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

The Ancient Theater of Epidaurus: A Masterpiece of Classical Design

Classical Period Features

In the preceding Archaic period, early forms of theater in Attica, such as the Dionysian festivals, lacked a constructed stage. The orchestra was rectangular, bounded laterally by the Temple of Dionysus and an altar. The theatron was connected by only two straight staircases rising from the orchestra.

Greek theater forms significantly influenced the construction of Roman theaters, which adopted important elements like the theatron, orchestra, and skene (stage building). A particularity of Roman auditoriums was their construction in a semicircular form, often built on level ground, enclosing the orchestra. Roman plays did not feature a choir, and their... Continue reading "Epidaurus Theater: Classical Greek Architecture and Sacred Drama" »

The Rise of Neoclassicism: Ideals and Development

Core Characteristics and Philosophical Foundations

Neoclassicism emerged as an intellectual rejection of the Rococo style, seeking to revive Greco-Roman antiquity. Originating in Italy, the ultimate goal of this movement was the creation of a perfect society through classical values such as reason and morality, thereby showcasing the splendor of an orderly, free, and dignified society.

The Two Stages of Neoclassicism

The development of Neoclassicism occurred in two distinct stages:

Stage One: The Roman Genesis (1755)

The first stage emerged in Rome in 1755 and was represented by two pivotal figures:

• Johann Joachim Winckelmann: Considered the father of archaeology and art history. Winckelmann became

Interior Monologue (also known as 'stream of consciousness') is a literary technique that attempts to capture on paper the pressure flow of the real world and the inner world imagined by one of the protagonists. The Psychological Novel or Novel of Psychological Analysis, also known as psychological realism, is a work of prose fiction that emphasizes the internal characterization of its characters, their motives, circumstances, and internal action, which is born and developed from the external action. Prolepsis requires a certain expertise in handling, since it is difficult to maintain the reader's interest when they know when it will end. Romanticism is a cultural and political movement that originated in Germany, Enlightenment, and Classicism,... Continue reading "Understanding Key Literary Techniques and Movements" »

Radio: Production and Transmission

Radio: Production and transmission of information in the form of acoustic messages addressed to a collective public and disseminated through electromagnetic waves.

The Radio Message

Word: The radio message is always oral. A brief radio message requires clarity in pronunciation, use of repetitions, etc. Because it is an oral discourse, it is more agile and spontaneous than that of the press, requiring the listener to be natural. It must also have a suggestive and expressive language, compensating for the absence of visual imagery. The colloquial expression is appreciated to approximate the listener.

Radio Information Genres

Information: We use the same genres as those of the Press: news stories, etc.

Diario Spoken

The Renaissance: Birth of the Modern World

The late 15th and early 16th centuries witnessed the birth of the modern world. This transformation resulted from various events, primarily geographical, such as the discovery of America, and ideological phenomena. These included overcoming the medieval worldview, which centered on religion, and the emergence of a new mentality.

The term "Renaissance" began to be used in the 19th century by J. Michelet and Burkhardt, who, in 1860, published The Culture of the Renaissance in Italy. The word "Renaissance" has a controversial significance concerning the Middle Ages. Its main feature is secularization: while medieval man was concerned with religion, Renaissance man became emancipated and the center of thought.... Continue reading "Renaissance: Birth of the Modern State" »

Noucentisme: A Classicist Movement in Catalan Literature

Noucentisme was a Catalan cultural and political movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It encompassed various aspects, including language, culture, and education. As a classicist movement, Noucentisme emphasized a return to order, harmony, and balance, reflecting the broader European rationalist trends of the time. Politically, Noucentisme was closely associated with the Regionalist League, led by Enric Prat de la Riba. This party represented the Catalan nationalist aspirations of the conservative bourgeoisie.

Key Characteristics of Noucentisme

• Mediterranean spirit
• Christianity
• Formal artificiality
• Measurement and balance
• Wisdom and clarity
• Precision and lightness
• Urban civilization

The Painting of the Last Third of the Nineteenth Century: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

Introduction

The 1870s witnessed a reversal in the economy, manifested at all artistic and social levels. The failure of the Paris Commune brought about a truce, and the great industrial and financial bourgeoisie experienced its peak. However, past revolutionary episodes obliged public authorities to carry out certain reform programs, including social insurance and compulsory, free primary education. Because of this, the illustrated press multiplied, and cultural events tended to become "mass phenomena." Two factors influenced artistic life:

1. The popularization of photography and the establishment of the movement for the use of films sensibles.
2. The spread

Language Variation

The use of any language isn't homogeneous among its speakers. Language varies due to historical, social, geographical, and stylistic factors. The style used—cultivated, standard, colloquial, or vulgar—also impacts variation. A common standard, adapting to change, is characterized by rules and guidelines from institutions like the Royal Spanish Academy.

Advertising's Persuasive Power

Advertising's main goal is persuasion. As a social communication system, it promotes products or events through commercial, institutional, and political means. It uses various media (press, television, radio, outdoor, direct mail, etc.). To persuade, advertising often embellishes reality, concealing negatives. This is debatable; while it can... Continue reading "Language Variation in Spain: A Multilingual Reality" »

The author of Lazarillo is not limited to anecdotes strung together but creates a narrative composed of a series of events that are organized hierarchically. The composition of Lazarillo is based on two structural models: the autobiography and the elements of the epistle. All elements gain a sense because they are part of the history of a character's life as told by the autobiography itself. It already had a long literary tradition; the direct source for the autobiography of Lazarillo is the Golden Ass of Apuleius. The model of the epistle, as a framework in which to develop the narrative, also has a long tradition. There is the presence of data taken directly from reality, such as geographical references. The work proposes that it be read... Continue reading "Understanding the Narrative Structure of Lazarillo" »

Ambition & Motivation

• Achieve: (conseguirlo)
• Achievement: (éxito)
• Challenging: (estimulante, desafiante)
• Fail: (suspender)
• Fulfil: (satisfacer)
• Get something right: (hacer algo bien, acertar)
• Get something wrong: (hacer algo mal, equivocarse)
• Goal: (objetivo, meta)
• Motivated: (motivado)
• Overcome: (superar)
• Pass: (aprobar)
• Put pressure on: (presionar)
• Satisfying: (gratificante)
• Success: Make it
• Strength: (virtud)
• Under pressure: (presionante)
• Weakness: (debilidad)
• Naturally: Gifted
• Lorry: Truck
• Tiny: Very small
• A visit: A trip

The World of Work

• Ad, Advert: (anuncio)
• Applicant: (candidato)
• Application form: (solicitud, formulario)
• Apply for: (pedir para trabajar)
• Boss: (jefe)
• Employer: (empleador)
• Experience
• Fill something in: (rellenar algo)
• Full-time ≠ Part-time
• Interview: