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

Information Genres

These genres prioritize the objective reporting of facts.

1. The News

   This is the most characteristic genre of journalism. It is a report of a recent event of public interest. The journalist should reflect what happened objectively, without expressing personal opinions on the facts.

   Structure:

   • Headlines: Includes top title, main title, and subtitle.
   • Lead or Intro: Answers the six key questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How), often presented in italics.
   • Body: Presents information in descending order of importance.

2. Reporting

   Relates facts about a topic of current interest. It is an expanded form of news that allows for a more personal style, as it typically includes the author's signature. It adds depth through research and documentation

Alhambra's Lion Garden: A Historical Jewel

The most important and famous gardens of the Alhambra are those of the Court of the Lions. For those who admire its source, it's important to note that, in addition to Christian amendments, the oldest part of this source originated from the palace of the Jewish vizier Ibn Nagrela in the eleventh century. It was later used in period pieces of Muhammad V in the fourteenth century. The scheme is based on perimeter rooms and galleries that form a cloister, whose short sides feature complex structures projecting pavilions with columns. Four fountains are placed, skimming over the yard, while four others are located in the halls of the short sides and in the halls, circulating water around a raised central... Continue reading "Alhambra's Lion Garden, Rich Hall & Bosch's Earthly Delights" »

The Technique and Technology

Technique is a skill by which a natural reality is transformed into an artificial reality. This term encompasses both the products obtained and the realization processes and instructions for making them.

The term 'technology' applies to techniques linked to scientific knowledge, often associated with craft manufacturing. Therefore, any technology is technical, but not all technique is technology.

The Philosophy of Technology

The philosophy of technology is a reflection on technical systems and their effects on society.

1. Lewis Mumford was the first to offer an interpretation of the value of technique.
2. Ortega believes that man must create himself. The human being is a project, and technique helps in its creation. He identifies

Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

Four editions appeared in a book called The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and His Fortunes and Adversities. The author remained anonymous. It blends epistolary genre features (a letter to 'Your Grace') and initiates the picaresque novel. Told in the first person, it recounts the protagonist's life. Lazarillo, a rogue of humble social status, advances through cunning and deceit. The narrative comprises a prologue and seven chapters (treaties), each detailing his service to a different master. The structure is circular (beginning and ending in adulthood) and internally linear (chronological events). Lazarillo, an antihero, undergoes negative evolution, losing innocence with each master and becoming disillusioned. His masters

The Enlightenment and Neoclassicism

The Enlightenment and Neoclassicism represent a major change both in ideas and artistic expression. The intellectual movement is known as the Age of Enlightenment (or Illustration), while the prevalent artistic expression is Neoclassicism. This cultural movement originated primarily in France and influenced all European countries. Its key features include:

1. Rationalism: The human being and reason are central, making it fundamentally a rationalist movement.
2. Critical Review: It involves a systematic review of all aspects of present and past reality. It is a movement critical of existing ideas, beliefs, institutions, and other aspects of society. The Enlightenment laid the foundations for subsequent revolutionary

René Descartes: Historical & Philosophical Foundations

The 17th Century: A Turbulent Era

The life of René Descartes unfolded almost entirely within the seventeenth century. This era can be broadly characterized by widespread wars, devastating plagues, and significant economic and demographic crises.

Political Landscape

Politically, the seventeenth century was marked by the triumph of absolute monarchy, with Spain and France serving as prime examples. The most significant conflict was the Thirty Years' War, fueled by the rivalry between Catholics and Protestants. Descartes himself participated in this war.

Social Dynamics

Socially, the nobility began to lose prominence to the rising commercial bourgeoisie during this period.

Economic Challenges

Economically,... Continue reading "René Descartes: 17th Century Context & Philosophical Impact" »

Content Generation and Analysis in Journalism

Generating Reports

News: Journalistic Information Base

• Definition: A novel topical event that has great interest to a large number of readers.
• Three Basic Characteristics: Presentation, Novelty, Generality.
• Elements to Address (The 6 Ws): What, When, Who, Where, Why, How.
• Structure:
  • Titling Zone (Antetitle and Title)
  • Input (Lead: containing the 6 Ws)
  • Development of the Story (Body)
• Three Principles: Brevity, Objectivity, and Clarity.

Report

A report is an expansion of the story; it does not necessarily need to cover present events.

• Differences with News:
  • Greater extension.
  • More freedom of expression.
  • Includes the journalist's opinion.
• Structure:
  • Title
  • Lead or Entry
  • Body (This leads to three types of reports):
    1. Event

The State

The State is a political concept referring to a sovereign and coercive social organization, consisting of a set of involuntary institutions that possess the power to regulate national life within a particular territory.

Nation

The term nation has two primary meanings:

• Political Nation: Within the legal-political sphere, this is the political subject where the constituent sovereignty of a State resides.
• Cultural Nation: A more subjective and ambiguous concept, it can be broadly defined as a human community sharing certain common cultural features, which fosters an ethical-political sense.

Broadly speaking, nation is used with various meanings, including State, country, territory, population, ethnicity, or people.

Territory

Territory (from... Continue reading "Key Political and Social Concepts Defined" »

Language Definition: Understanding the Basics

Human language is a complex set of symbols. A sign is something that represents something else, taking its place.

Types of Signs

Three types of signs can be identified; all represent something else, but through distinct underlying relationships:

• An icon: This type of sign relates to what it formally and visually represents. (e.g., a traffic signal, a picture of cattle)
• A clue: Between the sign and what it represents, there is a causal relationship. (e.g., if you see smoke, fire is nearby)
• A symbol: A symbol is a conventional sign that has no formal or causal relationship with what it represents. (e.g., a red light)

Language itself is a combination of multiple signs.

Words and Concepts: The Building Blocks

1. A Telephone Call: Anxious Monologue

This story presents an interior monologue, a 'stream of consciousness,' of a nervous, anxious, and desperate woman awaiting a phone call. The narrative style emphasizes her emotional state through repetition, short sentences, and emotionally charged words like 'God.' The lack of descriptions, adjectives, and adverbs contributes to the fast-paced, anxious tone.

2. Special Damage: Rebirth and Symbolism

This story, told by an omniscient narrator, follows Mary's experience after an accident. Despite lacking physical injuries, she experiences a sense of amnesia and rebirth. The narrative utilizes symbolism related to birth, baptism, and purity (e.g., white imagery) to convey this theme. A feeling of strangeness... Continue reading "Analysis of Five Short Stories: Narrative Techniques and Character Development" »