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

The Evolution of Fandom and Participatory Culture

The term ‘fan’ is an abbreviation of the word fanatic, which comes from the Latin word ‘fanaticus’. This term originally carried religious connotations, referring to devotees and having secular faith, but it quickly assumed negative connotations in society.

Henry Jenkins, an American media scholar and lecturer of the second half of the 20^th century, addresses different phenomena related to the fan in his book Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture. He rejects common fan stereotypes such as the comic, nerdy, psychotic, and eroticized fan. Moreover, he expresses the fan as a defensible position within mass culture, challenging the view of fans as a scandalous category... Continue reading "Fan Culture, Social Power, and Virginia Woolf's Feminist Vision" »

Key Literary Concepts and Definitions

Literary Forms and Genres

Literature

The art or way to express oneself through written words and to keep a record.

Lyrics/Poetry

Written expression of thoughts, feelings, and desires, conveyed through suggestive and indirect language.

Epic

A narrative poem written in heroic hexameter. It has four constituent parts: plot, character, thought, and diction.

Drama

Poetic compositions designed to be acted in front of audiences in a theatron.

Tragedy

Defined as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself." It is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear.

Narrative Structure Elements

Plot

The structure or organization of events that make up a fictional story.... Continue reading "Essential Literary Terms and Definitions" »

The Concept of Bricolage

The term bricolage was created in 1962 by Claude Lévi-Strauss to designate the style used in ancient tribal rituals where they made use of disparate elements that, joined together, have a meaning and evoke magical feelings. Nowadays, we name 'bricolage' a type of collage which reveals the attractiveness of pop culture. It consists of rearranging and juxtaposing previously unconnected objects to produce new meaning. This involves an inner process of re-signification, in which cultures change the original meanings of these objects in order to adapt them into new codes.

It is important to make clear that 'bricolage' is not 'collage,' as the latter consists of sticking together disconnected elements without any inherent... Continue reading "Bricolage and Allusion: Literary and Cultural Techniques" »

Event Props: 3D, 2D, Built & Sculpted

3D Props: Constructed or Sculpted

3D props are either constructed or sculpted.

Tall columns can be constructed from seamless paper tubing. Doors, frames, pediments, pedestals, planters, and other items are available, depending on budget and local prop rental warehouses.

Advantages: Self-standing, usually easy to install.

Disadvantages: Expensive and bulky to handle, transport, and ship.

2D Props: Flats and Cutouts

2D props are rectangular two-dimensional props that are scenically or decoratively painted or covered with decorative fabric. A standard 2D prop is the cutout profile piece, which can consist of representational artwork that is “cut out” along its outline.

Numerous decorative 2D hard props are... Continue reading "Props for Events: 3D, 2D, Built & Sculpted - A Practical Guide" »

Scripted and Unscripted TV Programmes

Scripted programmes: dramas, situation comedies, comedy shows, soap operas, documentaries, etc.

Unscripted programmes: talk shows, game shows, reality shows, news, sport and current affairs, etc., and may be either live or recorded.

Basic Camera Shot Types

• The Rule of Thirds: Dividing the frame into 9 equal sections to make the picture more appealing to the eye. It might be better used as a guideline.
• Extreme Wide Shots (EWS): Act to establish the area.
• Wide Shots (WS): Show the entire person or area. They are great for establishing the scene and allow for good action of the characters. Sometimes this is known as the long shot.
• Medium Shots (MS): Frame the subject from the waist up. This is the most common shot

... Continue reading "Camera Shots and TV Programming: A Comprehensive Look" »

Renaissance Painting and Sculpture

• Painting and sculpture reflected humanism; landscapes, cities, the human body, and portraits were realistically represented. New pictorial techniques emerged, such as perspective and oil paints.

New Artistic Interests

The new interests of society were reflected in the characteristics of the style:

• Idealism and Serenity: Artists sought to reflect reality, influenced by the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. They aimed to portray an ideal beauty, often devoid of overt emotions. This idealism can be seen in works by Botticelli, Raphael Sanzio, and Leonardo da Vinci. In contrast, Michelangelo often portrayed intense emotions in his works.

• The Human Body: There was a renewed focus on the anatomy of the human body.

... Continue reading "Renaissance Art: Painting & Sculpture Innovations" »

Interviewer: Welcome to Job Talk. We're talking to Jim Harris, who works on animated films. Thanks for joining us, Jim. So, what do you do, exactly?

Jim: I'm a film editor. I'm the person who puts the animated movie together.

Animated vs. Live-Action Films

Interviewer: How is an animated film different from a regular movie?

Jim: Well, actually, they're very similar.

The Animation Production Process

Interviewer: Take us through the process.

Jim: Well, first, just like in a regular film, a script is written. You have to start with a good script.

Interviewer: Of course, and it has to be funny.

Jim: Exactly. Then a director is hired.

The Director's Role in Animation

Interviewer: Now, what does the director of animated films do? Direct the drawings?

Jim: Ha!... Continue reading "Animated Film Production: An Interview with Jim Harris" »

Allegory: Definition and Literary Examples

Allegory is a method of expressing a complex idea by means of simple visual images or narrative. An allegorical story must inherently contain two parts: the literal story and the figurative story that readers interpret following the author's lead. Note that the passing of time may influence interpretation, potentially leading to multiple meanings.

Distinguishing Allegory from Related Literary Devices

Allegory is distinct from, but often confused with, other literary devices:

• Metaphor: Compares two dissimilar things, showing what they have in common.
• Symbolism: Refers to isolated items that, when put together, form the larger allegory.
• Simile: Compares two things by explicitly stating the nature of the comparison.

... Continue reading "Literary Theory Essentials: Allegory and Postcolonialism Defined" »

Humanism: A New Worldview

Humanism was an intellectual movement characterized by its admiration for the Classical Age. Human beings were considered the center of the universe, rejecting medieval theocentrism. Key humanists included Erasmus of Rotterdam and Thomas More.

Reformation and Counter-Reformation

The Reformation took place in Europe in the 16th century, profoundly impacting religious and political landscapes.

The Protestant Reformation

Initiated by the German monk Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformation rejected the Pope's authority and criticized corruption within the Church. Luther argued that salvation was achieved through faith in Christ alone and proclaimed only two sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. Other significant Protestant movements... Continue reading "Humanism, Reformation, and Renaissance: Shaping Early Modern Europe" »

Mindless decisions can cut down time That could be used for something else and overthinking starts to come into the Equation as well and we will talk ourselves out of the decision all together.

model of decision making.

Problem recognition (Richard realizes that he deslikes his plasma tv)

Information search (Richard surfs web to learn about TVs)

Evaluation of alternatives (Richard compares models on reputation and Features)

Product choice (Richard chooses a TV with an appealing feature)

Outcomes  (Richard brings home and Enjoys his 4k TV)

relationship between a consumer’s level of expertise- When prior knowledge is very little or very great, Then little information is sought. However, when prior knowledge is moderate, that’s when The most information... Continue reading "bgr" »