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

Transition from Medieval to Renaissance Culture

The transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance saw Italy advance two centuries ahead of the rest of Europe in embracing classical ideals. This period is known as the Renaissance, signifying a rebirth of classical knowledge. Independent of the Church's seal, the classical model recurred as the rising bourgeoisie gained influence. By the 16th century (S. XVI), the canons of Renaissance Italy were imposed internationally.

Patrons of the Arts

Figures like Augustus and his ministers favored artistic activity between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD by protecting poets and thinkers. This patronage was crucial during the late Middle Ages for the rebirth, supporting many leading figures... Continue reading "Renaissance Emergence: From Medieval Transition to Modern Thought" »

Kinship and Family

Defining Family

Family: A group of people directly linked by kinship ties, where adult members take responsibility for childcare. Kinship ties are established through marriage or genealogical lines, connecting individuals within a family. Marriage: A socially recognized and approved union between two adults. Marriage creates kinship between individuals and their families.

Family Structures

Nuclear Family: Two adults in a relationship living together with their children (biological or adopted).

Monogamy/Polygyny: The practice of one person being married to one or multiple spouses.

Unilineal Descent: Kinship traced through one parent (father or mother).

Cognatic Affiliation: Kinship traced through both parents. Bilateral cognatic... Continue reading "Kinship and Family Structures: A Sociological and Anthropological Perspective" »

Poetic Dimension in The House of Bernarda Alba

Lorca defines theater as poetry that rises from the book and becomes human. This introduces the multi-layered nature of The House of Bernarda Alba. The work transcends realism; while the action is plausible, characters, space, and situations are viewed poetically. Metaphors enrich dialogues, and the interplay between realism and symbolism poeticizes reality. Lorca's poetic language is integral to the characters' interactions.

Colloquial expressions with poetic undertones and realistic details, prominent in the first act, gradually diminish. By Act Three, poetic elements like the starry night or the old woman with a lamb emerge. This contrasts with the realism of the first act, such as the maid eating... Continue reading "Symbolism and Social Conflict in The House of Bernarda Alba" »

Mercè Rodoreda's Literary Psychology

Focus on Female Protagonists and Inner Worlds

Yes, Mercè Rodoreda's literary production indeed focuses intensely on the psychology of her characters. In her novels, she performs a thorough analysis of the thoughts and feelings of her female protagonists, primarily through the use of interior monologue.

Rodoreda often recreates the world of childhood, which symbolizes happiness, in stark contrast to the adult world of her protagonists, which frequently represents suffering. Her women are often marked by adverse circumstances, disappointment, pain, and loneliness.

Symbolism in Rodoreda's Novels

Her works are rich in symbolism, often linking stages of life to specific novels:

• Aloma: Represents youth, describing

Characteristics of Renaissance Poetry

Renaissance poetry is defined by its adherence to classical forms and themes, largely influenced by Italian models.

Poetic Metrics and Forms

The metric system adopted verses from Italy, including:

• Verses: Pentameter and seven-syllable lines.
• Stanzas/Forms: Lira, Silva, Octava Real (Real Eighth), chained triplets (Tercetos Encadenados), and the Sonnet.

Characteristic Genres

Key genres include:

• Eclogue: Featuring idealized shepherds (pastors) as actors.
• Ode: Used for serious or elevated matters.
• Letter (Epistle): A poem written in the form of a letter.

Language and Style

The language of this era emphasizes naturalness and simplicity, deliberately avoiding mannerisms and overly elaborate sentences. Consequently, the lexicon... Continue reading "Literary Styles of the Spanish Golden Age: Renaissance, Conceptism, and Culteranism" »

Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism: A Comparison

Neoclassicism

• Defends the power of reason.
• Man participates in a collective project of progress.
• Generates vital optimism.
• Art seeks balance.
• Art and literature have a didactic function, promoting values.

Romanticism

• Defends feeling and subjectivity.
• Man reaffirms individuality and freedom.
• Contrast between ideal and reality creates pessimism and angst.
• Art seeks new forms of expression for human passions.
• Art has a subversive intent.

The Romantic Lyric

Key Themes

• Love: Idealized yet often tragic.
• Existence: Life is pure agony; the poet lives in a world that doesn't suit them, leading to sadness, loneliness, and suicide.
• Freedom: A fight against all rules and oppression, including the defense of patriotism as a territory

The Linguistic Sign

Signs are realities that we perceive through our senses and that signify something. They consist of:

• Signifier: The part of the sign that is perceptible to the senses and is associated in the mind with another reality (e.g., a red light).
• Signified: The concept or reality that the signifier evokes (e.g., the idea of 'do not cross').

Classes of Signs

• Signs created by humans to communicate. These signs are:
  • Conventional: They are the result of an agreement between users.
  • Encoded: They are used according to the rules of a code.
  • When signs bear a resemblance to the reality they represent, they are called icons. When they represent a social, religious, or cultural concept, they are called symbols.
• Symptoms or Indices: Signs that refer

Hermes with Infant Dionysus

Author: Praxiteles
Chronology: Fourth century BC (350–330 BC)
Style: Post-Classical Greek
Typology: Free-standing sculpture
Material: Original marble
Topic: Mythological
Location: The original location is unknown and the work is lost. There are several copies of human life. This one is a work in situ.

Laocoön and His Sons

Authors: Agesander, Polydorus, and Athenodorus. (The sculpture was created by these three artists.)
Chronology: III–II century BC
Style: Hellenistic Greek (Second Classic, Post-Classical style)
Typology: Free-standing sculpture
Material: Original bronze (lost). Roman copy in marble.
Topic: Mythological
Location: Current: Vatican Museum. The original was found in Rome, in Nero's Domus Aurea.... Continue reading "Masterpieces of Classical Greek Sculpture: Canon and Contrapposto" »

Mass Media and Communication Channels

The press, radio, and television are instruments technically prepared to deliver information to a wider, diverse, and anonymous audience. They serve three primary functions: to inform, educate, and entertain.

Newspapers and Magazines

The newspaper is a publication which appears every day and contains information of today. Usually published daily, these may include general information or specialized information.

Magazines are also publications that can be published weekly, quarterly, or at other intervals. They can focus on general information or specialized information.

Journalistic Genres: Information and Opinion

The information genres are divided into reporting and opinion genres.

• Information genres: In these,

Renaissance Art

Context and Origins

The Renaissance is characterized as a rebirth of classical antiquity, originating in Italy during the fifteenth century. Unlike other parts of Europe, Italy did not fully embrace medieval art; classicism was always present. The Renaissance is an Italian art movement that stretched across Europe.

While primarily Italian, the movement influenced other regions. For example, in Flanders during the fifteenth century, a distinct school arose, exemplified by artists like Van Eyck.

Key Characteristics

Linked to cultural Humanism, the Renaissance brought a new idea: anthropocentrism versus theocentrism. It recovered classical culture, shifting focus from purely church-centric thought.

Economic and Political Factors

Economically,... Continue reading "Renaissance, Romanesque, and Gothic Art Styles" »