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

Neoclassical Art in Spain

Neoclassical art in Spain faced the challenge of overcoming a deeply rooted Baroque tradition. Consequently, the finest examples of this artistic style emerged in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Carlos III introduced the neoclassical aesthetic during his reign. Villanueva constructed the palace that now houses the Museo del Prado. Ventura Rodríguez designed the facade of the Cathedral of Pamplona.

Urban Planning and Neoclassicism

Excavations and studies of antiquity influenced urban planning. While there was no overarching plan, urban areas were modified to expand and regularize streets. Examples include the construction of the Brandenburg Gate, marking the main axis of Berlin's Royal Avenue, and Carlos III'... Continue reading "Neoclassical Art in Spain: Sculpture and Painting Analysis" »

The Quattrocento: 15th Century Italian Art

Architecture

Architects sought mastery of space by introducing simple, ordered elements inspired by Greco-Roman models.

Key figures in Florence included:

• Filippo Brunelleschi
• Leon Battista Alberti

Sculpture

Sculptors were interested in representing the human body, following classical models regarding proportions and the treatment of the nude.

Painting

The great innovations of Quattrocento painters included the rational use of perspective to represent depth on a flat surface.

Masaccio, Piero della Francesca, and Sandro Botticelli are among the most representative painters of this period.

The Cinquecento: 16th Century Shift to Rome

In the 16th century (Cinquecento), the artistic capital shifted from Florence to... Continue reading "Italian Renaissance Art: Quattrocento and Cinquecento" »

The Language of Heraldry Explained

The heraldic language encompasses all the symbolism and its composition to achieve full visual expressions of content and meaning. The base element of this language is the shield. It is built from symbols and colors within the shield, assembled according to specific purposes, principles, and rules.

These rules and the composition of symbols and colors form a visual grammar. When properly applied, this grammar defines the language of heraldry, organizing a language syntax where heraldic terms structure a visual language to define everything incorporated into armories.

What is an Armory?

An armory is the combination of the shield together with its exterior decorations. The shield is the basic concept around which... Continue reading "Understanding Heraldry: Symbols, Armory, and Shield Shapes" »

Islamic Art: An Overview

ISLAM: Islamic art flourished within diverse contexts, from settled communities to nomadic cultures. Islam originated in Arabia in 622 AD when Muhammad fled to Medina from Mecca. The religion's central text is the Koran.

Within a century, Islam and its culture spread through military conquests, reaching from India to Spain, establishing a relatively homogeneous culture. Key contributions include advancements in business, science, philosophy, agriculture, and urban development.

Urban Planning and Architecture

Urban life, characterized by narrow streets, centered around key areas: corners (groupings of buildings, shops, workshops, and markets), bathhouses, residences, palaces, madrassas (Koranic schools), and mosques (prayer... Continue reading "Islamic and Roman Art: History, Characteristics, and Influence" »

Theatre of Epidaurus

General Information

Title:

Theatre of Epidaurus

Architect:

Polykleitos the Younger

Period:

4th Century BC

Material:

Stone

Location:

Epidaurus, Peloponnese, Greece

Formal Analysis

Description:

Nestled against a hillside, the Theatre of Epidaurus features distinct sections: the orchestra, the cavea (seating area), and the skene (stage building).

• Orchestra: A circular, sandy area at the base, used by the chorus and featuring a central altar dedicated to Dionysus.
• Cavea: The semi-circular seating area, accommodating up to 15,000 spectators, divided into two sections by a corridor (diazoma).
• Skene: A building tangent to the orchestra, serving as a backdrop, with a raised platform (proscenium) in front for theatrical action.

The theatre's lateral... Continue reading "Epidaurus Theater: Ancient Greek Architecture and Acoustics" »

Ramón del Valle-Inclán's Grotesque: A Deep Dive

Characteristics of Absurdity in Valle-Inclán's Work

Key characteristics of absurdity in Valle-Inclán's work include:

• The Grotesque as a Means of Expression: Deformation of reality through caricature.
• Double Code: Beneath the apparent tone of mockery lies a meaning-laden, satirical social intent.
• Use of Violent Contrasts: Death as a fundamental character, "muñequización" (treating characters like puppets), and other contrasting elements.

All of Valle-Inclán's "esperpentos" share common features in terms of themes, structure, and resources. An important element is the historical context; Valle was particularly interested in the Carlist Wars, the Elizabethan period, the wars in Cuba and Morocco,... Continue reading "Ramón del Valle-Inclán's Grotesque: A Deep Dive into Spanish Literature" »

What is Literary Realism and When Did It Emerge?

Literary realism emerged as a way of representing reality, aiming to get closer to its individual social and cultural aspects. Realists analyze and deepen human reality through direct observation of everyday life. It arose in the second half of the nineteenth century.

What Was the Most Cultivated Genre in Realism?

The novel was the most cultivated genre because it was considered the most appropriate means of expression to depict reality. The origin of the realistic novel can be found in the genre of the novel of manners and the sixteenth-century Spanish romance tradition.

Features of the Realistic Novel

• Interest in humans and the social and cultural environment in which they live.
• Observation and description

Realism in 19th Century Spain

Bourgeois Society and Daily Life

The Realism art movement focused on portraying bourgeois society, leaving behind romantic ideals for social commentary. It depicted everyday life in both rural and urban settings, analyzing environments, social groups, and their influence on character development.

The Realist Novel

The Realist novel combined individual and social aspirations. It blended fiction with historical aspects, portraying contemporary life in real places with detailed descriptions. Characters were ordinary individuals, described externally, internally, and socially, engaging in direct-style dialogues. An omniscient narrator provided commentary and insights.

Realism in Spain

From 1870, Spanish Realism flourished... Continue reading "19th Century Spanish Realism and Naturalism in Literature" »

Forms of Oral Communication

Application: An administrative document conveying a request to a specific issuer or recipient.

Dialogue: The most common form of oral communication.

Monologue: A unique oral manifestation where a speaker addresses an audience for an extended period.

Talking Shop: An informal meeting where individuals exchange views on various topics.

Debate: A formal, planned, and publicized version of a symposium.

Contemporary Spanish Theater

Post-Civil War Era

The evolution of Spanish theater, narrative, and lyric was significantly influenced by the civil war and its aftermath. From 1939, the Spanish theatrical landscape was marked by exile and the loss of authors during the war.

Argumentation

Argumentative Discourse: Aims to persuade or... Continue reading "Effective Communication: Forms, Techniques, and Structures" »

Characteristics of Sign Language

Sign language has a number of characteristics that allow us to characterize it:

1. Arbitrariness. For Saussure, the bond linking the signifier and signified is radically arbitrary. Arbitrary means "unmotivated." Thus, the idea of "flower" is not bound by any relation with the sound sequence flower. Proof of this is that in other languages, the signifier is different, for example, fleur in French. However, other linguists, such as Benveniste, prefer to speak of it as conventional.
2. Linear. The signifier unfolds in time and is therefore a "timeline." In contrast to visual signifiers (a photograph, for example), acoustic signifiers have no more than the timeline: their elements are presented one after the other, forming