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

Narrative Genre

The narrative genre is a literary genre that represents real or fictional characters in a specific place and time.

Structure of a Narrative

• Exposition: Beginning of the story, presentation of the characters, and the time-space situation.
• Rising Action/Knot: The conflict unfolds.
• Climax: The most intense moment of the conflict.
• Falling Action/Dénouement: Resolution of the conflict.
• Resolution: End of the story.

Narrative Perspective

• First-person narrator: The narrator is one of the characters in the story, often the protagonist, and uses the first person ("I," "we").
• Third-person narrator:
  • Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about all the characters and events.
  • Limited: The narrator is a witness, telling what happens without revealing

Spanish Literary Evolution: Realism and Naturalism

Characteristics of Realism

Realism is characterized by its focus principally on the bourgeoisie. It is a reflection of bourgeois society, normally presented in a novel, and seeks to portray social reality with accuracy and objectivity through credible descriptions. It is based on a meticulous observation of reality. Authors typically use a realistic omniscient point of view and frequently include author's comments to influence the reader's opinion. It also draws attention to the use of a natural style and colloquial language.

Characteristics of Naturalism

Naturalism takes Realism to extremes. It is based on the scientific method and determinism, making extensive use of unusual or unpleasant environments... Continue reading "Spanish Literary Evolution: Realism and Naturalism in the 19th Century" »

Paul Cézanne: Post-Impressionist Master

Initially struggling, Paul Cézanne reached artistic maturity around 50 years old. Upon his father's death, his inheritance freed him from economic hardship, but it also strained his friendship with Émile Zola, who depicted a frustrated painter committing suicide in his novel L'Œuvre, a character Cézanne identified with.

Cézanne then developed an original pictorial conception. His style emphasized the interplay between the eye and the brain, believing they had to assist each other. This approach, combined with his reflections on composition, led him to believe that all natural forms could be reduced to simple geometric shapes: the sphere, cone, and cylinder. This simplification was crucial in the development... Continue reading "Post-Impressionist Art: Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh's Influence" »

Benito Pérez Galdós

Galdós' novelistic production is a reflection of the society of his time. Galdós' novels are notable for their characterizations and the integration of everyday life into the historical events of the time. The author combines various narrative techniques: the omniscient narrator, direct dialogue, and monologue. The language is consistent with the character.

National Episodes

They are demonstrations of 19th-century historical events treated from the standpoint of anonymous individuals. Examples include Trafalgar and The Battle of Arapiles.

Novels of the First Period

The first novels of Galdós, such as Doña Perfecta and Gloria, are called thesis novels because they are subject to the author's ideology: they contrast characters... Continue reading "Benito Pérez Galdós & Leopoldo Alas Clarín: Spanish Literary Masters" »

Gothic Architecture: General Characteristics

• Geographic Area and Timeline

  • Western Christian Europe
  • Late Middle Ages (second half of 12th century to early 16th century)
  • Originates in France, with multiple influences:
    1. Normandy
    2. Cistercian Art
    3. Saint-Denis, near Paris (1144), featuring simple and double church aisles

• Stages of Development

  (Uneven development across different countries)

  1. Early Gothic
  2. High or Classic Gothic
  3. Late Gothic (also known as Blooming or Flamboyant style, characterized by a more complex, decorative, ornate, and Baroque-influenced style with curved shapes resembling flames, hence its name)

• Changes in Construction

  • Building Types

    • Religious structures (monasteries, churches, cathedrals)
    • Civil works (municipal buildings, market halls, châteaux)

Understanding Description: Types, Language, and Application

Description is the presentation of the characteristics of people, objects, places, or events, pertaining to a real or imaginary context, so that the receiver forms a true idea of it.

Classes of Description

Descriptions are classified according to:

• The attitude of the issuer towards what is described:
  • Objective: Shows reality without providing personal ratings.
  • Subjective: The issuer shows their particular vision.
• The treatment given to what is described:
  • Static: Describes a stable, non-moving reality.
  • Dynamic: Describes a changing reality with movement.

Language in Descriptions

In descriptions, the following become important:

• Adjectives: Which express qualities.
• Space Markers: To place the described

Audiovisual Synchrony, Asynchrony, and Antisynchrony

The Simultaneous and Sequential Expression: Diachrony-Synchrony

This section explores the interplay of synchronicity and diachrony, or the dual-axis operation of simultaneous and successive relations, through the process of assembly. Everything revolves around the combination of space and time.

Simultaneous Plurispatial Scope in Television

Television has the ability to reflect multiple spaces simultaneously. In the subsequent presentation of narrative spaces, live TV links remote sites located in different places, creating a new space that does not exist in reality.

Scope refers to the place where partners and presented realities converge. When a connection is made with correspondents in different... Continue reading "Audiovisual Synchrony and Asynchrony in Television" »

Spanish Literary Traditions: Mysticism, Dialogue, and the Picaresque

Mystical and Ascetic Poetry

This literary tradition explores profound spiritual themes. Key figures include:

• Fray Luis de León: Known for his serene and contemplative poetry.
• San Juan de la Cruz: Celebrated for his intense mystical works, such as Noche oscura del alma (Dark Night of the Soul).

Understanding Dialogue in Text

Dialogue is a fundamental type of text where two or more partners exchange information through the use of words.

Types of Dialogues

• Unplanned Dialogues

  These conversations are spontaneous and improvised, with the primary purpose being social interaction.

• Planned Dialogues

  These dialogues prioritize the transmission of information, as seen in debates, discussions,

Islamic Art: Defining Characteristics and Architectural Styles

Key Features of Islamic Art

The inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula had not developed a distinct artistic or architectural style, as most were nomadic. When they converted to Islam and expanded their territories through conquest, they appropriated the cultures of the conquered peoples. This led to the creation of an eclectic art form, a synthesis or addition of elements from diverse cultures.

However, Islamic art developed a very distinctive style, recognizable across different eras and regions. This style is distinguished by:

• Unity: Life follows standards dictated by the Quran.
• Syncretism: A synthesis of artistic elements from diverse sources (Persian, Byzantine, Greek, Roman, Visigothic,

Gothic Sculpture (13th and 15th Centuries)

Features of Gothic Sculpture

• Figures exhibit a natural, realistic quality, with lifelike poses and expressions. They convey emotions, humanizing the art, while still retaining a degree of idealization.
• High relief is the dominant technique.
• Religious themes, particularly from the New Testament, are emphasized. Unlike the Romanesque period, the focus shifts away from the Book of Revelation.
• Sculptures now express a range of emotions, including pain and pleasure. The Virgin Mary is often depicted as an intermediary. Representations of Christ on the cross are imbued with intense pain and expressiveness.
• In addition to freestanding sculptures, other prominent genres include altarpieces, tombs, and choir stalls.