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

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" »

Key Definitions in Geography, Policy, and Culture

Agricultural and Socio-Economic Concepts

Minifundio: Finca rústica que, por su reducida extensión, no puede ser objeto de cultivo rentable por sí misma.

Latifundio: Grandes extensiones de tierra ociosa en manos privadas.

El petróleo se extrae de Petén (Guatemala).

El INAB (Instituto Nacional de Bosques) realiza plantaciones de Pinabete.

Walmart realiza censos.

En Alta Verapaz y Huehuetenango hay mayor crecimiento poblacional.

La Reforma Agraria es un conjunto de medidas políticas, económicas, sociales y legislativas.

Major Literary and Artistic Movements

• Naturalism: An artistic movement, especially literary, related to Realism, based on reproducing reality with documentary objectivity in all its

English Vowel and Diphthong Phonetics

a — Low back, unrounded, lax

Examples: pot, car.

• Positions: initial — olive; middle — cottage.
• R-colored (/+r/) examples: swap — swab; knot — nod; bock — bog; cop — cob; barr — barred.

c — Mid-low back, rounded, tense

Examples: fall, raw.

• Positions: initial — office; middle — form; final — law.
• R-colored (/+r/) examples: course; dross — draws; source — sores; court — chord; cost — caused; brought — broad.

O — Diphthong, mid to high, rounded, tense

Examples: post, coal.

• Positions: initial — ocean; middle — most; final — low.
• Word pairs / examples: lope — lobe; doss — doze; oat — owed; host — hosed; loayn — loathe.

u — High back, rounded, lax

Examples: put, look.

• Positions:

Renaissance Concepts and Classical Revival

• Renewed Interest in Antiquity: Manifested early in literature and poetry through figures like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.
• Classical Texts: Significant revival and rediscovery of ancient writings.
• Vitruvius's Treatise (1414): The rediscovery of De Architectura was profoundly influential for subsequent generations of architects.

The Rise of Architectural Patronage

The emergence of wealthy patrons promoted new forms of art and architecture. Key examples include:

• The Medici Family: Including Giovanni di Averardo, Cosimo de' Medici (il Vecchio), and Lorenzo de' Medici (il Magnifico).

Humanism and Anthropocentrism

• Humanism posits that the human being contains the perfect proportions of the universe, famously

Music: Soundtrack

People Who Act: Cast

People Watching in the Studio: A Live Audience

People Working on the Programme: Crew

Storyline: Plot

Broadcasting Right Now: On Air

Shot in a Real Place: Filmed on Location

A Person Who Writes the Dialogue in a Film: A Scriptwriter

Computer Graphics: Special Effects

Scenery and Furniture: Set

Very Exciting: Gripping

Very Funny: Hilarious

Believable: Convincing; Very Bad: Appalling

Kidnapping: Taking Somebody by Force; Arson: Setting Fire on Purpose

Life Sentence: Prison for Life; Vandalism: Damaging Property

Fine: Paying Money as Punishment; Community Service: Community Service

Burglary: Breaking in to Steal; Tax Evasion: Not Paying Taxes

Piracy: Stealing Digital Content

Depressing and Frightening: Gloomy; Confusing: Baffling

Deep... Continue reading "Understanding Film and Media Terminology" »

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