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

Characters in Narrative

Characters are fictional beings that experience events and perform actions in a narrative.

• Simple or flat characters: They think and act in a predictable manner.
• Complex or round characters: They modify their way of thinking and acting.

Argumentative Text

An argumentative text presents a thesis and supporting arguments to convince the recipient.

• Introduction: Presents the thesis.
• Argument: Discourse used to convince others.
• Conclusion: The resolution of the initial problem.

Word Composition

Compound words are formed from the combination of two or more simple words.

• Own composition: A word formed from two Catalan words (e.g., "painted lips").
• Cultured composition: A word formed from two Catalan words (e.g., "biblio" + "teak").
• Syntagmatic

Literary Genres: Lyrics, Epic, and Drama

Lyrics

Lyrics deal with a subjective vision. They offer an intimate perspective, revealing the mood and experiences of the speaker. The description of real elements and the narrative of events always serve to evoke the spiritual and emotional state of the poet.

Subgenres:

• Ode: The poet expresses thoughts and feelings in a restrained and rational manner.
• Hymn: A solemn composition for song.
• Elegy: A funeral chant.
• Song: Expresses emotions of the amorous type.
• Epistle: In the form of a letter, it addresses philosophical or moral issues.
• Eclogue: An exhibition of feelings of love and excitement for nature put into the mouths of shepherds.
• Sonnet, Madrigal, Lyrical Romance

Epic

The Epic genre presents an external perspective.... Continue reading "Literary Genres and Devices: A Comprehensive Breakdown" »

The Baroque Period

Characteristics and Context

The Baroque was an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the 17th century. In contrast to the harmony and simplicity of the Renaissance, the Baroque period is notable for its contrast, exaggeration, complexity, and disillusionment.

Historical Context in Spain

Spain had lost its hegemony in the world. After Philip II, the reigns of Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II led Spain to total ruin. These kings appointed various validos (favorites) to administer the money, which led to extreme poverty among the populace.

Baroque Literature

The socio-historical context fostered profound disappointment and pessimism. Hence, literature abandoned simplicity and became complex and challenging.

Literary Concepts

• Polysemic

Effective Communication & Journalistic Principles

Oral Communication Essentials

• Verbal Language: Often the most effective form of communication, utilizing the voice.
• Ephemeral: Does not remain unless recorded or fixed.
• Emotive: Spontaneous and involves a sender and receivers.
• Immediately Rectifiable: Errors can be corrected, and alternatives adapted based on the issuer and receiver.
• Adaptability: We adapt our expressive styles to circumstances, individual formality, and context (e.g., oral expression, news).

Types of Oral Communication

• Planned: Collective discussions, press conferences.
• Spontaneous: Informal talks, games.
• Formal: Used with unknown persons.

Grammar Fundamentals

• Core Elements: Nouns, articles, and determinative adjectives (possessive,

Roussillon (Northern Catalonia)

• Absence of words with stress on the antepenultimate syllable (esdrúixols).
• Endings in the first-person present tense, the preterit, the imperfect indicative, and the conditional: canto (I sing), regava (I watered), regava (I watered).
• Use of the verb "to be" as an auxiliary verb for verbs of motion: sempre he anat (I have always gone).
• Use of Occitanisms, Gallicisms, Welsh words, and exclusive words like nugues (new).
• Negation with the particle pas: pas sense (not without).

Alghero (Alghero, Sardinia)

• Confusion of "l" and "d" with "r".
• Lack of desinence in the first-person present indicative: canto (I sing).
• Use of archaisms, Sardisms, and Italianisms.

Central Catalan

• Tonic vowel system consisting of 7 sounds and 3 atonic

Vermeer's The Art of Painting: Symbolism and Style

This intimate scene depicts a female painter in his studio, working on a model. The studio features a window and a large map of the Low Countries. The luxurious clothing suggests a distinguished executor of a craft, not a mere artisan. Symbolic characteristics include:

• The absence of candles in the candelabra, representing the suppression of the Catholic faith.
• A death mask on the table, symbolizing the ineffectiveness of the Habsburg monarchy.

Glorifying light emanates from an invisible window, falling directly on the model, who represents the Muse. This work exemplifies the tenebrist style, utilizing bright colors.

• Style: Baroque, 17th century
• Artist: Vermeer
• Location: Art History Museum, Vienna,

Renaissance Art

Origin: Florence, Italy.

Renaissance: The rebirth of arts, beliefs, politics, and education in the context of Greco-Roman antiquity.

Causes of the Renaissance Origin

• Emergence of Greco-Roman sages.
• Religious coldness.
• Conscience to assert itself in the artist (artist's name in paintings).
• Environment that exists in classical Italian history.
• Invention of printing and paper use.

Renaissance Periods: 15th and 16th centuries.

General Characteristics

• Rational thought (It starts to think) takes on importance in the artist.
• Naturalism (works with natural appearance).
• Monumentality.
• Expressive dynamics.

Architecture

• Domes on scallops are replaced by flat domes.
• Pointed arches are replaced by round arches.

Materials: White marble, brick.

16th Century

Martyrdom of St. Philip

Artist: José de Ribera

This work depicts the martyrdom of St. Philip. The composition is vertically oriented with horizontal planes. Light falls directly onto St. Philip and his executioners. St. Philip's body displays anatomical detail. His serene face and strained muscles add realism to the image. The piece showcases Ribera's study of light and shadow and his naturalistic style.

Still Life

Artist: Francisco de Zurbarán

This still life emphasizes the quality of the objects, highlighting the textures of fabrics, ceramics, clay, glass, and metal against a dark, matte background. The tenebrist style uses direct light on the objects, creating a strong contrast of light and shadow. The drawing is precise, and the composition... Continue reading "17th-Century Spanish Pictorial Works" »

What is home? - Kaj je dom?

• A roof and four walls - Streha in štirje zidovi
• A shelter where you can hide from the outside world - Zavetje, kjer se lahko skriješ pred zunanjim svetom
• A place where you go after school - Prostor, kamor greš po šoli
• A place where you can daydream - Prostor, kjer lahko sanjariš
• A place where you feel safe, warm, relaxed, loved, needed, respected - Prostor, kjer se počutiš toplo, varno, spočito, ljubljeno...

Roles - Vloge

• Breadwinner - Tisti, ki največ zasluži in ima tapravo službo
• Head of the family - Glava družine
• The Strength - Tisti, ki se odloča, kako in kaj
• The Love - Tisti, ki ohranja družino, da se ne bi kregali, da se imajo radi
• Careerist - Uspešen z vsemi možnimi sredstvi - tisti, ki mu je mar samo

Verbal Periphrasis: Understanding Complex Verb Forms

Verbal periphrasis refers to verbal constructions that express a specific idea, formed by an auxiliary verb and a main verb (infinitive, gerund, or participle), often linked by a preposition. These structures add nuance to verb meanings, indicating aspects like requirement, probability, or possibility.

Types of Verbal Periphrasis

• Requirement: Expresses obligation or necessity. Example: Tener que + infinitive (Spanish for 'to have to'). I have to sign.
• Probability: Indicates likelihood or conjecture. Example: Deber de + infinitive (Spanish for 'must be'). He must be sleeping.
• Possibility: Denotes capability or potential. Example: Poder + infinitive (Spanish for 'can'). It can be very cold in Sweden.