Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Arts and Humanities

The Modern Theater

THE MODERN THEATER.
REALISM: An attempt to faithfully reproduce the surface appearance of life, especially that of ordinary people in every day situations.
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. Eliminates traditional conventions; utilizes realistic conventions.
2. Presents controversial and/or unpleasant themes.
3. A box set (3 walled room -- realistic instead of proscenium)
4. Actors and actresses must behave as if they lived in a room; speak and act naturally, which means that they don't declaim in oratorical passion, nor talk to the audience.
5. No soliloquies nor asides.



HENRIK IBSEN (1828-1906): Is considered the father of modern realistic drama, His plays attacked society's values and dealt with unconventional subjects within the form of the... Continue reading "The Emergence of Realism in Modern Theater" »

Essential Film and Audio Production Terms

Radio and Podcasting

• Radcom brief: Similar to a job advertisement.
• Pod: A radio program that is stored in a digital format, which you can download.

Film Production

• Cue: A word or action in a film that is used as a signal by a performer to begin saying or doing something.
• Running order: The order in which the parts of an event have been arranged to happen.
• Debriefing: A document that collects information about the customer.
• Release form: Permission to shoot on certain locations.
• DV footage: Nonprofessional filming.
• Pull focus: The focus of the camera is moved from one point to another.
• Recce: To visit a place to see the location and possibilities.
• Hook: Something that keeps you watching a film.
• Approach: To come

1. The Hook Shot

This shot is sometimes called a leading shot. It’s the shot that grabs you or ‘hooks’ your attention and draws you into the photo-essay. It’s often the first shot of the essay. It is an image of a thing or person that is often very creative and leaves the viewer wanting information about the topic.

2. The Establishing Shot

The establishing shot lays out the visual context for the story. It is often a wide shot that shows the setting or the environment where the story takes place or where the character lives/has been.

3. The Medium Shot

The medium shot serves to inform the viewer who the characters are, and what they are doing. The shot should include both the subject and its surrounding. If your story has people in it, the... Continue reading "Essential Shots in Photo-Essays: A Guide" »

Literary Terms and Definitions

Iridescent: Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.

Infallibility: Knowing truth with certainty. Can refer to a person (or a group of persons), to an act of teaching by these persons, or to the information being taught.

Mar: Impair the appearance of; disfigure.

Condone: Accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.

Disarming: (Of manner or behavior) having the effect of allaying suspicion or hostility, especially through charm.

Uncanny: Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.

Solicitously: Anxious or concerned.

Scruples: A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action.

Zealous: Feeling... Continue reading "Literary Terms and Definitions: Enhance Your Understanding" »

T.1: Feelings and Activities

Enjoyable, relaxing, dull (bored), exciting, interesting, frustrating

Verbs related to Activities:

• HAVE: a bad time, an hour's rest, a laugh (hacer reir), fun, a great time
• TAKE: a break, a rest, an opportunity
• SPEND: your (free) time, your morning
• WASTE (malgastar): your pocket money, energy

T.2: Adjectives and Phrasal Verbs

Complained (quejarse), attention span (capacidad atenc.), medium (medio), seekers (buscadores) / comical, respectable, cowardly, courageous, resourceful, spiteful (rencoroso), sentimental, angry

Phrasal Verbs:

• check over: asegurarse está bien
• work at: intentar hacer algo
• turn over: pensar repetidamente
• write down: apuntar papel
• get across: comunicar idea
• come up, come to

T.3: Achievement and Time Clauses

Reach... Continue reading "English Vocabulary and Grammar Cheat Sheet" »

Knowledge Sources in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, knowledge gained from the Holy Scriptures was given more credibility than information acquired through experiments.

The 17th Century Scientific Revolution

A scientific revolution is considered to have taken place in the 17th century due to significant advancements across various fields:

• In astronomy, the heliocentric theory of the universe was proposed.
• In medicine, physicians began dissecting human bodies, making progress in the field of anatomy.
• In physics and chemistry, the properties of matter were discovered.
• In geography, highly accurate world maps were created.
• In botany and zoology, the first classifications of living organisms were made.

Nicolaus Copernicus and His Heliocentric Theory

Nicolaus... Continue reading "Middle Ages Knowledge, Scientific Revolution, Baroque Art" »

Comparative Analysis of the United Nations and League of Nations

Foundational Principles: United Nations: Member states should respect the sovereign equality of member states, refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, settle international disputes by peaceful means, support enforcement actions, and fulfill in good faith all the obligations assumed under the Charter. League of Nations: The League of Nations' objective was to maintain universal peace within the framework of the fundamental principles of the Pact accepted by its members: “to develop cooperation among nations and to guarantee them peace and security.” The role of the League of Nations was to identify and... Continue reading "Comparative Analysis of the United Nations and League of Nations" »

The Fan: More Than Just a Consumer

The term "fan," derived from "fanatic," carries connotations of excessive devotion. Media scholar Henry Jenkins challenges negative stereotypes of fans, arguing for their legitimate place within mass culture. In his book Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture (1992), Jenkins rejects common tropes, portraying fans as active participants rather than passive consumers.

Good Taste and Social Distinctions

Pierre Bourdieu's concept of "good taste" helps explain societal perceptions of fans. Notions of taste are not inherent but reflect dominant class interests, perpetuating social distinctions. However, fans disrupt this hierarchy by transforming from consumers into producers and manipulators... Continue reading "Fandoms: Active Producers in Media Culture" »

The Aesthetic Movement

The Aesthetic Movement developed in universities and intellectual circles during the late 19th century. Beginning in France with Gautier, it reflected artists' frustration and uncertainty, a reaction against bourgeois materialism and moral codes. French artists sought refuge in aesthetic isolation, embracing Gautier's concept of "Art for Art's Sake." The bohemian lifestyle, with its pursuit of sensation and excess, embodied this protest against monotony.

The Movement in England

American painter James Whistler, working in England, imported this doctrine. However, the roots of the English Aesthetic Movement can be traced to the Romantic poet Keats. Rossetti exemplified an artist wholly dedicated to art, as did Ruskin in his... Continue reading "The Aesthetic Movement and Decadence" »

Communicative Channels

Communicative channels include visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile modalities. The visual channel is often considered the most advantageous.

Auditory Channel

The auditory channel attempts to create an atmosphere with sounds and noises, such as pauses, suspense, music, jingles, and barrel organs.

Olfactory Channel

Olfaction refers to sensations perceived through the olfactory organ, such as perfume, smell, or scent. Adjectives applied to these sensations include keen and heavy.

Synesthesia and Intersensorial Transfer

Stephen Ullmann uses the term "intersensorial transfer" to refer to the combination of sensations, known as synesthesia. We can mix and combine different sensory modalities. Synesthesia is one of the most powerful... Continue reading "Sensory Communication and Descriptive Texts" »