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

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.

Adjectives Explained

An adjective is a word that expresses a quality or characteristic of a noun it accompanies, agreeing in gender and number.

Types of Adjectives

• Variable Adjectives: Have distinct forms for masculine and feminine genders. Plural forms are typically created by adding 's' or 'es' to the singular form.
• Invariable Adjectives: Have a single form for both masculine and feminine. Adjectives ending in -ac, -ic, -oc often have one ending for both genders in the singular but may vary in the plural. (Note: This rule seems specific, possibly to Catalan grammar.)

Degrees of Adjectives

• Positive Degree: Expresses a quality simply, without comparison.
• Comparative Degree: Expresses the intensity of a quality in comparison to other elements. It can

Alliteration: Repetition of one or more initial sounds in words that are very close together.

Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate real sounds.

Paronomasia (Pun): Repetition of words with very similar sounds.

Anaphora: Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, verses, or sentences.

Parallelism: Repetition of syntactic structures.

Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word or phrase of a clause or sentence at the beginning of the next.

Concatenation: A series of anadiplosis in sequence.

Epanadiplosis: Repetition of a word at the beginning and end of a clause, verse, or sentence.

Pun: Play on words that uses multiple meanings of a term, or words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Chiasmus: A rhetorical or literary... Continue reading "Literary Devices: A Comprehensive Reference" »

Understanding Multiculturalism: Models and Approaches

Multiculturalism refers to the coexistence of diverse cultures within a society. Various models propose different ways to manage this diversity:

• Assimilation

  This model involves the "immersion" of migrants into a new culture, empowering them to adapt to their new society. Positively, it allows minorities to access the same resources as the autochthonous population. Negatively, it demands the "renunciation" of one's original culture, creating a dilemma of "conform or be excluded."

• Segregation

  In this view, cultural plurality leads to one culture being deemed superior, thereby assigned the direction on common issues affecting everyone. This often results in the separation or isolation of different

Analysis of Joan Miró's Dutch Interior (1928)

Context and Identification

Outside the Netherlands and Inside the Netherlands: This analysis focuses on a work from the series Dutch Interiors by Joan Miró, created in 1928. Miró, associated with the School of Paris (Paris, France), employed the style of Surrealism.

The Theme: In 1928, Miró traveled to Holland and was strongly impressed by certain 17th-century Dutch painters. He subsequently painted a series interpreting these works in his own manner. The reference for this specific piece, often cited as "Outside the Netherlands," is Hendrick Martensz Sorgh's painting, The Lute Player (sometimes referred to as The Vanity of Lute).

Materials and Technique

The support element is fabric (canvas), and... Continue reading "Joan Miró's Dutch Interior (1928): Surrealist Analysis" »

English Adjectives and Meanings

• Colorful: full of color (lleno de color)
• Spontaneous: something not prepared (espontáneo)
• Peaceful: not involving violence (pacífico)
• Dramatic: attracting attention (dramático)
• Amusing: providing enjoyment (divertido)
• Unusual: (raro)
• Striking: attracting attention (llamativo)
• Romantic: related to love (romántico)
• Natural: something from or related to nature (natural)
• Moving (physically): a moving train (mover)
• Moving (emotionally): arousing or touching emotions (emocionante)
• Powerful: implies force (poderoso)

Understanding English Antonyms

Prefix "Un-"

• unhappy
• unemotional
• unfair
• unbelievable

Prefix "Ir-"

• irresponsible
• irregular

Prefix "Il-"

• illogical
• illegal

Prefix "In-"

• intolerant
• informal
• insecure
• insensible

Prefix "Im-"

• immortal
• impossible
• impolite
• immature

Essential

Noucentisme

Features of Noucentisme

• Intellectualism: Defend rationality and intellectual rigor, usually possessing a strong background.
• European Influence: Advocate for the intellectual modernization of Spain and its connection to European culture.
• Cultural and Political Presence: Utilize positions of power to influence society.
• Universalist Ideal: Demonstrate a preference for urban culture.
• Aestheticism: Art is conceived as a self-sufficient and beautiful object: pure art, detached from sentimentality and realism, inspired by classical models.
• Formal Concern: Admire the intellectual rigor of well-executed work, and value art and intellectual minorities.

Avant-Garde Movements

The avant-garde movements and isms originated in Europe around World War I... Continue reading "Noucentisme and Avant-Garde Movements in Spanish Literature" »

The first cold. Timeline: s. XIX. CH: The political Catalan was at the time of esplendor. This union was created in Catalan. In 1892, this union had to approve the rules of Manresa, which was a draft status of Catalan autonomy. This period is also a time of increased economic prosperity. The Spanish village developed at a slower pace than Europe. There was also a migration of women from the country to the city center and the periphery. Style Author: Miquel Blay is difficult to define due to the traffic of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, but he was very influential in modernism. He had a significant influence on modernism but also on realism. His realism is social realism. Besides, Miquel Blay was influenced by symbolism.... Continue reading "Understanding the Artistic Influence of Miquel Blay" »