Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Arts and Humanities for Baccalaureate

The 17th Century: A Transformative Era

Historical Context of the 17th Century

The 17th century was a period of profound change across Europe, marked by significant conflicts and shifts in power dynamics. This era, often associated with the life and thought of prominent figures like Descartes, witnessed the devastating impact of widespread warfare and the emergence of new political structures.

The Thirty Years' War and its Aftermath

The continent was embroiled in the Thirty Years' War, primarily a conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Germany, which extended across all of Europe. France, under the strong influence of the Jesuits (during the reigns of Louis XIII and XIV), stood in contrast to Holland, a more tolerant haven for philosophers...

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Bernini

Classification

Figurative group sculpture in the round representing a scene within a relatable space.

Composition

The sculpture features two figures: one standing (an angel) and one semi-reclining (Saint Teresa). The composition is characteristically Baroque, defined by two opposing curved lines. The angel is positioned higher and vertically, creating a slightly open composition that extends into the surrounding space. The artist uses four reinforcing resources: the flowing lines of the garments, the expressive gesture of the saint, the chosen moment of action, and the dramatic use of light, which enters through a yellow glass, creating a theatrical effect. Anatomical proportions are realistic, and the varied...

Intentionality in Journalistic Texts

In this message, we can observe a complex intentionality, which certainly comes determined primarily by the genre of opinion that this text belongs to, *periodistico*. On one side, the representative function is patent (item), an element of communication that takes precedence over the other five segments representing the transmitted message.

The text objectively concerning the subject of the news (...) is also remarkable. The presence of the expressive function is also remarkable because it expresses the intention of rating, made from the personal perspective of the issuer. In these fragments, the key element is found in the thesis (...).

Conative and Poetic Functions

The conative function occurs when the author...

A View From The Bridge: Analysis of Themes and Characters

A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller

Actions

When we see Catherine serve food, or offer Eddie a beer, or when she sits on the bath while he shaves in her slip, we are being told about their relationship. Without being lovers, they have the kind of intimacy only lovers should have.

The two kisses at the start of act II are equally effective on stage: one with its suggestion of incest and the other illustrating Eddie's mistaken belief in Rodolfo's homosexuality.

The final action of the play is where Eddie dies by his own hand and his own weapon; but Eddie also metaphorically destroys himself over the whole course of the play. And this is what Alfieri introduces at the play's opening: "the...

Baroque Theater: Types of Dramas

In Baroque theater, two main types of dramas were represented: serious and comical.

Long Works

Long works can be classified as follows:

Serious Dramas

• Tragedies: Present pitiful disasters, emotionally involving the audience.
• Tragicomedy: Explore a variety of topics, usually related to honor.
• Autos Sacramentales: Religious works celebrating the Eucharist.

Comic Dramas

• Comedy Swashbuckling: Deal with love affairs carried out by gentlemen.
• Comedy of Figurehead: Inserts a comic character into the scheme of swashbuckling comedy.
• Comedy Palate: Sitcoms with noble protagonists.
• Comedy Burlesque: Comedy based on the reversal of values and verbal humor.

Short Works

The Baroque style saw a dramatic proliferation of short dramatic pieces,...

Las Meninas (Velázquez, 17th Century)

This pictorial masterpiece, dating from the 17th century, is by Diego Velázquez. The oil painting depicts the artist himself, portraying the Infanta Margarita and her attendants (Las Meninas). In the background, the chamberlain of the court and a mirror reflecting the King and Queen are visible.

Velázquez creates a profound sense of depth through the use of different planes and lines of perspective. He diffuses the contours of the figures, a technique evident in how the light strikes the faces of those portrayed. Light enters directly through the back door, while the rest of the scene is darker, utilizing dramatic chiaroscuro. Velázquez intentionally positions the viewer to interfere with the scene.

The

The Calling of St. Matthew (La Vocazione di San Matteo)

Artist: Caravaggio
Date: 1599–1600
Location: Church of St. Louis of the French (San Luigi dei Francesi), Rome
Features: 322 x 340 cm
Material: Oil on canvas
Style: Italian Baroque

The Contarelli Chapel Commission

Matteo Contarelli, a major French dealer, purchased the Contarelli Chapel for eternal glory in the Church of St. Louis of the French in Rome, with the intention of being buried there. He ordered a full program of paintings and sculptures dedicated to the saint whose name he bore: Saint Matthew. The purchase was made in 1565, but by 1585, when Contarelli died, no significant decorations had been completed.

Initial Decorations and Caravaggio's Major Assignment

The ceiling and wall...

Ancient Egyptian Sculpture: Forms and Characteristics

Sculpture in ancient Egypt played a complementary role in funeral and religious architecture. Three main groups of sculpture can be identified:

• High relief figures of gods within temples.
• Colossal statues of pharaohs on temple facades.
• Statues of the deceased in tombs.

The weight of tradition and the rejection of foreign influences explain the relative uniformity of the Egyptian sculptural style, characterized by:

• "Block statue" technique: A method resulting from carving a figure from a prismatic stone block, with the drawing of the figure on each side.
• Rigidity: Figures often appear rigid, whether seated, standing, or in other attitudes.
• Law of frontality: The human body is divided into two identical

Features of the Narrative Genre

Event and Plot

The events are the occurrences, past or present, in the story. These events form the plot.

• Closed Linear Structure: Has a beginning, middle, and end.
• Open Non-linear Structure: Episodes accumulate without following a strict timeline.

Characters

Characters develop the narrative action and intervene in the story.

• The protagonist is the principal character.
• The antagonist is the character who opposes the hero.
• Some works feature collective characters, involving many characters where none stand out above the others.

Based on characterization, characters can be:

• Archetypal: Representing universal patterns.
• Psychological Models: Described with multiple features and evolving throughout the work.

Time

Time is another...

Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience

Infant Joy

This poem, from Songs of Innocence, is about a mother who has just given birth. Blake uses simple and direct language (despite some archaisms) to create an atmosphere of childlike simplicity. Through this simplicity, the poet conveys the intimacy between the two main poetic voices: the mother and child. An alternative interpretation suggests the dialogue is between the child and a poetic persona, rather than the mother.

The child remains nameless, serving as an embodiment of childhood itself. More importantly, names were traditionally given to introduce children into society. By having no name, the child represents pure innocence, as the Romantics often associated society with corruption. A...