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

Understanding Film & TV Production

Key Elements of Film and Television

• Subtitles are helpful for people who cannot hear or understand a film's language.
• A critic writes about art, theater, or restaurants.
• A television show has viewers.
• A singer, an actor, or a dancer can give a performance.
• Films are set in a particular time period and in a certain place.
• Someone can have a role in a comedy, a TV program, or a play.
• You can shoot a video or a film.
• A film, a television drama, or a novel has a plot.

Behind the Scenes: Filmmaking Realities

• Actors have to be able to smile and laugh even when they are very unhappy.
• When a director thinks a scene is imperfect, it is shot again and again until it is exactly right.
• It is often impossible for an actor to earn

James Joyce (1882-1941): A Revolutionary Literary Genius

A Controversial Figure

James Joyce was one of the most powerful and revolutionary minds of the 20th century. However, he was also a deeply complex and often controversial figure. His scandalous, obscene, and offensive prose shocked and challenged readers. Convinced of his own genius, this Irish writer left a lasting impact on the literary world.

Early Life and Influences

Born in Dublin to a wealthy Catholic family, Joyce experienced a religious crisis and a problematic childhood that would deeply influence his writing. In 1904, he left Dublin and lived in Trieste, Paris, and Zurich, teaching to make a living while protesting against hypocrisy and institutionalized religion. Dublin's life... Continue reading "James Joyce: A Revolutionary Literary Genius of the 20th Century" »

Forrest Gump Sound Recording Insights

Shooting Style and Perspective

Recording sound for Forrest Gump was described as a dream because of its unique shooting style. The camera is positioned low to the ground, placing the audience close to the soldiers and sharing their point of view. Viewers don't see the enemy directly but experience exactly what the soldiers see and hear, including the sounds of shots.

Camera Shots Used

Close-up shots were utilized to maintain this shared point of view.

Post-Production Sound

Sound was primarily handled in post-production due to the quality limitations of on-set recorders.

Sound Categories: Premix, ADR, Foley

• Foley: Essential human sounds, like movements, are added in post-production.
• ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)

Supporting Materials in Speeches

The three types of supporting materials are examples, testimonies, and statistics and facts.

Examples

Examples you can use to illustrate your points include:

• Brief examples: Offer a single point of view about the topic.
• Extended examples: Provide multifaceted illustrations of the idea presented.
• Hypothetical examples: Describe what you believe the outcome might be.

Testimonies

Testimonies can add credibility to your speech. There are two main types:

• Expert testimony: Comes from a person with specialized knowledge about your topic.
• Lay testimony: Can be from an eyewitness with firsthand information.

Statistics and Facts

Adding facts and statistics to your speech can strengthen your arguments. Facts are documented information,... Continue reading "Supporting Materials, Persuasive Appeals, and Delivery in Speeches" »

Plot:

author's arrangement of the events that make up a story.

Conflict:

The driving force behind many plots; outside: main character being in conflict with external forces; within: character being forced to make a difficult choice, question his values and beliefs.

Suspense:

Character:

Literature allow us to multiply that number by giving us access to the private thoughts and lives of an endless assortment of fascinating and memorable people.

Defining characters:

• Their relationship to the plot
• The degree to which they are developed
• Their growth in the course of the story

The central character of the plot is called the protagonist.

The character against whom the protagonist struggles is called the antagonist. Could be something natural. Not a human... Continue reading "Understanding Characters in Literature: Types and Development" »

Realism in International Relations

Realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations theory, theoretically formalizing the Realpolitik statesmanship of early modern Europe. Although a highly diverse body of thought, it is unified by the belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing power. The theories of realism are contrasted by the cooperative ideals of liberalism.

Realists can be divided into three classes based on their view of the essential causes of interstate conflict:

• Classical realists believe it follows from human nature;
• Neorealists attribute it to the dynamics of the anarchic state system;
• Neoclassical realists believe it results from both, in combination with

Essential History Terminology

This document defines key terms used in the study of history.

Core Concepts

• Provenance: Origin of the source.
• Orthodox: Established/understood interpretation of events.
• Revisionist: Questions orthodox view and looks for a revised interpretation.
• Anachronistic: An approach that judges a culture or event using standards that didn't apply to them.
• Hindsight: Treats historical events as inevitable; a deterministic approach.
• Sacrosanct: A point of view considered proven and above debate and criticism.
• Iconoclastic: A revisionist approach which challenges orthodox, sacrosanct interpretations (e.g., A.J.P. Taylor's view on Hitler and WW2).
• Deterministic: Individuals have little influence on the outcome of events.
• Nihilistic: Random

Introduction

In the early 2000s, the mantra of the television future was"whatever show you want, whenever you want, on whatever screen you want" However, the predicted death of television never came to pass. Instead, the industry has undergone a profound transformation, driven by new technologies and changing consumer habits.

The Rise of Digital Video

The advent of digital video recorders (DVRs) and streaming services has given viewers more control over their viewing experience. They can now circumvent scheduling constraints and commercials, and watch their favorite shows on demand.

The Fragmentation of Audiences

As a result of these changes, television has become increasingly individualized. Viewers are no longer bound to the same schedules and... Continue reading "The Evolution of Television: From Mass Medium to Fragmented Audiences" »

Representations of Social Groups in Media

Constructing Meaning Through Visual and Technical Codes

Representations in media involve how producers portray social groups using visual and technical codes. These codes reveal the producer's intended ideology. Stuart Hall suggests that representations are formed through the repetition and remixing of media trends. Ethnic representation, in particular, manifests diversely in media, influenced by social, cultural, and historical contexts. This essay explores how producers represent ethnic minorities in Beyoncé's 2016 music video "Formation" and the 2017 Guinness television advertisement "Compton Cowboys," highlighting the contrasting ideologies presented.

Beyoncé's "Formation": Subverting the "Black"

Understanding Aestheticism: Origins and Core Message

The term "Aestheticism" derives from the Greek word aisthesis, meaning "perception through the senses." This focus on sensory experience was also central to Romantic culture. Indeed, the movement has its roots in Romanticism, but it also signifies a distinct turn. Now, the artist, or more specifically the aesthete, must not only feel sensations but actively live them in their own life. The core message of Aestheticism is often summarized as "Living for beauty!"

The Aesthete and the Poète Maudit: Rebels Against Society

The figure of the aesthete presents some correspondences with the French figure of the "poète maudit" (cursed poet), who rejects all societal values and conventions. The poète... Continue reading "Aestheticism: Art for Art's Sake, Rebellion, and Dandyism" »