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

Illness and Disability in Ethan Frome

Ethan and those individuals close to him, including Mattie, suffer from sickness or disability. Caring for the sick and the lame defines Ethan’s life. He spends years tending to his ailing mother, and then he cares for his hypochondriacal wife, Zeena. After his and Mattie’s attempted suicide, Ethan is forced to spend his days as a cripple, living with a sick wife and the handicapped Mattie. Outward physical signs reflect inner realities, and the predominance of illness indicates that, inwardly, they are all in states of destitution and decline.

The Impact of Snow and Cold

The imagery of Ethan Frome is built around cold, ice, snow, and hues of white. The characters constantly complain about the cold, and... Continue reading "Ethan Frome: Illness, Cold, and Symbolic Red" »

Salvador Dalí's The Great Masturbator, created in 1929, is a seminal work of dreamlike surrealism. This oil on canvas painting, measuring 1.1 m x 1.5 m, is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid.

Historical Context

The year 1929 was decisive not only for Dalí's biography but also for the evolution of the pictorial Surrealist movement, of which this work is one of the most representative manifestations. Dalí developed his paranoid-critical method, which involved relating arbitrary images to emerging obsessions. Dalí's mastery of pictorial technique is evident: flawless and precise drawing, vibrant and luminous colors, and an almost photographic realism. The distinction from traditional painting lies in the unusual... Continue reading "Salvador Dalí's The Great Masturbator: A Surrealist Icon" »

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

Modernism emerged in the final years of the nineteenth century in Europe and America. This period saw emerging fin de siècle trends of thought that sought to renew the social and political landscape, as well as artistic tastes, challenging prevailing movements like Realism and Naturalism. Initially, the term "modernist" carried a derogatory connotation, used by those opposed to these new developments. However, it eventually came to designate, without any negative implication, the proponents of this innovative trend. The leading figure of Modernism is the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío.

The characteristic features of Modernism encompass both its thematic concerns and its distinctive style. Generally, Modernists sought harmony, wholeness, and... Continue reading "Modernism: Origins, Themes, and Poetic Style" »

Understanding Advertising

Advertising is a component of various marketing activities, specifically promotion. It serves to communicate the message of an identified sponsor to a specific audience, using paid, impersonal, and far-reaching media such as television, radio, print media, and the internet, among others, in order to achieve set objectives.

Advertising vs. Publicity/Propaganda

Propaganda is regarded as work done to spread an idea and is usually free, while advertising is a set of paid activities used by a company to win and increase their clientele.

Key Features of Advertising

The primary feature of advertising is communication.

The Communication Process

Communication is a process that consists of a set of elements:

• Issuer: The source of communication.