026). Examining the challenges of “Art for Art’s Sake” in Philippine art and literature. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(4), 39-43. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26073