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

Architecture

Quattrocento Architecture (15th Century)

Architecture in the Quattrocento sought harmonious spaces based on mathematical and geometrical principles.

Key architects of this period were:

• Brunelleschi, who designed the dome of Florence Cathedral.
• Alberti, who wrote several influential books on architecture.

Cinquecento Architecture (16th Century)

The most significant architectural works were built in Rome, largely due to papal patronage. Buildings became more monumental and strictly adhered to classical architectural orders.

• Bramante designed the most important building of the century: St. Peter's Basilica, and also the Tempietto of San Pietro in Montorio, both located in the Vatican.

Painting

Quattrocento Painting (15th Century)

Painters refined... Continue reading "Renaissance Art & Architecture: 15th & 16th C." »

Unit 1: The Beat Generation and Post-War Culture

The post-WWII era was defined by the Cold War, the Red Scare, suburbanization, and the rise of consumerism. In response, the Beat Generation (including the New York Beats and Beatniks) emerged, challenging social norms through themes of self-expression, madness, non-conformity, and alternative realities.

• Jack Kerouac: Author of On the Road (1957). He utilized "spontaneous prose" to capture raw thought and experience. His work features the roman-à-clef style, travel narratives, and the archetype of the Beat hero.
• Joyce Johnson: Author of Minor Characters (1983). Her memoir offers a female reinterpretation of the Beat era, focusing on the experiences of women within the male-dominated literary circle

Picture This: Art and Emotion Vocabulary

• Anxious: Worry
• Exhaustion / Drenched: Fatigue
• Astonished: Shocked (Surprise < Amazed < Astonished)
• Hopeful: Optimistic
• Despair: Hopelessness
• Agony: Suffering
• Agony Aunt: A newspaper columnist who offers advice on personal problems.
• Fatigue: Tiredness
• Guilt / Guilty: Blame
• Inappropriate: Unsuitable
• Seductive: Attractive
• Preoccupied: Distracted
• Detachable: Not attachable
• Tender: Loving
• Nuptials: Wedding
• Selective / Pinpoint: Choosing or selecting
• Ignore: Not pay attention to
• Stop in (my) tracks: Interrupt or stop
• Gorgeous: Beautiful
• Serve: Work for
• Plain / Ordinary / Simple: Not extravagant or fancy
• Tackle: Taking it on (Afrontar/Enfrentar)
• Matters: Issue (Asunto/Tema)
• Outgrow: Leave behind
• Resemble / Take after: Look like
• Wake

This Girl Can (Sport England, 2015) Campaign Analysis

Media Language

• Bright colors and dynamic movement create energy and realism. — Barthes (Semiotics): Sweat signifies effort; the body signifies confidence.
• Sport and activism genre blend is inspirational. — Neale (Genre): Combines fitness genre with social change to refresh norms.

Representation

• Real women with visible sweat portray proud, strong bodies. — Hall (Representation): Resists passive female stereotypes, creating a new identity.
• No sexualization; focus is on effort. — Mulvey (Male Gaze): Rejects objectification by showing women as active agents.

Industry

• Government-funded campaign, not for profit. — Curran & Seaton (Power & Media): Uses media to empower, not to profit.

Core Media Studies Concepts

• Mise-en-scène – Everything in the frame (costume, setting, etc.). Example: This Girl Can – Sweat, gym clothes, and an urban setting represent realism and empowerment.
• Anchorage – Text that fixes the meaning of an image. Example: Quality Street – The “Magic moments” tagline anchors a nostalgic, family-oriented meaning.
• Typography – Font style, size, and layout. Example: Malala Vogue – Elegant serif font conveys intellect and activism over glamour.
• Enigma Code (Barthes) – Creates mystery or tension. Example: The Sun – “Exclusive!” headlines create curiosity.
• Stereotype – An oversimplified portrayal. Example: The Sun – Politicians are often shown as corrupt, while celebrities are linked to scandal.

Justin Bieber – “Intentions”: Media Language

Cinematography & Lighting

Example: Warm, soft lighting and close-up shots on the women featured (like the single mother and healthcare worker).

How it’s shown: Creates an intimate, emotional tone focusing on real people’s stories.

Theory link: Barthes’ Anchorage — visuals guide the audience to read the women as inspiring and resilient, shaping interpretation positively.

Narrative & Mise-en-scène

Example: The video follows real people overcoming adversity, highlighting kindness and community support.

How it’s shown: Scenes of Justin Bieber and Quavo helping and praising women, showing a positive social message.

Theory link: Gauntlett’s Identity Theory — promotes diverse, positive... Continue reading "Justin Bieber's "Intentions": Media Language and Representation" »

Lizzo’s Website: Media Language Analysis

Visual Identity and Design

• Bold, vibrant colour scheme: The use of bright purples, pinks, and yellows across the homepage and menus echoes the “Good As Hell” music video and her brand of empowerment. Theory link: Barthes’ Semiotics — colours function as signs of confidence, creativity, and joy.
• Dynamic typography and interactive design: Playful fonts, animated buttons, and responsive scrolling create an immersive experience. Theory link: Jenkins’ Participatory Culture — encourages user interaction and community building.
• High-quality images and video embeds: Professional photoshoots and embedded music videos build a strong star image. Theory link: Gauntlett’s Identity Theory — audiences

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: