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

Claude Shannon: Information Theory Pioneer

Claude Elwood Shannon (Michigan, 1916-2001) was a foundational figure in information theory. His work, often associated with Warren Weaver, focused on the effective transmission of information through a channel, addressing technical problems related to the meaning and desired meaning of messages.

Shannon-Weaver Model Concepts (1948)

The model, influential in cognitive psychology, describes how a subject searches, selects, transforms, and reproduces information, adjusting the sender's action based on feedback. Key elements include:

• Transmitter and Receiver: The tools or devices used in communication.
• Communication Channels & Codes: Compatible channels and codes are essential for effective communication

Azorín's Literary Innovations and Evolution

His texts, rather than traditional novels, marked a significant break with the 19th-century conception of the genre.

Azorín's Conception of the Novel

Azorín challenged traditional notions of movement and time. His narrative is divided into snapshots that form materialized tables in disjointed sections, often scattering the reader's attention.

In his narrative, Azorín conducted a deep analysis of perception. He was influenced by a diverse range of fields, including:

• Philosophy
• Literature
• Impressionist painting
• Photography
• Film
• Journalism
• Modern telegraphic writing

These influences helped him freeze the moment and capture the immediate impression.

In his early works, Azorín displayed a violent rebellion against... Continue reading "Azorín's Literary Legacy: Narrative Style and Key Works" »

Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People

1. The Painting

• Location: Musée du Louvre
• Artist: Eugène Delacroix
• Style: Romanticism
• Date: 1830
• Technique: Oil on canvas
• Subject: Fabric

2. Context

A) Historical Context

The nineteenth century was a time of profound political, economic, and cultural change. It emphasizes the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution. Napoleon stretched the French presence throughout Europe. The victorious European monarchies, absolute monarchies, called the Restoration period.

B) Cultural Context

In this stage, three streams are highlighted: Neoclassical, Realism, and Romanticism.

3. Characteristics

a) General Characteristics

Expresses moods and feelings, while reason is still important.

Topics: Scenery (preferably savage, mysterious,... Continue reading "Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People: Analysis & Context" »

The Romantic Novel

The novel is the genre of the new ruling class, the bourgeoisie, and the middle class. There are different types of romance novels:

• A novel insight (failed to): A hero makes a gesture to act as a serial, introspective 'I'.
• Novela: Becomes popular and goes to Spain from France, has a romantic plot, and is sometimes tearful. It represented the great Sundays.
• Novela: Also sets fashion, is aimed at a middle-class audience. Predicts what would later become historical reality.
• Novela: The authors of this period are set in the Middle Ages; documented past events not to fail in their historical narrative.

Customs Article

The customs article can be considered the most original contribution to Spanish prose. It responds to a fixed schedule:... Continue reading "Romantic Novel, Realism, and Naturalism in Literature" »

Realism and Naturalism in Literature

In the second half of the 19th century, Europe experienced significant political, social, and economic development. The bourgeoisie consolidated its power as a class. Philosophy focused on strictly observing reality, and literary writers sought to understand and reflect this reality. Thus, Realism emerged.

Realism

Features of Realism

• Focus: Primarily on the bourgeoisie.
• Objectivity: The novel mirrors the reality of the time.
• Style: Simple and clear prose. Characters' speech reflects their social class.
• Social Criticism: Often critiques the opportunistic and greedy bourgeoisie. Stories may feature a noble character who fails.
• Detailed Portrayal: Environments and characters' nature are accurately described.
  • Environment

Introduction

The avant-garde encompasses a series of artistic movements that emerged in the first decades of the 20th century, rebelling against art's traditional role of imitating reality. These movements, while diverse, shared common characteristics that profoundly impacted art and literature: anti-realism, artistic autonomy, irrationalism, a pursuit of originality, and aesthetic experimentation.

Key European Avant-Garde Movements

• Futurism: Celebrated a break from the past, praising the geometric splendor of the modern world, mechanical civilization, and technological advancements. Stylistically, it sought a dynamic and rapid verbal expression, embracing new possibilities.
• Expressionism: While not a complete rejection of earlier traditions, it

Political and Social Context

The larger context of political tension occurs during the implementation problems of constitutional monarchies and republics. This creates a climate of uncertainty and insecurity that manifests itself in the cultural and artistic movement of Romanticism. Romanticism presides over much of the nineteenth century, and in the case of Catalan literature, important writers of the end of this century, such as Verdaguer and Guimerà, are heavily influenced by this aesthetic.

The bourgeois social class, with its powerful individualism, was the impetus behind the entrepreneurial middle class in England, which carried out an industrial revolution. The proletariat and workers, increasingly important, also eventually have an important... Continue reading "Catalan Literature in the 19th Century: Romanticism and Renaixença" »

Description: Definition and Types

Description is a form of discourse used to present objects, people, places, and feelings, identifying specific details as much as possible. It is customary to distinguish between objective description (of practical interest) and subjective description (in which the author tries to demonstrate their point of view or opinion).

Structure and Phases of Descriptive Texts

Descriptive texts often use a deductive structure, displaying information from the general to the specific details, data, or characteristics. The process typically involves:

• Observation
• Selection
• Organization
• Expression

Linguistic Features of Description

• Nouns and Adjectives: Descriptive texts focus on things and their properties or characteristics.
• Verb

Scientific Texts: Language and Characteristics

Scientific texts, including scientific writings and technical documents, aim to convey information about research, conclusions, or discoveries. They are characterized by two essential features:

• Universality: Science seeks to disseminate knowledge valid at all times and places. A discovery made in one location should apply everywhere. This necessitates the unification of scientific terminology and the creation of formal codes, avoiding ambiguities and ensuring objectivity.
• Objectivity: Facts and details are presented along with the circumstances in which they occur, without the author's personal assessment.

Grammatical Features

• Impersonal constructions
• Passive voice with auxiliary verbs
• Plural of modesty
• Noun

Areas of Community Social Work

Implementation and Development of Community Activity

In the field of implementation and development of community activity:

• Link to organizations and formal or informal leadership that exist within the community with the process of change.
• Train those involved, increasing their ability to act collectively and face challenges that are structural in nature and require community action to solve them.
• Establish a communication protocol that supports transparency of information, and disseminate the achievements and developments of the problems being addressed.
• Establish a gradual devolution of power in the community by promoting their self-organization and leadership development that allows for an increased role of the population.