Numbering the Arts: A Story Told by Amadeo Pérez

I don't know how many times I've been asked, Amadeo, what's that about the numbering of the arts? And the truth is, after so many years dealing with these questions, the answer comes almost by heart... although I always enjoy the moment. And the fact is that this concept, as old as civilization itself, has much more to tell than one might think. So today, I invite you to join me on this personal and, of course, very practical journey. The numbering of the arts is not just a nice list to teach in art history classes, it is a classification system that has its roots in the very Hellenistic Empire, where the Greeks began to group different artistic expressions according to their importance and nature.

The origin: the seven liberal arts

In Ancient Greece, this differentiation began to be made between the liberal arts (those requiring the use of the intellect) and the mechanical arts (more linked to manual labor). This ended in the famous division into seven liberal arts, which grouped disciplines such as grammar, rhetoric, dialectic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music. It is here that, for the first time, the arts are numbered in an educational and theoretical sense.

Find it a bit boring? Well, we're getting better, because with the arrival of the Renaissance things get more interesting. At that time it was decided to classify the arts into major and minor, the former being considered more "noble". And what were these? Well, those we recognize today as the seven fine arts: architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance, literature (or poetry) and, over time, cinema was added.

Here's a fun fact: in reality, cinema was not part of the arts until the 20th century, when the theorist Ricciotto Canudo included it as the seventh art in his famous manifesto of 1911. Can you imagine how revolutionary that was at the time? Many didn't see it as an art, and look at it now!

The evolution: from cinema to video games

I don't want to stay only in the past. The fascinating thing about the numeration of the arts is how it has continued to evolve. Today, in addition to the seven fine arts, we also talk about other creative expressions that have struggled to be recognized, such as photography, comics, video games and even graffiti. Yes, video games! And make no mistake, behind many video games there is as much creativity as in the best works of painting or sculpture. Did someone say The Legend of Zelda? Pure art!

Today, it is no longer just a matter of whether such a discipline deserves to be on the list of the arts, but of understanding that art is constantly transforming. Each new technology, each new means of expression, brings with it a different way of creating. And this is where the numbering of the arts is more than just a list: it's a way of giving pride of place to creativity in all its forms.

The numbering of the arts in advertising and design

If you think this is all just theory, you may be surprised to learn that the numbering of the arts has practical applications in everyday life, such as in advertising and design. Designers often employ the principles of numbering to create visual works that attract and capture attention through harmonic structures, geometric patterns and symmetry games.

Even in music and poetry, this approach is used to create rhythms and patterns that resonate emotionally with audiences. Think of your favorite songs: that symmetry in the notes or verses is not accidental, it's art in its purest and most calculated form.

Why does the numbering of the arts matter today?

Now, you might ask, Amadeo, and what does all this matter in the 21st century? Well, look, we live in an era where the boundaries between the arts are more blurred than ever. The rise of digital has given rise to new forms of expression that do not easily fit into the classic categories. Video games, graphic design, digital advertising... everything is art! And the numbering of the arts is a way of giving historical context to these new forms, putting them on the same pedestal as the classical disciplines.

What the numbering of the arts teaches us is that, although times change, the human need to create remains the same. From the architect designing a skyscraper to the graphic designer crafting a logo, we are all searching for that connection between form and emotion, between what we do and what we feel.

And what is the future of the numbered arts?

I tell you honestly: the future is open. Maybe in a few years we'll be talking about the metaverse as the twentieth art, or about artificial intelligence as a new form of creativity. What is clear is that, as long as human beings continue creating, the numbering of the arts will continue to be a useful tool for understanding our creative world.

And so, dear reader, I end my reflection. The numbering of the arts is not a static list, it is a continuous journey. And as I always say: Long live the muses!

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