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

The Alliterative Revival

In Middle English poetry, alliterative verse experienced a resurgence known as the Alliterative Revival. While rhyme played a significant role in other forms, alliteration was the primary structural element in this movement.

William Langland and Piers Plowman

William Langland, believed to have been born in the West Midlands, was a prominent figure in the Alliterative Revival. His most famous work, Piers Plowman, offers potential autobiographical insights and suggests familiarity with London. Scholars speculate that he may have been a cleric of a lower class.

Piers Plowman: A Dream Vision

Piers Plowman is a verse allegory presented as a dream vision, a popular literary device in the Middle Ages used to convey truths or real... Continue reading "The Alliterative Revival and Estate Satire in Middle English Literature" »

Unit 0: Describing Places

• Ancient
• Comfortable
• Crowded
• Dangerous
• Dirty
• Exciting
• Expensive
• Lively
• Peaceful
• Polluted
• Pretty
• Romantic
• Safe
• Ugly

Unit 1: Skills and Abilities

• Bake cupcakes
• Design a website
• Do magic tricks
• Edit photos
• Learn a foreign language
• Learn first aid
• Learn to juggle
• Make a video blog
• Perform on stage
• Play in a band
• Ride a unicycle
• Speak in public
• Write a song
• Write computer code

Essential Life Skills

• Active listening
• Assertiveness
• Conflict resolution
• Cooperation
• Creative thinking
• Entrepreneurship
• Money management
• Negotiation
• Problem-solving
• Respect for others
• Self-awareness
• Time management

Unit 2: Rescue and Survival

• Capsize
• Casualties
• Catch fire
• Crash
• Firefighters
• Give first aid
• Paramedics
• Receive compensation
• Search and rescue workers
• Send international aid
• Survivors
• Victims

Extreme

... Continue reading "Master Essential English Vocabulary and Phrases" »

The Evolution of Fandom and Participatory Culture

The term ‘fan’ is an abbreviation of the word fanatic, which comes from the Latin word ‘fanaticus’. This term originally carried religious connotations, referring to devotees and having secular faith, but it quickly assumed negative connotations in society.

Henry Jenkins, an American media scholar and lecturer of the second half of the 20^th century, addresses different phenomena related to the fan in his book Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture. He rejects common fan stereotypes such as the comic, nerdy, psychotic, and eroticized fan. Moreover, he expresses the fan as a defensible position within mass culture, challenging the view of fans as a scandalous category... Continue reading "Fan Culture, Social Power, and Virginia Woolf's Feminist Vision" »

Key Literary Concepts and Definitions

Literary Forms and Genres

Literature

The art or way to express oneself through written words and to keep a record.

Lyrics/Poetry

Written expression of thoughts, feelings, and desires, conveyed through suggestive and indirect language.

Epic

A narrative poem written in heroic hexameter. It has four constituent parts: plot, character, thought, and diction.

Drama

Poetic compositions designed to be acted in front of audiences in a theatron.

Tragedy

Defined as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself." It is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear.

Narrative Structure Elements

Plot

The structure or organization of events that make up a fictional story.... Continue reading "Essential Literary Terms and Definitions" »

Digital Design and Image Editing

Graphic Software Assessment

• 23. The hue represents the color itself.
• 24. Using layers allows for progressive image modification without affecting the original file.
• 25. Color channels show the spatial distribution of the three primary colors in an image.
• 26. To open the Inkscape Layers panel, press: [Shift]+[Ctrl]+[L].
• 27. To open the Fuzzy Select tool in GIMP, press: [U].
• 28. To correct the contrast of a photograph, use: Brightness and Contrast and Curves.
• 29. For an animated web image, the most suitable format is: Animated GIF.
• 30. For printing a digital image, the most suitable format is: TIFF.

