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

Characteristics of Postmodernism and Related Authors

Defining Postmodernism: Timeframe and Distinction from Modernism

Postmodernism is a literary movement originating in the post-1950s, a time marked by the Cold War and excessive consumption. The period is generally considered to begin in the early 1960s and extend into the 1990s.

It differs significantly from Modernism by blurring the conventional boundary between “high” and “low” culture, employing a completely loosened structure in both time and space, and favoring multiple openings rather than a closed structure. It rejects conformity to popular taste and combines heterogeneous elements, catering to a more sophisticated readership.

Core Philosophical Tenets and Relativism

The movement... Continue reading "Postmodern Literary Movement: Defining Characteristics and Historical Context" »

Realism in International Relations

Realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations theory, theoretically formalizing the Realpolitik statesmanship of early modern Europe. Although a highly diverse body of thought, it is unified by the belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing power. The theories of realism are contrasted by the cooperative ideals of liberalism.

Realists can be divided into three classes based on their view of the essential causes of interstate conflict:

• Classical realists believe it follows from human nature;
• Neorealists attribute it to the dynamics of the anarchic state system;
• Neoclassical realists believe it results from both, in combination with

Essential History Terminology

This document defines key terms used in the study of history.

Core Concepts

• Provenance: Origin of the source.
• Orthodox: Established/understood interpretation of events.
• Revisionist: Questions orthodox view and looks for a revised interpretation.
• Anachronistic: An approach that judges a culture or event using standards that didn't apply to them.
• Hindsight: Treats historical events as inevitable; a deterministic approach.
• Sacrosanct: A point of view considered proven and above debate and criticism.
• Iconoclastic: A revisionist approach which challenges orthodox, sacrosanct interpretations (e.g., A.J.P. Taylor's view on Hitler and WW2).
• Deterministic: Individuals have little influence on the outcome of events.
• Nihilistic: Random

Europe in the 16^th century (High Renaissance) was an age of social, intellectual, and religious ferment that transformed European culture. The spirit of discovery, travel, and exploration fostered self-confident humanism, stability, order, and admiration of classical forms. An explosion of information aided by book printing allowed artists to become more mobile, with styles becoming less regional. Rome grew in importance, especially under Julius II (Pope from 1503-1513), with a population of 100,000 people, making it only smaller than London and Paris. In 1494, the expulsion of the Medici from Florence marked a significant political shift.

Continual armed conflict was triggered by the expansionist ambitions of warring rulers.

Humanism in the... Continue reading "The Transformative Art and Culture of 16th Century Europe" »

Descriptive Discourse

Setting, or general environment, is very important because we must know where the place and action take place. Descriptive discourse expresses human awareness of the setting and aims to create a mental image in the mind of the reader by means of a verbal representation. We form an overall image through the description in the text.

Descriptive discourse uses words to represent appearance, nature, attributes, etc., of something. Descriptive discourse is very similar to pictorial arts; both have the same purpose: to represent an idea and to show the main purpose of the image.

We must take into consideration all descriptive techniques to describe time, place, people, etc., but we should not forget that adjectives are not always... Continue reading "Descriptive Discourse: Techniques, Objective & Subjective Vividness" »

Postmodern Critique of Anthropological Epistemology

The postmodernist critique argues that the anthropologist’s epistemology and view of society is often shown to be Western provincialism—a Western ethnocentric approach applied to the rest of the world. Ethnographies, at best, distort reality and carry significant political implications.

The Crisis of Anthropological Objectivity

Critiques of postmodernism arise when anthropology, which assumed it was an objective scientific truth, is revealed instead to be a product of power.

What is Left of Anthropology?

If all writing is nothing more than interpretations of interpretations, then ethnography risks being viewed as fiction. The conclusion drawn by some is that Anthropology is merely a representational

Introduction

In the early 2000s, the mantra of the television future was"whatever show you want, whenever you want, on whatever screen you want" However, the predicted death of television never came to pass. Instead, the industry has undergone a profound transformation, driven by new technologies and changing consumer habits.

The Rise of Digital Video

The advent of digital video recorders (DVRs) and streaming services has given viewers more control over their viewing experience. They can now circumvent scheduling constraints and commercials, and watch their favorite shows on demand.

The Fragmentation of Audiences

As a result of these changes, television has become increasingly individualized. Viewers are no longer bound to the same schedules and... Continue reading "The Evolution of Television: From Mass Medium to Fragmented Audiences" »

Representations of Social Groups in Media

Constructing Meaning Through Visual and Technical Codes

Representations in media involve how producers portray social groups using visual and technical codes. These codes reveal the producer's intended ideology. Stuart Hall suggests that representations are formed through the repetition and remixing of media trends. Ethnic representation, in particular, manifests diversely in media, influenced by social, cultural, and historical contexts. This essay explores how producers represent ethnic minorities in Beyoncé's 2016 music video "Formation" and the 2017 Guinness television advertisement "Compton Cowboys," highlighting the contrasting ideologies presented.

Beyoncé's "Formation": Subverting the "Black"

Understanding Realism in Literature

The novel is distinguished by its formal realism: it is stocked with people and places that seem real or evoke the real world.

The Role of Unrealistic Elements

Parody and satire are often unrealistic, but they can cause us to see our everyday world very differently. Sometimes, that which distorts what the real world is like may actually lead us to see it more accurately.

Key Perspectives on Realism

• Georg Lukács: He argued that the classic realistic novel of the 19th century was the pinnacle of the novel's artistic achievement, and a decline took place from that point on.
• Bertolt Brecht: The German dramatist believed we must not derive realism from particular existing works. For him, realism is not a question of