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

Journalistic Texts

Types of Journalistic Texts

The following are some common types of journalistic texts, categorized by their purpose and style:

• News: An objective account of a fact. The headline highlights the most important aspect of the story.
• Report: An informative text prepared by the newspaper's documentation service.
• Story: Combines information and interpretation, as the journalist presents facts as they have witnessed them.
• Chronicle: Relates current events and provides an analysis of them.
• Interview: The reproduction of a dialogue between a journalist and a person.
• Grandstand: A newspaper article in which a known figure outlines their ideas or opinions on an issue linked to the present.
• Column: An opinion piece signed by a regular newspaper

Social Influence on Gender and Emotions

From a young age, society shapes our understanding of gender and emotions. Societal pressures often encourage women to be more emotional, while men are expected to be more aggressive and physical. This early characterization influences children's play and behavior, with girls often engaging in gentle, emotional games, and boys in more physical and violent ones.

The Anguish of Separateness

Separateness is a source of human anguish, leading to feelings of isolation and helplessness. This isolation can feel like an 'asylum,' preventing genuine connection with others. The story of Adam and Eve illustrates this; upon realizing their nakedness and difference (being of different sexes), they felt shame and guilt,... Continue reading "Societal Impact on Gender, Emotions, and Human Connection" »

Medieval Period (13th and 14th Centuries)

The Medieval period saw advances in the Reconquista and strong literary development, exemplified by Gonzalo de Berceo. This era focused on verse and religious subjects with a didactic purpose.

• Cuaderna Vía: Stanza formed by four monorhyme verses.
• Alexandrine Verse: Verse of fourteen syllables.
• Celestina: Marks a departure from medieval ideals, reflecting the spirit of the time.

Renaissance (16th Century)

The Italian Influence and Realism

The Renaissance, originating in Italy during the 16th century (Siglos de Oro), marked a rebirth of classical learning, emphasizing change, human development, and natural elegance.

• Garcilaso de la Vega: Noble warrior and poet known for his eleven-syllable verse, sonnets, and

Mannerism, Baroque, and Rococo

Mannerism, Baroque, and Rococo: Art in Europe and the Classical rebirth resulted in two successive movements: Mannerism and Baroque. The first, a reaction against the idealist perfection of Classicism, employed the distortion of light and space within the work in order to emphasize the emotional content and the feelings of the artist. Mannerism is a period of profound transition and artistic crisis.

Baroque art took the techniques of the Renaissance to new heights, emphasizing detail and movement in search of beauty. It is often noted for being an ornate art, which gives special emphasis to the expressive and often exaggerated. To some art historians, the emphasis that Baroque art gives to grandeur is seen as a... Continue reading "European Art Movements: Mannerism to Post-Impressionism" »

Romanesque Painting: Key Features and Context

1. Subordination to Architecture

The Romanesque painter viewed their work as an integral part of the building, subordinate to the architecture. The apse was the preferred location for pictorial decoration.

2. Anti-Naturalism and Symbolism

Decoration in Romanesque art maintains an anti-naturalism. Its symbolism and abstract forms mean that perspectives are often unclear or nonexistent.

3. Expressive Power

Emphasis is placed on the expressive power of the forms, rather than mere beauty.

4. Archaic Elements Persist

Similar to sculpture, archaic conventions persist, such as:

• Frontal and hieratic poses.
• Imbalances in proportion.
• Elongated and stylized canons of representation.

5. Didactic Purpose

Besides decoration,... Continue reading "Characteristics of Romanesque Painting in Art History" »

Masterpiece Specifications

Author: Jacques-Louis David
Date: 1784
Style: Neoclassical
Technique: Oil on canvas
Location: Louvre Museum, Paris

The Subject of the Oath

The painting depicts the three Horatii brothers swearing an oath of loyalty to their father and the state, expressing their willingness to die to defend it. In one corner, the women of the family display their deep sorrow and depression regarding the tragic events that are about to unfold.

The Life of Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825)

Jacques-Louis David was the preeminent representative of Neoclassical painting. He was a member of the parliament and famously voted in favor of the King's execution by guillotine. David lived through the entire French Revolutionary process, witnessing profound... Continue reading "Jacques-Louis David: The Oath of the Horatii Analysis" »

The Linguistic Sign and Communication

The linguistic sign represents the unity of the linguistic system. It consists of two parts:

• 1. Signifier: The acoustic image or succession of articulated sounds that brings to mind an image.
• 2. Meaning: The concept referred to by the signifier.

The sign is the unit of communication. A sign is a stimulus that is perceived by the senses and evokes a reality that has some meaning for us.

Levels of Language Usage

The Cultivated Level

The cultivated level is characterized by the use of a developed and normative code. Its main features include:

1. The employment of reflective and thoughtful language.
2. Correct syntactic structures throughout.
3. Accurate lexicon, appropriate to the type of discourse, and varied.
4. Greater creativity

General Characteristics of Baroque Sculpture

General characteristics are expressed mainly in religious images representing aesthetics recharged with human suffering. The most common typologies of images include reredos (altarpieces) and processional sculptures.

Materials and Techniques

The most used material is polychrome wood. The technique of estofado (gilded wood) consists of covering the surface of the statue with gold leaf sheets.

The Spanish Schools of Sculpture

The Castilian School

The Castilian sculpture of the first half of the seventeenth century is deeply realistic and dramatic, showing figures that reflect pain in order to move the spectator. The great figure of this school is Gregorio Fernández, known for works such as the altarpiece... Continue reading "Spanish and Roman Baroque Sculpture Masterpieces" »

Expository Text

Morphology: Predominance of the third person as a mark of objectivity, though it sometimes shifts to the first person plural to include the receiver. Uses the present indicative, often with timeless value.

Syntax: Preference for enunciative sentences. Presence of subordinate adverbial clauses of cause, purpose, and consequence, alongside explanatory structures.

Semantics: Lexical selection is determined by the subject and purpose of the exposition. Generally, it uses a denotative lexicon that is often abstract. Includes technicalities and specific adjectives that provide an accurate scientific exposition.

Argumentative Text

Morphology: Use of the first or third person depending on the degree of subjectivity of the argument.

Syntax:

The result of the mix between reality and fiction came a genre: the chivalric novel. In this genre are located: C and T / strong and courageous knights (human), whose actions become a form of logic, perfectly localized in familiar landscapes. These are believable novels, inspired by the real-life knights of the time. Literature accentuates the most spectacular formal knights (battles, ceremonies, and parliaments).

Catalan Chivalric Novels

Curial e Güelfa

Curial e Güelfa is an anonymous work written toward the middle of the 15th century. It is structured in three books: 1) the education and training of Curial, 2) the knight's participation in a tournament, and 3) his captivity and return. The novel places the reader in familiar locations. To... Continue reading "The Chivalric Novel: A Blend of Reality and Fiction" »