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Historical Movements

The Enlightenment

Definition: An 18th-century intellectual movement that believed in reason, science, and... Continue reading "Digital Design Principles and Enlightenment History" »

Creación de la Tabla Participantes

DROP TABLE PARTICIPANTES CASCADE CONSTRAINTS;

CREATE TABLE PARTICIPANTES(
    CODIGO CHAR(5) NOT NULL,
    NOMBRE VARCHAR2(25) NOT NULL,
    APELLIDOS VARCHAR2(100) NOT NULL,
    DIRECCION VARCHAR2(255),
    TELEFONO VARCHAR2(15) UNIQUE,
    CONSTRAINT PK_PARTICIPANTES PRIMARY KEY (CODIGO),
    CONSTRAINT MAY_NOM_PAR CHECK (NOMBRE = UPPER(NOMBRE)),
    CONSTRAINT MAY_APE_PAR CHECK (APELLIDOS = UPPER(APELLIDOS)),
    CONSTRAINT TEL_PAR CHECK (TELEFONO LIKE '+0034%'),
    CONSTRAINT COD_PAR CHECK (CODIGO LIKE 'P%')
);

Inserción de Datos en Participantes

INSERT INTO PARTICIPANTES VALUES ('P_001', 'MARÍA', 'LÓPEZ PÉREZ', NULL, '+00344455');

-- Otra forma de inserción
INSERT INTO PARTICIPANTES (CODIGO, NOMBRE,

... Continue reading "SQL Database Schema for Conference Attendance" »

The Concept of Bricolage

The term bricolage was created in 1962 by Claude Lévi-Strauss to designate the style used in ancient tribal rituals where they made use of disparate elements that, joined together, have a meaning and evoke magical feelings. Nowadays, we name 'bricolage' a type of collage which reveals the attractiveness of pop culture. It consists of rearranging and juxtaposing previously unconnected objects to produce new meaning. This involves an inner process of re-signification, in which cultures change the original meanings of these objects in order to adapt them into new codes.

It is important to make clear that 'bricolage' is not 'collage,' as the latter consists of sticking together disconnected elements without any inherent... Continue reading "Bricolage and Allusion: Literary and Cultural Techniques" »

Event Props: 3D, 2D, Built & Sculpted

3D Props: Constructed or Sculpted

3D props are either constructed or sculpted.

Tall columns can be constructed from seamless paper tubing. Doors, frames, pediments, pedestals, planters, and other items are available, depending on budget and local prop rental warehouses.

Advantages: Self-standing, usually easy to install.

Disadvantages: Expensive and bulky to handle, transport, and ship.

2D Props: Flats and Cutouts

2D props are rectangular two-dimensional props that are scenically or decoratively painted or covered with decorative fabric. A standard 2D prop is the cutout profile piece, which can consist of representational artwork that is “cut out” along its outline.

Numerous decorative 2D hard props are... Continue reading "Props for Events: 3D, 2D, Built & Sculpted - A Practical Guide" »

Scripted and Unscripted TV Programmes

Scripted programmes: dramas, situation comedies, comedy shows, soap operas, documentaries, etc.

Unscripted programmes: talk shows, game shows, reality shows, news, sport and current affairs, etc., and may be either live or recorded.

Basic Camera Shot Types

• The Rule of Thirds: Dividing the frame into 9 equal sections to make the picture more appealing to the eye. It might be better used as a guideline.
• Extreme Wide Shots (EWS): Act to establish the area.
• Wide Shots (WS): Show the entire person or area. They are great for establishing the scene and allow for good action of the characters. Sometimes this is known as the long shot.
• Medium Shots (MS): Frame the subject from the waist up. This is the most common shot

... Continue reading "Camera Shots and TV Programming: A Comprehensive Look" »

Renaissance Painting and Sculpture

• Painting and sculpture reflected humanism; landscapes, cities, the human body, and portraits were realistically represented. New pictorial techniques emerged, such as perspective and oil paints.

New Artistic Interests

The new interests of society were reflected in the characteristics of the style:

• Idealism and Serenity: Artists sought to reflect reality, influenced by the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. They aimed to portray an ideal beauty, often devoid of overt emotions. This idealism can be seen in works by Botticelli, Raphael Sanzio, and Leonardo da Vinci. In contrast, Michelangelo often portrayed intense emotions in his works.

• The Human Body: There was a renewed focus on the anatomy of the human body.

... Continue reading "Renaissance Art: Painting & Sculpture Innovations" »