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

Avant-Garde Movements: These aesthetic movements, prevalent in Europe earlier this century, rejected the principles of the society in which they lived and existing literary models. The avant-gardes were based on this sense of rebellion. The following movements were key:

• Parnassianism: Originating in France, it called for formal perfection and aestheticism.
• Symbolism: It proposed capturing the essence of things, what they hide beneath their appearance.
• Impressionism: A fruitful movement in the pictorial arts, it played with the impression that reality causes in humans.
• Decadence: Associated with the decay at the end of the century, it showed a predilection for exquisite/refined environments.

Features of the Esperpento

The Esperpento. The word "grotesque" was popularly used with meanings of "extravagance" and "ugliness." Valle-Inclán (VI) uses it to refer to his theater. The esperpento is defined given the situation of the characters, unable to reach the height of tragedy, and how ridiculous they are in their situation.

The theory about the new genre appears in scene XII. In it, the main character says, "Our tragedy is not a tragedy." Tragedy is a genre too noble for the surrounding landscape. And from the impossibility of tragedy comes the *esperpento*. The nature of this *aesthetic deformans* is illustrated with reference to the concave mirrors that decorated the facade of a shop on Cat Street in Madrid.

In an interview in 1928,... Continue reading "Valle-Inclán's Esperpento: Features and Analysis" »

A View From The Bridge: Analysis of Themes and Characters

A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller

Actions

When we see Catherine serve food, or offer Eddie a beer, or when she sits on the bath while he shaves in her slip, we are being told about their relationship. Without being lovers, they have the kind of intimacy only lovers should have.

The two kisses at the start of act II are equally effective on stage: one with its suggestion of incest and the other illustrating Eddie's mistaken belief in Rodolfo's homosexuality.

The final action of the play is where Eddie dies by his own hand and his own weapon; but Eddie also metaphorically destroys himself over the whole course of the play. And this is what Alfieri introduces at the play's opening: "the... Continue reading "Analyzing 'A View From The Bridge': Themes and Characters" »

Market Research Fundamentals

Market research involves collecting and analyzing information a company needs to make marketing decisions.

Phases of Market Research

1. Define the problem and research objectives: Clear objectives help achieve clear results.
2. Design the research plan: Decide how to carry out the research and methods for obtaining information.
3. Search for and obtain information: It is essential to distinguish between secondary and primary information.

   Secondary Information

   Information that has been developed for purposes other than the research being carried out. It can be internal or external, depending on whether the information is inside or outside the company.

   Primary Information

   New information generated through surveys, experimentation,

Michelangelo's Vatican Pietà: A Renaissance Masterpiece

Composition and Symbolism

• The two figures form a closed pyramidal composition.
• The Virgin Mary holds Christ, who lies in her lap. Her eyes are cast down, yet she also engages the viewer directly.
• One hand welcomes her son, while the other seems to invite adoration. Her figure forms the pyramid's base.
• The group contrasts the nudity of Jesus with the deep, heavy folds of Mary's drapery. The Virgin's weight is conveyed as she only touches the ground with her right foot.

Historical Context and Artistic Choices

• Commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Bilhères-Lagraulas.
• The contract clearly specified the Virgin Mary covered with a garment and the body of Christ dead in her arms.
• The sculpture depicts the

The Experimental Novel: Factors Influencing Formal Renewal

The factors influencing the formal renewal of Spanish narrative after 1960 include:

• The depletion of the formulas associated with Socialist Realism.
• Greater openness to foreign literary currents.
• A deeper understanding of the great innovators of the novel from the first half of the 20th century (e.g., Proust, Kafka).
• The influence of recent trends, such as the French Nouveau Roman and Hispano-American literature.

This period is marked by progressive formal experimentation, a slowing in the linguistic dimension of the narrative, and the predominance of what might be called the Neovanguardista novel.

Fundamental Characteristics of the Experimental Novel

The fundamental characteristics of this... Continue reading "The Spanish Experimental Novel: Characteristics and Key Authors" »

Key Differences from Romanesque Sculpture

Gothic sculpture in Spain exhibits important differences from the Romanesque style, both in formal and expressive aspects, as well as in themes and iconography.

Chronological Development

Due to the extended duration of the Gothic style, an evolution in sculpture can be observed from the late 12th century onward:

• Late 12th Century: Transition from Romanesque to Gothic.
• 13th Century: Serene triumph of idealized naturalism.
• 14th Century: Predominance of devotional statues, evoking tenderness and piety (e.g., Virgin with Child, Crucifixions), and tomb sculptures.
• 15th Century: Curvilinear reaction, emphasizing naturalism, individualization of features and costumes, and a taste for intricate details.

Characteristics

Modernism emerged in the final years of the nineteenth century in Europe and America. This period saw emerging fin de siècle trends of thought that sought to renew the social and political landscape, as well as artistic tastes, challenging prevailing movements like Realism and Naturalism. Initially, the term "modernist" carried a derogatory connotation, used by those opposed to these new developments. However, it eventually came to designate, without any negative implication, the proponents of this innovative trend. The leading figure of Modernism is the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío.

The characteristic features of Modernism encompass both its thematic concerns and its distinctive style. Generally, Modernists sought harmony, wholeness, and... Continue reading "Modernism: Origins, Themes, and Poetic Style" »

The Life and Philosophical Journey of Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche was born into a family closely associated with Christianity; his father was a pastor. He received training at the famous school Schulpforta and developed an early interest in music. A series of debilitating diseases began early in his life and persisted until his death.

He began studying philology and later discovered Arthur Schopenhauer, who fascinated him. He obtained the chair of philology at a young age and befriended Richard Wagner, though they later broke their friendship. His illness forced him to abandon his academic post and begin a life as a wandering traveler, accompanied by his chronic ailments. On the banks of a lake in Switzerland, he received inspiration... Continue reading "The Four Stages of Friedrich Nietzsche's Philosophy" »

General Documentation: The Oath of the Horatii

Artist: Jacques-Louis David
Date: 1784
Style: Neoclassicism
Medium: Oil on canvas (3.3 x 4.25 meters)
Location: Louvre Museum, Paris

The Roman Legend and Theme

The painting depicts a legend from early Rome: three brothers (the Horatii) stand before their father, Horatius, swearing their allegiance to the state and their willingness to die to defend it.

Historical Context

The work was completed just before the French Revolution. It reflects the growing discontent of the imaginary bourgeoisie with the corruption of the court and the government of the absolutist monarchs Louis XIV and Louis XVI. The desire to follow the classic model of the Romans—emphasizing civic virtue and sacrifice—was strong. David... Continue reading "Analyzing David's Oath of the Horatii: Neoclassicism and Revolution" »