Key Concepts in Spanish Literature

Realism and Narrative Technique

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Realism's Evolving Narrative

1. Question: What aspect of the narrative technique of realism changed from the '92 writers, and why? Consider a novel with a plot plan. Prior to this change, the narrator was omniscient. This did not reflect the truth of life because it limited the freedom of its characters.
2. Question: How does the subjectivist approach resolve Baroja, Unamuno, and Valle-Inclán, respectively? Pío Baroja believed the best approach was the accumulation of arbitrary events. Miguel de Unamuno spoke to his own characters. Valle-Inclán subjected his characters to different aesthetic intentions, either idealizing or burlesquing them. Azorín identified with one of his

Catalan Modernism: The ending of the nineteenth century saw a new generation of intellectuals emerge, reshaping the cultural scene with a renaissance of local and modern thought. This period was marked by a renewal obsession with modernity, characterized by a critical and renewed clash with society.
The bourgeoisie, arising from the industrial process, can be described as:

• Economically powerful.
• Ideologically conservative.
• Politically weak.

"They are the sons of those who fought against this bourgeois concept and proposed a national character that was modern.1st Period: (1882-1900) The intellectuals adopted a renewed attitude and positivist thinking. They defended realism and naturalism in literature and were concerned with modernizing and standardizing... Continue reading "Catalan Modernism: A Cultural Renaissance in the 19th Century" »

Chilean Speech Characteristics

How Chileans Speak

• Voice Tone: Often high-pitched (voz de pito).
• Aspiration: The 's' sound is often aspirated.
• Word Endings: The ends of words are frequently dropped.
• Rapid Speech: Speaking quickly is common, leading to poor coordination between speaking and breathing.
• Vocal Fatigue: The rapid pace can cause vocal fatigue.
• Anxious Speech: Speech can sound more anxious.
• Pronunciation: Mispronunciation with little mouth opening is common.
• Volume: Speaking loudly is typical.
• Assertiveness: In recent years, Chileans have become more assertive and feel safer, leading to louder speech (akin to shouting).
• Noisy Environments: Talking at high volume, especially in noisy environments, strains the vocal apparatus.
• Vocal Abuse: Vocal

Understanding Baroque Art: Key Characteristics

The Classic Baroque Painting

Baroque art seeks a reasoned view of reality. It considers that the real truth lies in the reason for the cognitive experience. The predominance of reason makes this painting a conceptual expression where generalized representations of feelings are conveyed through archetypes, characters, and personalities.

Decorative Painting in the Baroque Period

Another trend from 1640-50 saw great decorations covering the walls and vaults of churches and palaces. This represents the apotheosis of an official art in the service of religious and political interests, aiming to belittle and convince the viewer of such powers.

Naturalism in Baroque Art

Naturalism is a pictorial design based... Continue reading "Understanding Baroque Art: Characteristics and Techniques" »

Riace Warriors

Historical Context

These sculptures are in the free style of the Classical Greek period. During this time, artists were greatly concerned with playing with the balanced proportions of human anatomy, attempting to achieve the ideal model of human beauty. To accomplish this, the muscles are rounded and represent more natural positions, as opposed to the Praxitelean curve. The stiffness and frontality were lost, and the mathematical proportion between head and body was achieved. One piece of the Riace Warriors could be the work of Alcamenes, a disciple of Polykleitos and Phidias. The old saying was that this sculptor was the inventor of the chiastic composition and the first to accurately represent the veins and tendons in sculptures.... Continue reading "Riace Warriors: Greek Sculptures of Ideal Beauty" »

Modernism: Key Characteristics and Societal Impact

Modernism exhibits varied traits, expressing both spiritual and social concerns. Modernists desired originality and aimed to elevate social and ethical values in opposition to the bourgeois world. Modernism is often perceived as a divisive and anarchic force. A parallel can be drawn between the Romantic revolt against society after the Industrial Revolution and the Modernist expression. Modernists also held an idealistic perspective, rejecting the vulgar materialism and pragmatism characteristic of bourgeois society. A sense of decline is significant in this art form, immersed in both excitement and darkness. It reflects a widespread dissatisfaction with society.

Another significant feature,... Continue reading "Modernism: Traits, Unamuno, and Key Literary Works" »

The Splendor and Cultural Siglo de Oro

Spanish society remained dominated by the aristocratic and religious values of the collective mentality of the previous century. These values also permeated the culture. While science and thought experienced a decline, literature and art flourished, marking the Golden Age for its magnificent creations.

Amidst a largely illiterate population, access to culture remained difficult, accessible only to a minority of affluent individuals. The Index of Forbidden Books filtered any argument that contravened the principles of Catholicism.

Literature and Art in the Golden Age

In the field of literature and art, Spain experienced a period of unprecedented boom, influenced by a great love of the theater. The century began... Continue reading "Spain's Golden Age: Art, Literature, and Society" »

Popular Cultural Positions

Different cultures worldwide adopt various stances when encountering others. Understanding these positions is crucial.

Ethnocentrism: Judging by One's Own Culture

Ethnocentrism involves evaluating and interpreting other cultures based on the standards and characteristics of one's own culture. This can lead to:

• Difficulty understanding different lifestyles due to cultural differences.
• A strengthening of one's own cultural cohesion, potentially fostering a feeling of superiority over others.

Consequences of strong ethnocentric feelings can include:

• Xenophobia: Hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers.
• Racism: Prejudice or discrimination based on race.
• Chauvinism: Blind or excessive patriotism.
• Aporophobia: Hatred or aversion

The Tale

The tale is a result of centuries of oral transmission, a short narrative aimed particularly at children's entertainment. It features fantastic characters.

Characteristics:

• Characters: Usually beings with magical powers; some items have supernatural virtue. The protagonist typically has a goal or mission, with an antagonist trying to impede them.
• Time and Space: Vague and distant.
• Structure: Simple and repetitive plot.
• Author: Anonymous.
• Language: Very simple.

The Legend

Legends are about the origin of a tradition, belief, or a known place. They seem real but contain elements of imagination.

Characteristics:

• Theme: Based on a true story, an extraordinary place, or known elements.
• Characters: Usually a protagonist who bears the brunt of the action

Romanesque Art

During this period, religious belief was deeply ingrained in society, with a prevalent fear of the world's end. Early religious buildings were constructed as acts of appeasement to God, drawing inspiration from apocalyptic visions. Europe experienced a series of disasters, including poor harvests and widespread death, leading Christians to believe that God was displeased. This belief fueled the construction of churches and fervent prayer. The anticipated end of the world at the year 1000 did not occur, leading to the belief that the date had been miscalculated.

Art became intrinsically linked to religion, with Romanesque art emerging as an international style, fostering the creation of pilgrimage routes.

The Crusades

The Crusades... Continue reading "Romanesque Art: History, Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting" »