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

The Narrative Verbal Icon /2

A Brief Overview of the History of Narration

• Phase 1: Mythic narration = "histories" of the world. Very ancient stories, which are signs of the thinking man. They are a kind of documentation about how people think. This was the narrative of fictitious cultures. The heroes were divine beings, outstanding humans who were able to do things which others are unable to.
• Phase 2: High Mimetic narration = imitating a culture which is superior to another, connecting the stories with historical facts. The producers of heroic epics found a tradition and storytellers followed them. (primary=oral, secondary=written). The journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas belong here. The focus is on the journey made by the characters (mostly without)

Advertising and Health Claims

Health Claim: A statement on a product ad that says it’s good for your health.

• To pitch: Persuade someone to buy something.
• To soothe: To make someone feel calmer.
• A filter trip: Filter to remove impurities.
• The T-Zone: Area of the face.
• A testimonial: A formal statement.
• An interloper: Someone who is not wanted or who doesn’t belong.
• To coin (a phrase): To invent a new expression.
• To sue (someone): To start a legal case against someone.
• To crack down: To become stricter.
• To tout something: To sell something; to convince that it is good.
• Up the ante: To risk more.
• The ad that ran: The advertisement that was broadcast.
• Winking: Closing one eye briefly.
• To be portrayed: To be represented.
• To feature: To show.
• Appeal to: To attract.

Literary devices Jane Austen uses in her novel Pride and Prejudice.

Dramatic Irony

Definition: In literature, a plot device in which the audience’s or reader’s knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the characters. The words and actions of the characters therefore take on a different meaning for the audience or reader than they have for the characters. This may happen when, for example, a character reacts in an inappropriate or foolish way or when a character lacks self-awareness and thus acts under false assumptions.

Alliteration

Definition: Alliteration is a literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel... Continue reading "Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice" »

PL/SQL Package: gestionEmpleados Specification

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE gestionEmpleados
AS
  -- Cursor to get average salary per department
  CURSOR curMediaSueldo IS
    SELECT AVG(salario) "media", dept_no 
    FROM emple 
    GROUP BY dept_no;

  -- Cursor to select all employees
  CURSOR curEmpleados IS 
    SELECT * 
    FROM emple;

  -- Cursor to select all departments
  CURSOR curDepartamentos IS 
    SELECT * 
    FROM depart;

  -- Package variables
  nombre VARCHAR2(40);
  media NUMBER;
  departamento VARCHAR2(20);

  -- Function declaration to get department name
  FUNCTION nomDepart(numeroDpt depart.dept_no%TYPE) 
    RETURN gestionEmpleados.departamento%TYPE;

END gestionEmpleados;

PL/SQL Package Body: gestionEmpleados

CREATE OR

The Coming of International Relations

The First Great Debate

The emergence of international relations as a distinct field of study is intertwined with the rise of social sciences like economics, sociology, and political science. A group of scholars, often referred to as liberals, idealists, Wilsonians, or utopians, played a pivotal role in shaping early IR thought. They championed the establishment of international institutions, the expansion of international trade, and the practice of open diplomacy guided by experts. This belief in the power of international cooperation and institutions stemmed from their conviction that war was primarily a consequence of flawed thinking by politicians and diplomats.

These early IR thinkers argued that secrecy... Continue reading "The Rise of International Relations as a Social Science" »

Reinforcement Theory

Reinforcement theory posits that an individual's behavior is influenced by its consequences. Rooted in the "law of effect," this theory focuses on the outcomes of an individual's actions, rather than their underlying causes.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves providing a positive response to desired behavior, thereby increasing its likelihood of repetition.

Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement involves removing or reducing negative consequences in response to desired behavior, also increasing its likelihood of repetition.

Punishment

Punishment involves removing positive consequences or introducing negative ones to decrease the likelihood of undesirable behavior.

Extinction

Extinction involves withholding... Continue reading "Understanding Reinforcement Theory and Emotional Intelligence for Effective Leadership" »

The Theory of International Relations

Realism

Realists believe that society and politics are governed by objective laws rooted in human nature. To improve society, we must first understand these laws. They also believe in the possibility of developing a rational theory that reflects these laws. They make a distinction between objective rational truth supported by reason and subjective judgment derived from prejudice and wishful thinking. For realism, theory consists in determining facts with reason. The character of a foreign policy must therefore be discovered through the examination of political acts and their foreseeable consequences.

They develop the concept of interest in power to understand international politics. This concept provides a... Continue reading "International Relations Theory: Realism and Structural Realism" »

Four Key Processes Enhanced by Visual Thinking

Let’s examine four processes improved by visual thinking:

1. Understand the Essence

• Visual Grammar: The Business Model Canvas poster is a conceptual map that functions as a visual language with corresponding grammar. It tells you which pieces of information to insert in the model, and where.
• Capturing the Big Picture: By sketching out all the elements of the Canvas, you immediately give viewers the big picture of a business model. A sketch provides just the right amount of information to allow a viewer to grasp the idea, yet not too much detail to distract them.
• Seeing Relationships: Understanding a business model requires not only knowing the compositional elements, but also grasping the interdependencies

Architecture: Beyond Creative Design

A lot of people think that being an architect is all about designing, but they tend to forget that it takes more than just creativity to succeed. To thrive in the architectural profession, you must be able to think outside the box. The process of designing and constructing a building is long and complex. An architect must consider the environment, the weather, the function, the materials, and many other factors beyond just the overall aesthetic look of the structure.

Historical Roots of the Architectural Profession

While the term 'architecture' traces its origins back to Ancient Greece, the field had not yet become a recognizable profession in its own right during those times. The first identifiable architect... Continue reading "The Architectural Profession: Skills, History, and Design Innovation" »

William Blake: Poet, Painter, and Radical Visionary

William Blake was born in London in 1757. His origins were humble, and he remained poor all his life. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts.

As a painter and engraver, Blake emphasized the power of the imagination. He was a political freethinker and remained a radical throughout his life.

Rejection of Neoclassicism

Blake is regarded as an Early Romantic because he rejected neoclassical literary style and themes. He emphasized the importance of imagination over reason and believed that ideal forms should be created not from the observation of nature but from inner visions.

His prose work often consisted of a mixture of aphorisms, anecdotes, and proverbs.

Blake's Philosophy of Complementary Opposites

Blake... Continue reading "William Blake's Vision: Imagination, Dualism, and Early Romanticism" »