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

Imagism, Vorticism, and the Modernist Movement

The differences between Imagism and Vorticism lie in their status as concrete, specific artistic movements in early 20th-century England. Modernism, by contrast, is a broad umbrella term. It refers to the collective movements—such as Vorticism, Imagism, and Cubism—that sought to dismantle Victorian and 19th-century modes of thought.

To differentiate these concepts:

• Ad Hoc Nature: Imagism and Vorticism were created for specific purposes with defined rules.
• Individualism: The authors involved possessed strong, often arrogant personalities and would have rejected the collective label of "Modernist."
• Retrospective Labeling: The term "Modernism" is only applicable when viewed retrospectively.

Ezra Pound:

Renaissance Art and Humanism

Renaissance Painting

The Renaissance saw a profound shift in artistic expression, with painters mastering new techniques and themes.

The Quattrocento (15th Century)

• Masaccio and Piero della Francesca: Pioneered the use of perspective.
• Botticelli: Known for his distinctive sense of movement and graceful figures.

The Cinquecento (16th Century)

• Leonardo da Vinci: Brilliantly represented nature, mastering sfumato and blurring outlines. One of his masterpieces was the Mona Lisa.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti: Painted the iconic frescoes in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
• Raphael: Achieved perfection in his use of color, drawing, and composition. One of his notable artworks is the Madonnas.
• Titian: As a Venetian painter, he created highly

Debunking Creativity Myths

Common Misconceptions

1. The Eureka Myth

New ideas sometimes appear as a flash of insight, but this is often the culmination of prior thought and effort.

2. The Breed Myth

Creative ability isn't solely determined by genetics; it's a skill that can be developed.

3. The Originality Myth

Creative ideas often build upon existing knowledge and collaborations.

4. The Expert Myth

While expertise is valuable, relying solely on experts can limit diverse perspectives.

5. The Incentive Myth

Larger incentives don't always lead to increased innovation and can sometimes be counterproductive.

6. The Lone Creator Myth

Innovation is often a collaborative process, not the work of a single individual.

7. The Brainstorming Myth

Unstructured brainstorming... Continue reading "Debunking Creativity Myths: Fostering True Innovation" »

The Transition from Romanticism to Realism

The wish for the renovation of Romantic drama failed with the audience of the time due to the ideological evolution of the bourgeoisie. There was a success of Realism in the narrative genre, characterized by formal and linguistic simplicity, which gradually spread to other genres. Two main trends emerged: bourgeois comedy, which respected dramatic unities and focused on bourgeois matters from a conservative point of view, and Romantic drama in verse, which lacked the revolutionary ideology of the Romantic era.

Henrik Ibsen: The Father of Modern Drama

Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and director of the Norwegian National Theatre. He traveled to Italy and Germany for 27 years, where he created his... Continue reading "Mastering Modern Drama: From Realism to Symbolism" »

Storytelling Definitions

• Plot: The main sequence of events in a play, novel, or film.
• Biographical sketch: An account dealing with a particular person's life.
• Fake: A person or thing that is not genuine.
• Myth: A widely held but false belief.
• Tall story: An account that is fanciful and difficult to believe.
• Fairy tale: A story, typically of a magical or idealized nature, often for children.
• Legend: A traditional story popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated.
• Anecdote: A short, entertaining story about a real incident or person.
• Punch line: The culmination of a joke or story, providing the humor or climax.
• Joke: Something said or done to cause amusement.

Common Storytelling Expressions

• Tell a white lie
• Spreading rumors
• Be a bit of a gossip
• Prone

Fiction and Prose Narratives

Fiction: In literature, a work created from the imagination of the writer.

Novel: A lengthy and complex fictional prose narrative dealing imaginatively with the human condition using a connected series of events and a group of characters in a specific setting.

Short Story: A brief fictional prose narrative usually concerning a single effect portrayed in a single episode or scene and with a limited number of characters focusing on unity of characterization, theme, and effect.

Poetry and Verse Forms

Poetry: A work designed to convey a vivid and imaginative sense experience through the use of condensed language selected for its sound and suggestive power and meaning, and employing specific technical devices, such as meter,... Continue reading "Understanding Literary Genres and Devices" »

Foundational Concepts in Intercultural Communication (ICC)

...and even physical artifacts.

W. Humboldt's Ideas and ICC Principles

Question: What correlation exists between Wilhelm von Humboldt’s ideas and the principles of Intercultural Communication (ICC)?

Humboldt proposed that: “...human language is a rule-governed system, rather than just a collection of words and phrases paired with meanings...”

Correlation: Language embodies the cultural conceptualization of the community of people who use that language.

Interdisciplinary Nature of ICC Theory

Question: May the Theory of ICC be considered interdisciplinary? Why?

The Theory of ICC can be considered interdisciplinary. Despite the fact that every culture has its own peculiarities, different... Continue reading "Key Concepts and Models in Intercultural Communication Theory" »

Text 1 is a public service announcement conceptualized and designed by Terremoto Propaganda, a creative ad agency based in Curitiba, Brazil. The title of the PSA is “Stop the Violence: Don’t Text and Drive”. Text 2 is a newspaper article written by Barbara Ortutay, a technology writer for the Associated Press. The title of the article is “Distracted Driving is Rampant Across North America”. Both texts share many commonalities and differences with regards to context, purpose, audience, and formal and stylistic features.

Each text has a unique context that is different from the other. The context of Text 1 is a PSA created as part of an ad campaign for the bus rapid transit system, Ecovia. The PSA, published in January 2013, was created... Continue reading "Understanding the Impact of Texting and Driving Awareness" »

Physical Memory and Creative Acting

1. Circle the correct answers: What is physical memory?

• a. When actors recall a body position
• b. To recreate a posture you saw before

2. What is a creative actor?

It is a type of actor that adds their personal techniques to their performance.

Acting Statements: True or False

3. Read the statements and answer true or false:

• A. In oral expression, we eat as the character. (False)
• B. We can speak with modulations on stage. (True)
• C. Facial expression is not important. (False)
• D. Actors have to think as a character at all times. (True)

Key Performance Concepts

4. Answer the following questions:

a. What are the given circumstances?

The date, the day, the weather, the age, the stage, the script, the director, the costumes, and... Continue reading "Acting Techniques and Performance Fundamentals" »

Essential English-Spanish Music Vocabulary

Musical Terms

• Beat: ritmo
• Tone deaf: no tener oído musical / desafinado
• Jingle: canción publicitaria / melodía pegadiza
• Musical score: partitura (sheet music) / banda sonora (soundtrack)
• Syllabus: programa de estudios / temario
• Chords: acordes
• Musical masterpiece: obra maestra musical
• Lyrics: letra (de canción)
• Recall: recordar
• Tunes: melodías / canciones
• Background music: música de fondo
• Airplay: emisión en radio / difusión radial
• In tune: afinado
• Rhythm: ritmo
• Out of tune: desafinado / fuera de tono
• Catchy tune: melodía pegadiza
• Bass: bajo
• Live performance: actuación en vivo / directo
• Choir: coro
• Recorded: grabado
• Deafening: ensordecedor
• Playable: interpretable / tocable
• Gig: concierto / bolo
• Vocals: voz / parte