Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Arts and Humanities

The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot

1. Sections and Summaries

This poem comprises five sections:

• The Burial of the Dead

  Part I conveys a sense of apprehension and incomprehension among various characters in different situations. Madame Sosostris, a fortune-teller, adds to the confusion with enigmatic pronouncements that only gain clarity later in the poem. The city, particularly London, is depicted as a grim place inhabited by people unable to live fully or escape their deadness.

• A Game of Chess

  Part II presents two scenes showcasing the desolation of people's lives. The first depicts a richly decorated room where a wealthy lady's constant questions reveal her anxiety and lack of control. The second scene unfolds in a London pub, where two women discuss

Vocabulary

1. AMBIGUITY: Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation.
2. NEPOTISM: Giving jobs to relatives.
3. ETHNOCENTRIC: The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own culture.
4. INVEST: To put money, time, or feelings into something.
5. ENLIGHTENMENT: Clear thinking that is free from delusion.
6. COURTSHIP: Time when one person pursues the other for marriage.
7. DECLINE: To reduce or to say no.
8. UNPREDICTABLE: Something that behaves in unexpected ways.
9. BRANCH OUT: To expand or extend, as in business activities.
10. SECULARISM: The view that public education and other matters of civil policy should be conducted without religious elements.
11. BIAS: Inclination, prejudice, viewpoint.
12. CONTROVERSY: A prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention.
13. STEREOTYPE: Opinion

The Narrative Verbal Icon /2

A Brief Overview of the History of Narration

• Phase 1: Mythic narration = "histories" of the world. Very ancient stories, which are signs of the thinking man. They are a kind of documentation about how people think. This was the narrative of fictitious cultures. The heroes were divine beings, outstanding humans who were able to do things which others are unable to.
• Phase 2: High Mimetic narration = imitating a culture which is superior to another, connecting the stories with historical facts. The producers of heroic epics found a tradition and storytellers followed them. (primary=oral, secondary=written). The journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas belong here. The focus is on the journey made by the characters (mostly without)

The Coming of International Relations

The First Great Debate

The emergence of international relations as a distinct field of study is intertwined with the rise of social sciences like economics, sociology, and political science. A group of scholars, often referred to as liberals, idealists, Wilsonians, or utopians, played a pivotal role in shaping early IR thought. They championed the establishment of international institutions, the expansion of international trade, and the practice of open diplomacy guided by experts. This belief in the power of international cooperation and institutions stemmed from their conviction that war was primarily a consequence of flawed thinking by politicians and diplomats.

These early IR thinkers argued that secrecy... Continue reading "The Rise of International Relations as a Social Science" »

Reinforcement Theory

Reinforcement theory posits that an individual's behavior is influenced by its consequences. Rooted in the "law of effect," this theory focuses on the outcomes of an individual's actions, rather than their underlying causes.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves providing a positive response to desired behavior, thereby increasing its likelihood of repetition.

Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement involves removing or reducing negative consequences in response to desired behavior, also increasing its likelihood of repetition.

Punishment

Punishment involves removing positive consequences or introducing negative ones to decrease the likelihood of undesirable behavior.

Extinction

Extinction involves withholding... Continue reading "Understanding Reinforcement Theory and Emotional Intelligence for Effective Leadership" »

The Theory of International Relations

Realism

Realists believe that society and politics are governed by objective laws rooted in human nature. To improve society, we must first understand these laws. They also believe in the possibility of developing a rational theory that reflects these laws. They make a distinction between objective rational truth supported by reason and subjective judgment derived from prejudice and wishful thinking. For realism, theory consists in determining facts with reason. The character of a foreign policy must therefore be discovered through the examination of political acts and their foreseeable consequences.

They develop the concept of interest in power to understand international politics. This concept provides a... Continue reading "International Relations Theory: Realism and Structural Realism" »

Growing Up in Ancient Greece

Part of the Universal Creative Process

Composition

Golden Ratio: Fibonacci Number by Leonardo de Pisa

Composition Rules

Christmas: A Time for Reflection, Not Excess

Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, but it is also a time of excessive consumerism. Every year, society pressures people to buy expensive gifts for their loved ones, even if they cannot always afford them.

This can lead to serious problems, such as people going into debt to buy gifts simply because they place more importance on material things than anything else. All this can lead to serious financial consequences.

In addition, excessive consumerism at Christmas can also have a negative impact on the environment. Many of the gifts bought for Christmas are disposable products, which contributes to waste production. This can have a negative effect on the environment, as many of these products are... Continue reading "Christmas & Valentine's Day: Rethinking Consumerism" »