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

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" »

1st. Point out the organization of the ideas of the text. A written statement of the question (Organization of the ideas of the text) should be distinguished, indicating the main idea of the proposed text and secondary or less important ideas (avoiding any purely anecdotal ideas). This should be written as a noun phrase (with its nucleus, its determinants, its adjacent appositions or your name) and not as a prayer. The main idea is what must be explained later. Authors use resources relating primarily to narrative and description to organize their texts:

• Narrative refers to matters, facts, or issues through exhibition, explanation, and argument:
  • Exposition is limited to expressing or presenting a specific question in depth.
  • Explanation deepens

Antonio Machado: Poetic Evolution and Symbolism

Antonio Machado, a prominent figure in Spanish literature, initially published modernist verse. While influenced by Rubén Darío, his style quickly developed into a more subjective and intimate “internal flight.” He is noted for the intense emotion and profound self-analysis conveyed through his poems.

His modernist work, Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas (1907), primarily explores the author's existential angst. In this collection, Machado describes decadent landscapes (gardens, plazas, fountains) onto which he projects his mood, sometimes engaging in a dialogue that receives no response.

Machado's Poetic Symbols of Anxiety

Machado uses a series of symbols to translate that anxiety:

• The evening,

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

The objectives of this research report are twofold: to make findings public and to report on empirical observations, ensuring linearity and absence of noise. The language used must be clear, concise, simple, impersonal, and maintain a detached tone.

Characteristics of a Research Report

Report Structure

1. Title

Maintain neutrality in the title.

2. First Page

• Name of the research center
• End date (month/year)

3. Table of Contents

4. Introduction

State the reasons for the study, define its scope (time and place), and outline the report's chapters. Include acknowledgments in the final lines.

5. Broader Context

Position the research within its specific social context. Tracing the phenomenon's evolution may require historical perspective.

6. Methodology

This section... Continue reading "Crafting Effective Research Reports: Structure and Content" »

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" »