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

During the Middle Ages, two prominent art schools emerged: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque art originated in the 10th century, while Gothic art followed in the 12th century. For a time, they coexisted before Gothic eventually replaced Romanesque across much of Western Europe. Spain, Germany, and France were particularly rich in Romanesque art. However, France transitioned early to the Gothic style, becoming, along with England and Spain, one of the countries with a less developed Romanesque style.

The Church's Influence on Medieval Art

The Church played a crucial role in both periods. As the highest authority during the Middle Ages, it influenced art in all its forms:

• Painting: Although not extensively developed, painting primarily depicted

Features of the Esperpento

The Esperpento. The word "grotesque" was popularly used with meanings of "extravagance" and "ugliness." Valle-Inclán (VI) uses it to refer to his theater. The esperpento is defined given the situation of the characters, unable to reach the height of tragedy, and how ridiculous they are in their situation.

The theory about the new genre appears in scene XII. In it, the main character says, "Our tragedy is not a tragedy." Tragedy is a genre too noble for the surrounding landscape. And from the impossibility of tragedy comes the *esperpento*. The nature of this *aesthetic deformans* is illustrated with reference to the concave mirrors that decorated the facade of a shop on Cat Street in Madrid.

In an interview in 1928,... Continue reading "Valle-Inclán's Esperpento: Features and Analysis" »

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... Continue reading "Analyzing 'A View From The Bridge': Themes and Characters" »

Market Research Fundamentals

Market research involves collecting and analyzing information a company needs to make marketing decisions.

Phases of Market Research

1. Define the problem and research objectives: Clear objectives help achieve clear results.
2. Design the research plan: Decide how to carry out the research and methods for obtaining information.
3. Search for and obtain information: It is essential to distinguish between secondary and primary information.

   Secondary Information

   Information that has been developed for purposes other than the research being carried out. It can be internal or external, depending on whether the information is inside or outside the company.

   Primary Information

   New information generated through surveys, experimentation,

Michelangelo's Vatican Pietà: A Renaissance Masterpiece

Composition and Symbolism

• The two figures form a closed pyramidal composition.
• The Virgin Mary holds Christ, who lies in her lap. Her eyes are cast down, yet she also engages the viewer directly.
• One hand welcomes her son, while the other seems to invite adoration. Her figure forms the pyramid's base.
• The group contrasts the nudity of Jesus with the deep, heavy folds of Mary's drapery. The Virgin's weight is conveyed as she only touches the ground with her right foot.

Historical Context and Artistic Choices

• Commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Bilhères-Lagraulas.
• The contract clearly specified the Virgin Mary covered with a garment and the body of Christ dead in her arms.
• The sculpture depicts the

Key Differences from Romanesque Sculpture

Gothic sculpture in Spain exhibits important differences from the Romanesque style, both in formal and expressive aspects, as well as in themes and iconography.

Chronological Development

Due to the extended duration of the Gothic style, an evolution in sculpture can be observed from the late 12th century onward:

• Late 12th Century: Transition from Romanesque to Gothic.
• 13th Century: Serene triumph of idealized naturalism.
• 14th Century: Predominance of devotional statues, evoking tenderness and piety (e.g., Virgin with Child, Crucifixions), and tomb sculptures.
• 15th Century: Curvilinear reaction, emphasizing naturalism, individualization of features and costumes, and a taste for intricate details.

Characteristics

Marketing communication is a function aimed at informing about the existence and characteristics of a product or brand, highlighting the value it provides and its advantages over competing products to persuade the customer to buy.

Advertising

Advertising is a form of impersonal, massive communication paid for by the company. It uses mass media to transmit messages that promote products and build brands. Advertising, adaptable to different groups through various media, is the most appropriate instrument to reach a mass audience. The main downside is the high cost.

An advertisement should be designed to capture the audience's attention, arouse their interest and desire for what is communicated, and generate the expected action from the receiver.... Continue reading "Key Marketing Communication Methods" »

The Novecentismo Novel: Gabriel Miró and Ramón Pérez de Ayala

The novelists of the Generation of '14 can be split into two lines: those continuing narrative modes of earlier stages, such as Concha Espina and Ricardo León, and those seeking renewal, such as Miró and Pérez de Ayala. Other authors are Fernández Flórez, a master of the comic novel, and Benjamín Jarnés, who reduces the action to a minimum. These authors have in common the overcoming of narrative and stylistic patterns of Realism, though they follow different paths: one through lyricism; another through irony and humor; in other cases, through the intellectualism of the approach; and sometimes by means of dehumanization, which meant the "lack of interest in human vicissitude"... Continue reading "Novecentismo Novelists: Gabriel Miró and Ramón Pérez de Ayala" »

Patriarchy

Patriarchy is the treatment of women throughout the ages. It dictates their future and success in life. It not only defines how society functions but also how it controls women. Patriarchy is best defined as control by men. Women fight for rights and to survive without the power and domination of men. It has roots in Christianity and the family.

Noble Savage

Noble Savage is a literary device that affirms the basic tenet of the goodness of mankind.

Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic Fallacy is a term used to describe the attribution of animate or human characteristics and feelings to inanimate objects of nature. It is said that these are 'false' descriptions of nature. This term is now commonly used to describe any developed or impassioned personification.... Continue reading "Key Literary & Social Concepts: Patriarchy to Englishness" »

Camera Shots, Angles, and Movements

Types of Camera Shots

• Major General Plan (Extreme Long Shot): The person appears reduced in size or is not visible. Establishes the scene.
• Outline (Long Shot): The person occupies approximately one-third of the frame. Focuses on the character.
• Plan Set (Medium Long Shot): Shows relationships between people, often used for Augmented Reality (AR) figures.
• Entire Plan (Full Shot): The person appears complete. Portrays the character fully.
• American Plan (Medium Shot): The person is shown from the knees up. Brings us closer to the character.
• Midplane (Medium Close-Up): Cuts the character at waist height. Highlights gestures.
• Foreground (Close-Up): Shows the character's face. Highlights emotions and feelings.
• Plan Detail