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

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and The Last Judgement

Michelangelo Buonarroti (Caprese, 1475 – Rome, 1564). Period: 1508-1512. Renaissance. Technique: Fresco painting. Theme: Biblical. Location: Vatican City.

Michelangelo, a painter, sculptor, architect, and designer, was connected to the Medici family from childhood, learning in the workshop of painter Domenico Ghirlandaio and studying sculpture at the Medici gardens school under Bertoldo di Giovanni.

After the death of his patron, Lorenzo de' Medici, in 1492, Michelangelo resided in Bologna until 1496. He then moved to Rome, where he solidified his reputation by undertaking significant papal commissions, alongside notable works in Florence.

Formal Description

The Sistine Chapel's vault measures... Continue reading "Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: Art, History, and Restoration" »

Opinion Genres in Journalism

The purpose of opinion genres is to judge, criticize, analyze data and attitudes, and create controversy. They have a subjective character and are as follows:

• Editorials: In daily broadcasts, the editorial considers the relevant facts of the month and takes a position based on ideology.
• Articles: Exposing opinions, analysis, criticism, and reviews on topics within the general facts.
• Letters to the Editor: In which readers give their opinions about events or personal collections.

Article Determinants

• Definite: The, the, the, in's, n', l'...
• Demonstrative: This, that, this, that...
• Possessive: My, your, his, our, your, their...
• Numerals: One, two, first, half, second, double...
• Quantitative: How much, less, little,

Realism and Naturalism in 19th-Century Europe

Historical and Social Context

The 19th century in Europe was characterized by rapid population growth and economic expansion based on industrialization. This era was marked by the consolidation of power by authoritarian governments and the rise of the bourgeoisie. The conservative appearance of figures like Napoleon III in France and the imperialist colonial period responded to these interests, driven by the need for raw materials and new markets. These interests clashed with emerging philosophical currents such as positivism and Marxism.

Scientific and experimental trends, including the theory of evolution and theories of heredity, significantly influenced literature. The rigorous observation of reality,... Continue reading "19th-Century Realism and Naturalism in European Literature" »

Advertisements

Advertisements use persuasion to influence the receiver. Key parts include: an image of the product (often with a related image), a short, memorable tagline, text (which may or may not be present), and the logo or monogram of the entity advertising.

Linguistic Variation

Language use differs for each speaker, even when expressing the same idea. This variation depends on age, cultural background, and origin. Three different linguistic varieties exist:

• Diatopic Varieties: Characterize speakers belonging to a specific geographical area.
• Diachronic Varieties: Identify speech features from a particular historical moment or generation.
• Diastratic Varieties: Specify a particular social class or group.

The communicative situation influences... Continue reading "Poetry and Linguistics: Exploring Language Variations" »

The scene in the foreground, with figures, depicts Judith beheading Holofernes. The body of Holofernes extends to the bottom of the canvas. The anatomy of the naked body is rendered with absolute perfection. He is depicted as a bearded man with strong muscles. The figure of the maid is waiting with her *mantilla* extended to receive the head and take it to the camp of the Jews. Ocher and white are used to highlight the main figure, and red in the curtains serves to emphasize the importance of the character below. The rest of the room is black, with a gloomy light illuminating the figures. Details such as the earrings that the *Madeleine* had thrown down are now being used by Judith. There is realism in the figures, while the setting is eerie... Continue reading "Caravaggio's Roman Period: Masterpieces and Controversies" »

Theory of Culture and Television

Stages: Fiction television viewers watch a world that differs substantially from the real world. Heavy TV consumers live in a world dominated by television, making the experience a displacement of reality. That is, they are influenced in their perception of social reality by television content. Social representations from the world of television are not absorbed selectively.

Parsons' View on Media Influence

Parsons places the media between what he calls the subsystems of culture, education, and religion. For him, media primarily carry out an integrative function. This function integrates subsystems and various sub-collectivities into a complex social system, achieved through the mechanism of influence. Influence... Continue reading "Media Influence: Culture, Gatekeeping, and Agenda-Setting" »

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa: A 17th-Century Masterpiece by Bernini

Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome (1647-1652)

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, a marble sculpture group considered to be Gian Lorenzo Bernini's masterpiece, is located in the Cornaro Chapel within the Roman church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Commissioned by the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Federico Cornaro, the chapel was intended as his final resting place. The scene depicted in the sculpture is based on Saint Teresa of Ávila's own description of her mystical experience, later included in her canonization.

Bernini masterfully integrates architecture, sculpture, and painting to create a theatrical experience. The work is a perfect example of Baroque art's aim to... Continue reading "Bernini's Masterpiece: The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa in Rome" »

Narrative Speech: Key Elements

Narrative speech is a form of discourse in which an issuer (narrator) tells about events related to characters, which occur in a temporal process and a determined space.

Linguistic Features

• Abundance of verbal forms.
• Abundance of temporal subordinate clauses.
• In connection with the syntax, we must bear in mind that the more compound sentences and complex syntactic constructions there are, the more it will slow down the narrative. The author plays with this to get the narrative effect that they are pursuing.

Specifications

Point of View

The point of view is the combination of the grammatical person from which the story is told and the attitude of the narrator with respect to the facts.

The main variations that can be found... Continue reading "Narrative Speech: Types, Features, and Styles" »

Information Genres

These genres prioritize the objective reporting of facts.

1. The News

   This is the most characteristic genre of journalism. It is a report of a recent event of public interest. The journalist should reflect what happened objectively, without expressing personal opinions on the facts.

   Structure:

   • Headlines: Includes top title, main title, and subtitle.
   • Lead or Intro: Answers the six key questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How), often presented in italics.
   • Body: Presents information in descending order of importance.

2. Reporting

   Relates facts about a topic of current interest. It is an expanded form of news that allows for a more personal style, as it typically includes the author's signature. It adds depth through research and documentation