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

Christmas: A Time for Reflection, Not Excess

Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, but it is also a time of excessive consumerism. Every year, society pressures people to buy expensive gifts for their loved ones, even if they cannot always afford them.

This can lead to serious problems, such as people going into debt to buy gifts simply because they place more importance on material things than anything else. All this can lead to serious financial consequences.

In addition, excessive consumerism at Christmas can also have a negative impact on the environment. Many of the gifts bought for Christmas are disposable products, which contributes to waste production. This can have a negative effect on the environment, as many of these products are... Continue reading "Christmas & Valentine's Day: Rethinking Consumerism" »

Fieldwork Interviewing Techniques

Thin Description

Description: The description of what meets the eye, things that can be observed.

Thick Description

Description: The meaning behind the action. Thick description is a way of writing that includes not only describing an observation but also the context in which that behavior occurs.

It goes beyond surface appearances to include the context, detail, emotion, and webs of social relationships.

It presents the significance of an observation, event, or behavior. Thick description includes voices, feelings, actions, and meanings. Thick description always comes with a thin description.

Emic

Description: From the perspective of the subjects, how the subjects see it. An "emic" point of view. THEM

Etic

Description:

Modernism's Literary Revolution: Key Movements

The early 20th century marked a transformative era in literature, often referred to as Modernism, with Ezra Pound as a central figure.

Periods of Modernist Development

Modernism can be broadly divided into two significant periods:

• 1910-1914: The Period of Aggressive Dismantling of Victorianism. This initial phase saw a deliberate break from the conventions and sentiments of the Victorian era.
• 1920-1930: The Period of Fulfillment and Artistic Fruits. This decade witnessed the maturation of Modernist art, yielding some of the greatest contributions to English criticism.

Pioneering Critics of the Modernist Era

The latter period produced influential English critics such as T.S. Eliot, I.A. Richards, F.R.... Continue reading "Modernism's Dawn: Imagism and Vorticism's Impact" »

Brand equity can also be thought of as an asset representing a company's value.

Brand equity represents the cumulative added value of a product or service.

A company that has developed a successful brand has a valuable asset. (FALSE)

A global brand begins with the foundation of value. (T) According to the top (F)

A global product meets the wants of consumers in Japan, Western Europe, and the United States.

After four years of product development, Procter & Gamble achieved continuous innovation.

Alfred Zeien, former chairman of Gillette, emphasized the importance of Esteem in brand building.

An express warranty is a written guarantee that assures the buyer that he or she is getting what he or she has paid for. (TRUE)

An express warranty is a written... Continue reading "Global Branding and Product Strategies" »

Debunking Creativity Myths

Common Misconceptions

1. The Eureka Myth

New ideas sometimes appear as a flash of insight, but this is often the culmination of prior thought and effort.

2. The Breed Myth

Creative ability isn't solely determined by genetics; it's a skill that can be developed.

3. The Originality Myth

Creative ideas often build upon existing knowledge and collaborations.

4. The Expert Myth

While expertise is valuable, relying solely on experts can limit diverse perspectives.

5. The Incentive Myth

Larger incentives don't always lead to increased innovation and can sometimes be counterproductive.

6. The Lone Creator Myth

Innovation is often a collaborative process, not the work of a single individual.

7. The Brainstorming Myth

Unstructured brainstorming... Continue reading "Debunking Creativity Myths: Fostering True Innovation" »

Storytelling Definitions

• Plot: The main sequence of events in a play, novel, or film.
• Biographical sketch: An account dealing with a particular person's life.
• Fake: A person or thing that is not genuine.
• Myth: A widely held but false belief.
• Tall story: An account that is fanciful and difficult to believe.
• Fairy tale: A story, typically of a magical or idealized nature, often for children.
• Legend: A traditional story popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated.
• Anecdote: A short, entertaining story about a real incident or person.
• Punch line: The culmination of a joke or story, providing the humor or climax.
• Joke: Something said or done to cause amusement.

Common Storytelling Expressions

• Tell a white lie
• Spreading rumors
• Be a bit of a gossip
• Prone

Essential English-Spanish Music Vocabulary

Musical Terms

• Beat: ritmo
• Tone deaf: no tener oído musical / desafinado
• Jingle: canción publicitaria / melodía pegadiza
• Musical score: partitura (sheet music) / banda sonora (soundtrack)
• Syllabus: programa de estudios / temario
• Chords: acordes
• Musical masterpiece: obra maestra musical
• Lyrics: letra (de canción)
• Recall: recordar
• Tunes: melodías / canciones
• Background music: música de fondo
• Airplay: emisión en radio / difusión radial
• In tune: afinado
• Rhythm: ritmo
• Out of tune: desafinado / fuera de tono
• Catchy tune: melodía pegadiza
• Bass: bajo
• Live performance: actuación en vivo / directo
• Choir: coro
• Recorded: grabado
• Deafening: ensordecedor
• Playable: interpretable / tocable
• Gig: concierto / bolo
• Vocals: voz / parte

The Importance of Images in Multimodal Texts

The image that appears in multimodal texts is a very important element. A photograph, for instance of a [specific subject, e.g., woman], is often used to bring a sense of immediacy and reality to the text, fostering interaction with the reader. This image might be very large and highlighted prominently, perhaps on the left side. The subject depicted often provides or reflects [specific meaning or emotion].

Information Value and Reading Path

We typically read information value from left to right and from top to bottom.

Salience: Attracting the Reader's Attention

Regarding salience, different elements of a composition try to catch the reader’s attention. Examples include:

• The subject's face
• A message on

Architectural History: Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque Periods

26. Notre Dame Church Exhibits the Following Gothic Characteristics:

a. All of the above

b. Rose windows

27. The Renaissance Period of Architecture Began in What Country?

a. Italy

28. What Invention Was Important to the Renaissance?

a. Printing

29. Pisa Campanile:

a. Has a 13ft inclination

30. The Inclination in Pisa Campanile is Caused by:

a. Differential settlement (subsidence) in the foundation

31. Externally, Hagia Sophia Can Be Described by:

a. Bearing walls

32. The Renaissance in Architecture is Expressed by:

a. A renewed interest in the classical Roman and Greek forms and proportion

33. The Portico at the West “Portico de la Gloria” in the Spanish Romanesque Church Santiago de Compostela