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

Characteristics: Persuasive Genre

Direct appeal to the audience to buy the product, using indirect strategies like metaphor, humor, and language play to engage the audience.

Advertising as a Multisemiotic Genre: Stages of an Advertisement

1. Lead

Locus of attention, typically an image that draws the reader's attention.

2. Display

The product or service advertised.

Explicit

The image shows the product.

Implicit

The image shows a different entity or idea.

3. Emblem

The brand name or logo.

4. Announcement

The most salient text, usually the slogan or catchy phrase conveying the main message.

5. Enhancer

Longer text with a description of product properties, typically persuasive.

6. Call and Visit Information

Contact details such as address, phone number, or website.... Continue reading "Advertising as a Multisemiotic Genre: Strategies and Features" »

The Influence of Orientalism on 17th-Century European Art and Design

Understanding Orientalism

Orientalism refers to Western attitudes and representations of Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, often characterized by a romanticized and exoticized view. This portrayal emphasized the mysterious and luxurious aspects of Eastern cultures while simplifying and stereotyping their societies. Such representations were prevalent in Western art, literature, and fashion, reflecting Western fantasies more than the actual cultures.

European Trade and Cultural Exchange with Asia

European connections to Asia and the Middle East during the 17th century were facilitated by trade routes like the Silk Road and new maritime routes pioneered by explorers such as Vasco

Architecture

Quattrocento Architecture (15th Century)

Architecture in the Quattrocento sought harmonious spaces based on mathematical and geometrical principles.

Key architects of this period were:

• Brunelleschi, who designed the dome of Florence Cathedral.
• Alberti, who wrote several influential books on architecture.

Cinquecento Architecture (16th Century)

The most significant architectural works were built in Rome, largely due to papal patronage. Buildings became more monumental and strictly adhered to classical architectural orders.

• Bramante designed the most important building of the century: St. Peter's Basilica, and also the Tempietto of San Pietro in Montorio, both located in the Vatican.

Painting

Quattrocento Painting (15th Century)

Painters refined... Continue reading "Renaissance Art & Architecture: 15th & 16th C." »

This Girl Can (Sport England, 2015) Campaign Analysis

Media Language

• Bright colors and dynamic movement create energy and realism. — Barthes (Semiotics): Sweat signifies effort; the body signifies confidence.
• Sport and activism genre blend is inspirational. — Neale (Genre): Combines fitness genre with social change to refresh norms.

Representation

• Real women with visible sweat portray proud, strong bodies. — Hall (Representation): Resists passive female stereotypes, creating a new identity.
• No sexualization; focus is on effort. — Mulvey (Male Gaze): Rejects objectification by showing women as active agents.

Industry

• Government-funded campaign, not for profit. — Curran & Seaton (Power & Media): Uses media to empower, not to profit.

Film Vocabulary

Key Terms

• Director
• Stuntman/woman
• Stunt
• Film star
• Script
• Star in a film
• Special effects
• Producer
• Plot
• Soundtrack
• Win an award
• Release a film
• Film a scene
• Screen

Grammar: Future Tenses

• Future Simple: will + base verb (e.g., Most films will probably be 3D.)
• Future with going to: is/are going to + base verb (e.g., James Cameron is going to release 3D versions of some old films.)

Vocabulary: Action Verbs

• Suggest
• Develop
• Equip
• Predict
• Advertise
• Educate
• Enjoy
• Possess
• Argue
• Decorate
• Connect
• Excite
• Inform
• Compete

Grammar: First Conditional

If + present simple, will + base verb (e.g., If I win, they will let me go to film school.)

Social Etiquette

Vocabulary: Social Interactions

• Bring a present
• Be late
• Click your fingers
• Interrupt a conversation
• Jump a queue
• Tell jokes
• Arrive

Francis Bacon: Life and Works

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher and politician. His father, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was a high-ranking magistrate in Queen Elizabeth's government. Bacon studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1576, he entered Gray's Inn in London to study law. Shortly after, he traveled to France as part of a diplomatic mission.

Other Notable Works by Francis Bacon:

• Novum Organum
• The Wisdom of the Ancients
• The Advancement of Learning

New Atlantis: Plot Summary

New Atlantis describes a fictional island, Bensalem, where a group of European sailors land after becoming lost at sea.

A central element of the work is the description of Solomon's House, a pioneering scientific research center. Here, experiments are... Continue reading "Francis Bacon's New Atlantis: Summary and Analysis" »

English Vocabulary: Social Action and Community Engagement

Unit 4: Social Action Vocabulary

• Attend a rally: asistir a una manifestación
• Appeal: recurrir
• Campaign
• Campaigner
• Charity
• Donate / Donation
• Fundraising event: evento para recaudar fondos
• Fundraiser: recaudador de fondos
• Go on a march: ir a una marcha
• Raise awareness of: concienciar / sensibilizar
• Raise funds / money: recaudar fondos
• Sign a petition: firmar una petición
• Sit-in: sentada
• Sponsor: patrocinar
• Sponsorship: patrocinio / apadrinamiento
• Take part in a [cause/event]
• Volunteer
• Voluntary work

Unit 4: Key Collocations

• Animal charity
• Beach clean-up
• Cancer research
• Computer game
• Death penalty
• Endangered species
• Free debate
• Homeless person
• Informed decision
• Political engagement: compromiso político
• Legal age:

Analyzing Ad Mood and Emotional Impact

The advertisement targets specific demographics, such as *young adults*, *parents*, or *luxury seekers*. It cultivates a specific mood, perhaps *excitement*, *relaxation*, or *urgency*, and aims to evoke feelings like *nostalgia*, *joy*, or a *desire for success*.

Advertising Design Principles and Visuals

The advertisement's design incorporates principles such as *axial balance* or *asymmetrical balance*. Elements are strategically arranged to *draw attention to a central figure* or *guide the viewer’s eye across the page*. The relationship between visual components and text can be *cohesive* or *contrasting*. Spatially, the ad might *utilize white space to emphasize the product* or *appear densely packed... Continue reading "Dissecting Advertisements: Key Elements of Persuasion" »

The Role of Clothing in Self-Expression and Culture

Clothing is more than just a practical necessity; it plays a significant role in self-expression and the reflection of cultural identity. People often use their wardrobe choices to express their personalities, emotions, and beliefs. Whether through casual wear, formal attire, or unique fashion trends, the clothes we wear can communicate a lot about who we are without saying a word. In a world that values individuality, clothing offers an important way to showcase personal style and make a statement about one's identity.

Clothing and Cultural Identity

In addition to personal expression, clothing is deeply tied to culture. Different cultures have unique clothing traditions that signify status,... Continue reading "Clothing: Self-Expression, Culture, and Identity" »

Week 2 Key Terms

• Futurism:
• Social Actors

Citation: For a generation often accused of being passive and totally preoccupied with their own selves, their digital devices and social media, young people are ready to show that there is another side to their life trajectories—that they are future-makers. (Spyrou, 2020, p. 3)

Week 3 Term/Citation

Settler Colonialism: When people from a place of imperial power move to a region and displace those indigenous to the land through genocide, expulsion, or segregation. (Spencer & Sinclair, 2017).

Biopolitics – When a population is being treated as a problem.

Week 4 Citation

• Bodymind Difference - A way of challenging the idea that the body and mind are separate. Disability is an identity that is not solely