Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Arts and Humanities for Other courses

1. How to Write a Movie Review

Writing a movie review involves expressing your opinion about a film while helping the reader decide whether to watch it. A review is not merely a summary; it is an analysis of elements such as the plot, acting, direction, cinematography, music, and special effects.

The process begins by watching the movie carefully—sometimes more than once—while taking detailed notes. Evaluate the film by providing specific reasons for your opinions, avoiding vague statements like “it was good” or “it was bad.” A high-quality review includes the film title, release year, main actors, and genre, followed by a concise plot summary that avoids spoilers. Discuss key filmmaking aspects, such as performances and visual quality,...

Querying Database Metadata

To begin, we search for existing tables and columns within the database schema using the following queries:

SELECT * FROM all_tables WHERE table_name LIKE 'ALUMNO%';
SELECT * FROM ALL_TAB_COLUMNS WHERE table_name = 'ALUMNOS4';

Creating and Describing the Ejemplo Table

We drop the existing table and recreate it with specific data types, default values, and a primary key:

DROP TABLE ejemplo;

CREATE TABLE ejemplo (
  col1 NUMBER(6) DEFAULT '0',
  col2 DATE,
  col3 CHAR(1) CHECK (col3 IN ('H','M')),
  PRIMARY KEY (col1)
);

To verify the structure, we can use the following commands:

SELECT * FROM all_tables WHERE table_name = 'EJEMPLO';
SELECT * FROM All_tab_COLUMNS WHERE table_name = 'EJEMPLO';
DESCRIBE EJEMPLO;
DESCRIBE ejemplo;

The Early Renaissance (Quattrocento)

The fifteenth century in Florence marked the beginning of a process of artistic renewal, posing a break with the formal principles of Gothicism.

Architecture

New experiences in perspective and proportion surged in Florence.

• Filippo Brunelleschi: Stressed solutions that brought new beauty and harmony, announcing mathematical formulas for perspective.

High Renaissance Architects (Cinquecento)

In the Cinquecento, key figures included Donato Bramante and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Sculpture

Sculptors worked primarily in marble and bronze. The subject matter emphasized the importance of the human body, seeking serenity and balance in attitudes, with an interest in composition and spatial unity. There was a strong concern...

Novel Elements: Time, Space, Characters, Narration

Time and Temporal Structure

Time: The development of a novel usually evolves through narration time. This time does not have to be presented in an orderly, linear way; it can be altered. When chronology is shifted, this is called anachronistic timing. Two common devices are:

• Flashback: a leap backward in time that recounts earlier events.
• Prolepsis (or flash-forward): the author advances an action that has not yet occurred in the story timeline.

Space and Setting

Space: The physical situation in which the characters act is one of the main resources authors use to contextualize narrative stories. Space and setting serve several purposes:

• To lend credibility to the story by situating events in a believable

Religious Interpretations in Waiting for Godot

Does the play warrant a religious reading? Can Godot be considered a Christ figure or simply a religious figure? If so, what is implied by his failure to appear? What about Estragon's attempts to equate himself with Christ? Consider also the many biblical allusions throughout the play, such as the mention of Cain and Abel and the discussion of the story of the two thieves.

Beckett's apparent wariness of religion (or perhaps because he wishes to make folly of it), the question of faith appears frequently in Waiting for Godot. Most obviously, the metaphor stems from the eternal waiting that the Christian faces in his belief that Christ will return but at an unknown time. The play first addresses this...

Television Advertising Dynamics

Television advertising features great price dynamics, with prices renewed frequently and negotiation playing a crucial role. It's a highly competitive market with a variety of formats:

• Conventional spot (usually 20 seconds, calculated in multiples of 5)
• Trading block
• Sponsorship (funding a program in exchange for advertising)
• Static events
• Product placement (insertion of a brand, product, or service within program content)
• Telepromotions
• References
• Overlays (home shopping)
• Bartering (exchange of advertising programs)
• Interactive advertising

Prices are published together with the program grid. Commercials are typically set to 20 seconds (price measured per second, with surcharges applied by the chain), though published rates...

Film Industry Terminology

Understanding the language of cinema is crucial for anyone involved in audiovisual production. Here's a glossary of essential terms:

Key Roles and Production Elements

• Cast: Elenco
• Screenwriter: Guionista
• Screenplay: Guión
• Film Review: Crítica de la película
• Production Manager: Jefe de producción
• Costume Design: Diseño de vestuario
• Cinematography: Dirección de fotografía / Rodaje de la película
• Production Designer: Diseñador de producción

Character and Performance Terms

• To play a character: Interpretar a un personaje
• To act in the film: Actuar en la película
• To star (starring): Protagonizar (protagonizando)
• Main character: Personaje principal
• Minor character: Personaje secundario
• Lead role: Papel principal
• Supporting role:

Pre-Hellenic Art

Pre-Hellenic artistic styles emerged before Greek art and the civilization of Crete and the Peloponnese. Its significance lies in acting as a bridge between Egyptian and Greek art, establishing foundational characteristics that would later define Greek aesthetics. We emphasize the Cretan and Mycenaean eras.

Cretan or Minoan Art

Developed in Crete, this style reached its greatest splendor in the second millennium BCE, when Crete dominated Mediterranean trade routes. The name Minoan honors the mythological King Minos.

Mycenaean Art

Named after Mycenae, the major Achaean town and polis, this art flourished in the southern Peloponnese between 1500 and 1200 BCE. Its legacy is reflected in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Paleochristian

Renaissance: A Profound Cultural Transformation

The Renaissance was a profound and complex transformation of human culture that manifested itself in all areas of literary life. It marked a return to the artistic and philosophical ideals of the Greco-Latin world in Italy, flourishing during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in Europe.

Origins and Context

• In the late Middle Ages, the bourgeoisie dedicated itself to business and economic prosperity.
• Intellectuals discovered and imitated Greek and Latin classics.
• Five powerful states acted as patrons.
• Key figures include Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, who established a new heritage.

Humanism

Humanism: An intellectual and cultural movement in Italy and Spain during the 14th to 16th centuries.

Characteristics