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

This Girl Can (Sport England, 2015) Campaign Analysis

Media Language

• Bright colors and dynamic movement create energy and realism. — Barthes (Semiotics): Sweat signifies effort; the body signifies confidence.
• Sport and activism genre blend is inspirational. — Neale (Genre): Combines fitness genre with social change to refresh norms.

Representation

• Real women with visible sweat portray proud, strong bodies. — Hall (Representation): Resists passive female stereotypes, creating a new identity.
• No sexualization; focus is on effort. — Mulvey (Male Gaze): Rejects objectification by showing women as active agents.

Industry

• Government-funded campaign, not for profit. — Curran & Seaton (Power & Media): Uses media to empower, not to profit.

Review of Art Spiegelman's Maus

Maus by Art Spiegelman is a groundbreaking graphic novel that tells the true story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, as narrated by his son, Art. Combining historical events with personal struggles, the novel explores trauma, memory, and the complexities of father-son relationships.

One of the most striking aspects of Maus is its artistic style. Spiegelman represents different groups using animals—Jews as mice, Nazis as cats—which serves as a powerful metaphor for oppression and survival. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the raw and emotional tone of the story, making it even more impactful.

The novel alternates between past and present, depicting both Vladek’s survival and... Continue reading "Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Holocaust Narrative" »

Macrostructure

Theme: This is the topic sentence that summarizes the main idea. Usually at the beginning.

Rheme: Arguments that support the theme. In the middle.

Thesis Statement: Restatement of the initial idea. Normally at the end.

Microstructure

Lexicon

• Formal or informal language (e.g., Provides, expand).
• Attributive adjectives such as “logically and psychologically satisfying conclusion”.
• Semantic fields (Campos semánticos).
• Elements that are not formal (Common words like 'too' instead of 'moreover'; 'quite' similar). The combination of formal register with more accessible language suggests that this is an informative text.
• Main statements (topic sentences and thesis statements) use the copulative verb 'to be' which indicates that the statement

Film Vocabulary

Key Terms

• Director
• Stuntman/woman
• Stunt
• Film star
• Script
• Star in a film
• Special effects
• Producer
• Plot
• Soundtrack
• Win an award
• Release a film
• Film a scene
• Screen

Grammar: Future Tenses

• Future Simple: will + base verb (e.g., Most films will probably be 3D.)
• Future with going to: is/are going to + base verb (e.g., James Cameron is going to release 3D versions of some old films.)

Vocabulary: Action Verbs

• Suggest
• Develop
• Equip
• Predict
• Advertise
• Educate
• Enjoy
• Possess
• Argue
• Decorate
• Connect
• Excite
• Inform
• Compete

Grammar: First Conditional

If + present simple, will + base verb (e.g., If I win, they will let me go to film school.)

Social Etiquette

Vocabulary: Social Interactions

• Bring a present
• Be late
• Click your fingers
• Interrupt a conversation
• Jump a queue
• Tell jokes
• Arrive

Francis Bacon: Life and Works

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher and politician. His father, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was a high-ranking magistrate in Queen Elizabeth's government. Bacon studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1576, he entered Gray's Inn in London to study law. Shortly after, he traveled to France as part of a diplomatic mission.

Other Notable Works by Francis Bacon:

• Novum Organum
• The Wisdom of the Ancients
• The Advancement of Learning

New Atlantis: Plot Summary

New Atlantis describes a fictional island, Bensalem, where a group of European sailors land after becoming lost at sea.

A central element of the work is the description of Solomon's House, a pioneering scientific research center. Here, experiments are... Continue reading "Francis Bacon's New Atlantis: Summary and Analysis" »

Visigothic Architecture (7th Century)

• Key characteristics: Austerity, simplicity, portico, nave, transept, north/south portico, presbytery, apse.

San Pedro de la Nave, Zamora

• Greek or Latin cross plan within a rectangle
• Influenced by Greek and Roman precedents
• Small scale and spaces
• Reflects a simpler technique, indicative of a decline in craftsmanship
• Reassembled in a different location
• Naive or stylized sculptures
• Thick walls
• Lantern at the geometrical center

San Juan de Baños, Palencia

• Three naves
• Commissioned by King Recesvinto
• Monolithic interior columns
• Appendix (or side chapels)
• Pointed horseshoe arches
• Constructed with yellow sandstone ashlar
• Trident floor plan

Quintanilla de las Viñas, Burgos

• Latin cross plan
• Three naves
• One transept
• Features vegetal motifs
• Animal

English Vocabulary: Social Action and Community Engagement

Unit 4: Social Action Vocabulary

• Attend a rally: asistir a una manifestación
• Appeal: recurrir
• Campaign
• Campaigner
• Charity
• Donate / Donation
• Fundraising event: evento para recaudar fondos
• Fundraiser: recaudador de fondos
• Go on a march: ir a una marcha
• Raise awareness of: concienciar / sensibilizar
• Raise funds / money: recaudar fondos
• Sign a petition: firmar una petición
• Sit-in: sentada
• Sponsor: patrocinar
• Sponsorship: patrocinio / apadrinamiento
• Take part in a [cause/event]
• Volunteer
• Voluntary work

Unit 4: Key Collocations

• Animal charity
• Beach clean-up
• Cancer research
• Computer game
• Death penalty
• Endangered species
• Free debate
• Homeless person
• Informed decision
• Political engagement: compromiso político
• Legal age:

Analyzing Ad Mood and Emotional Impact

The advertisement targets specific demographics, such as *young adults*, *parents*, or *luxury seekers*. It cultivates a specific mood, perhaps *excitement*, *relaxation*, or *urgency*, and aims to evoke feelings like *nostalgia*, *joy*, or a *desire for success*.

Advertising Design Principles and Visuals

The advertisement's design incorporates principles such as *axial balance* or *asymmetrical balance*. Elements are strategically arranged to *draw attention to a central figure* or *guide the viewer’s eye across the page*. The relationship between visual components and text can be *cohesive* or *contrasting*. Spatially, the ad might *utilize white space to emphasize the product* or *appear densely packed... Continue reading "Dissecting Advertisements: Key Elements of Persuasion" »

The Role of Clothing in Self-Expression and Culture

Clothing is more than just a practical necessity; it plays a significant role in self-expression and the reflection of cultural identity. People often use their wardrobe choices to express their personalities, emotions, and beliefs. Whether through casual wear, formal attire, or unique fashion trends, the clothes we wear can communicate a lot about who we are without saying a word. In a world that values individuality, clothing offers an important way to showcase personal style and make a statement about one's identity.

Clothing and Cultural Identity

In addition to personal expression, clothing is deeply tied to culture. Different cultures have unique clothing traditions that signify status,... Continue reading "Clothing: Self-Expression, Culture, and Identity" »