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

The Decadent Novel in Late 19th-Century European Literature

The Decadent Novel constitutes, in the context of late 19th-century European literature, a recent referral to Romantic literature. It introduced Modernism in Catalonia before 1900. Under the influence of decadence, the novel shifted to the suggestion of the narrative: it now reflected an inner reality, hidden and almost unknown, from the analysis of internal conflicts of characters who want to self-actualize. The cult of beauty and the creation of artificial paradises, where peace and finding led the authors to recreate distasteful, sexy, and forbidden situations, frustrated the desire to be isolated. In this novel of character, the subjective aspect of art is exalted as essential to... Continue reading "Decadent Novel: Influence on Catalan Modernism" »

Vanguard and Experimental Theatre

This movement includes authors like Fernando Arrabal and Francisco Nieva, and independent theatre groups. They reject realist techniques, incorporating scenic innovations from 20th-century theatre innovators.

Relevant Characteristics:

• Rejection of Realism: New Theatre presents symbolic or allegorical themes.
• Topics: Social and political conditions in Spain, denouncing social injustice and protesting for freedom.
• Characters: Lack psychological depth, are dehumanized or caricatured, becoming symbols.
• Dramatic Action: Fragmented into short, non-linear sequences.
• Stage Space: Innovative design, integrating audience seating into the stage area.
• Theatre as Play: The theatrical event is considered a game.

The Theatre of Vallejo

The Baroque Culture

Characterized by four features:

• Culture is directed
• Massive
• Urban
• Conservative

Culture Addressed

The culture of the Baroque is an operational tool designed to act on a Baroque dirigisme. It inevitably leads to authoritarianism (monarchical absolutism). Art and literature are under the influence, or even under the rule, of the rulers.

Culture of the Masses

In the seventeenth century, there is a concentration of population in certain areas. The population demands a greater quantity of cultural products to be consumed at leisure. This produced a common culture, aimed at the masses, according to the level corresponding to the middle classes (Kitsch).

Urban Culture

There was peasant unrest in the seventeenth century. The urban populations... Continue reading "Baroque Culture and Society: Theater as Propaganda" »

Esperpento: Characteristics and Reflection in Valle-Inclán's Novels

Esperpento, a distinctive literary style, was created by Ramón María Valle-Inclán (1866-1936) in his seminal work Luces de Bohemia (Bohemian Lights). This play first appeared in 1920 in the journal España and was published in book form four years later. Esperpento is characterized by the grotesque distortion of reality for expressive purposes. As stated by Valle-Inclán in Luces de Bohemia, "the tragic sense of Spanish life can only be provided with a systematically distorted view."

The inspiration for Esperpento seems to have emerged from a famous bar Valle-Inclán frequently visited near Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Its facade was decorated with various concave and convex... Continue reading "Esperpento: Valle-Inclán's Grotesque Vision in Spanish Literature" »

"The Load" (Barcelona, 1902) by Ramon Casas

Classification:

Title: The Load or Barcelona, 1902

Author: Ramon Casas (1866-1932)

Year: Dated 1903 (Exhibited at the Salon du Champ de Mars in 1903). Some critics believe it was painted in 1899 and was turned down at the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1900.

Style: Social Realism / Modernism

Museum: Museum of Garrotxa, Olot

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions: 2.98 x 4.70 meters

Subject Matter: Brutal Repression

The painting depicts the brutal repression by the Civil Guard of a workers' demonstration demanding better working conditions. It is a modern take on history painting, utilizing a large format (2.98 x 4.70 meters).

Technical and Artistic Elements

The technique is oil on canvas, with color taking precedence... Continue reading "Ramon Casas' "The Load": Social Realism in Barcelona, 1902" »

Linguistic Features of Literary Language in Postwar Spanish Novels

The narrator is fully aware of rural life, and orality predominates in the writing. There is precision and clarity in the descriptions, and there are moments of intense lyricism. There is a lack of punctuation and the presence of a kind of refrain. Resources are used for conveying feelings of affection or tenderness. Verbs are used for dialogue introducers. The style sometimes uses verbal nominal ellipsis and hyperbole. There are many examples of literary similes or comparisons. Dialogue includes colloquial language forms: pronouns are used to call attention to the direct style of courtesy formulas. Formulas become formulas of submission, impersonal expression, and euphemisms.... Continue reading "Spanish Postwar Literature: Trends and Characteristics" »

Spanish Literature: 18th and 19th Centuries

Historical and Social Context

1789 - Revolutionary Situation

Economic downturn in France led to widespread discontent. In Spain, the death of Carlos V triggered the War of Succession. The 19th century saw political shifts and economic transformations initiated by the Industrial Revolution.

1808 - Napoleonic Invasion

Napoleon invaded Spain, leading to the War of Independence. In 1814, Fernando VII rejected the constitution, restoring absolute monarchy. From 1833 to 1868, liberals returned to power.

Neoclassicism (Enlightenment Thinking)

Neoclassicism affirmed the power of reason, placing humanity at the center of the world and reviving Greco-Roman art.

• Fable: Personified animals with a didactic and moralistic

Cultural Myths: Their Meaning and Impact on Society

Myth: According to Gatti, a myth is a collective construction. It is society at large that gives this account a place of value and provokes its preeminence. We see an effect of approximation and belonging among those who recognize it as such. The man and the myth provide the processing unit that comprehends reality around them. That is, no man can know only things that relate directly to him, but they may contain, as added value, the comprehension of beings, and so humans understand reality in their lives.

Two Definitions of Myth According to Sullivan

According to Sullivan, there are two definitions:

1. A myth is a chain of concepts that enjoy high acceptance. A cultural framework allows members

Critique of Society's Flaws

The author aimed to express a protest against the hypocritical and bourgeois society, exalting its vitality while criticizing the greed and ambition of individuals solely focused on personal enrichment, who lawfully manipulated the weaker. This critique highlights how criminals succeed in society, while the humble and good-hearted fail, as exemplified by Don Victor, while Mesía remains unscathed.

The Pervasive Moral Vacuum

From a moral standpoint, the novel reveals a misrepresentation of ethical values. The moral vacuum permeates all social classes, but it is most clearly reflected within the aristocracy. At the home of the Marquis de Vegallana, a moral code of conduct is established that does not tolerate carelessness.... Continue reading "The Moral Vacuum: Realism in 19th Century Spanish Society" »

Lazarillo de Tormes: An Antihero's Journey

Lazarillo de Tormes presents autobiographical elements and facts narrated with verisimilitude. It portrays the life of an antihero, marked by alternating grace and disgrace, who never fully escapes his miserable existence. He uses tricks to survive and grows into an adult lacking honor.

Publication History and Authorship

The text first appeared in 1554 in four different editions simultaneously. It achieved remarkable success but was soon banned by the Inquisition in 1559. In 1573, its printing was allowed again, albeit in an expurgated version. The complete text was not published again in Spain until 1834.

The exact date of composition is unknown, although historical references within the work suggest... Continue reading "Lazarillo de Tormes: Social Critique in the First Picaresque Novel" »