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

Modernism's Literary Revolution: Key Movements

The early 20th century marked a transformative era in literature, often referred to as Modernism, with Ezra Pound as a central figure.

Periods of Modernist Development

Modernism can be broadly divided into two significant periods:

• 1910-1914: The Period of Aggressive Dismantling of Victorianism. This initial phase saw a deliberate break from the conventions and sentiments of the Victorian era.
• 1920-1930: The Period of Fulfillment and Artistic Fruits. This decade witnessed the maturation of Modernist art, yielding some of the greatest contributions to English criticism.

Pioneering Critics of the Modernist Era

The latter period produced influential English critics such as T.S. Eliot, I.A. Richards, F.R.... Continue reading "Modernism's Dawn: Imagism and Vorticism's Impact" »

Artwork Analysis: Classification Fundamentals

Briefly, you must always point out the following elements:

• The Kind of Artwork: Identify the medium represented (e.g., building, painting, sculpture).
• Specific Details and Technique: Add details like the type of building or the technique used (e.g., fresco, oil painting, watercolor, engraving, standalone sculpture, relief, bas-relief, high-relief, sitting statue, praying statue, lying statue, riding statue).
• Identification: Name, author, and date, if known.
• Subject or Theme: The theme represented in the image, if any.
• Style and Context: Style, trend, movement, or school.

Analyzing the Author/Artist

A short biography (four or five lines) must be written. Avoid irrelevant details, focusing on essential elements... Continue reading "Analyzing Artwork: A Comprehensive Method for Interpretation" »

Brand equity can also be thought of as an asset representing a company's value.

Brand equity represents the cumulative added value of a product or service.

A company that has developed a successful brand has a valuable asset. (FALSE)

A global brand begins with the foundation of value. (T) According to the top (F)

A global product meets the wants of consumers in Japan, Western Europe, and the United States.

After four years of product development, Procter & Gamble achieved continuous innovation.

Alfred Zeien, former chairman of Gillette, emphasized the importance of Esteem in brand building.

An express warranty is a written guarantee that assures the buyer that he or she is getting what he or she has paid for. (TRUE)

An express warranty is a written... Continue reading "Global Branding and Product Strategies" »

Renaissance Art and Humanism

Renaissance Painting

The Renaissance saw a profound shift in artistic expression, with painters mastering new techniques and themes.

The Quattrocento (15th Century)

• Masaccio and Piero della Francesca: Pioneered the use of perspective.
• Botticelli: Known for his distinctive sense of movement and graceful figures.

The Cinquecento (16th Century)

• Leonardo da Vinci: Brilliantly represented nature, mastering sfumato and blurring outlines. One of his masterpieces was the Mona Lisa.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti: Painted the iconic frescoes in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
• Raphael: Achieved perfection in his use of color, drawing, and composition. One of his notable artworks is the Madonnas.
• Titian: As a Venetian painter, he created highly

Debunking Creativity Myths

Common Misconceptions

1. The Eureka Myth

New ideas sometimes appear as a flash of insight, but this is often the culmination of prior thought and effort.

2. The Breed Myth

Creative ability isn't solely determined by genetics; it's a skill that can be developed.

3. The Originality Myth

Creative ideas often build upon existing knowledge and collaborations.

4. The Expert Myth

While expertise is valuable, relying solely on experts can limit diverse perspectives.

5. The Incentive Myth

Larger incentives don't always lead to increased innovation and can sometimes be counterproductive.

6. The Lone Creator Myth

Innovation is often a collaborative process, not the work of a single individual.

7. The Brainstorming Myth

Unstructured brainstorming... Continue reading "Debunking Creativity Myths: Fostering True Innovation" »

Storytelling Definitions

• Plot: The main sequence of events in a play, novel, or film.
• Biographical sketch: An account dealing with a particular person's life.
• Fake: A person or thing that is not genuine.
• Myth: A widely held but false belief.
• Tall story: An account that is fanciful and difficult to believe.
• Fairy tale: A story, typically of a magical or idealized nature, often for children.
• Legend: A traditional story popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated.
• Anecdote: A short, entertaining story about a real incident or person.
• Punch line: The culmination of a joke or story, providing the humor or climax.
• Joke: Something said or done to cause amusement.

Common Storytelling Expressions

• Tell a white lie
• Spreading rumors
• Be a bit of a gossip
• Prone

Foundational Concepts in Intercultural Communication (ICC)

...and even physical artifacts.

W. Humboldt's Ideas and ICC Principles

Question: What correlation exists between Wilhelm von Humboldt’s ideas and the principles of Intercultural Communication (ICC)?

Humboldt proposed that: “...human language is a rule-governed system, rather than just a collection of words and phrases paired with meanings...”

Correlation: Language embodies the cultural conceptualization of the community of people who use that language.

Interdisciplinary Nature of ICC Theory

Question: May the Theory of ICC be considered interdisciplinary? Why?

The Theory of ICC can be considered interdisciplinary. Despite the fact that every culture has its own peculiarities, different... Continue reading "Key Concepts and Models in Intercultural Communication Theory" »

Text 1 is a public service announcement conceptualized and designed by Terremoto Propaganda, a creative ad agency based in Curitiba, Brazil. The title of the PSA is “Stop the Violence: Don’t Text and Drive”. Text 2 is a newspaper article written by Barbara Ortutay, a technology writer for the Associated Press. The title of the article is “Distracted Driving is Rampant Across North America”. Both texts share many commonalities and differences with regards to context, purpose, audience, and formal and stylistic features.

Each text has a unique context that is different from the other. The context of Text 1 is a PSA created as part of an ad campaign for the bus rapid transit system, Ecovia. The PSA, published in January 2013, was created... Continue reading "Understanding the Impact of Texting and Driving Awareness" »

Essential English-Spanish Music Vocabulary

Musical Terms

• Beat: ritmo
• Tone deaf: no tener oído musical / desafinado
• Jingle: canción publicitaria / melodía pegadiza
• Musical score: partitura (sheet music) / banda sonora (soundtrack)
• Syllabus: programa de estudios / temario
• Chords: acordes
• Musical masterpiece: obra maestra musical
• Lyrics: letra (de canción)
• Recall: recordar
• Tunes: melodías / canciones
• Background music: música de fondo
• Airplay: emisión en radio / difusión radial
• In tune: afinado
• Rhythm: ritmo
• Out of tune: desafinado / fuera de tono
• Catchy tune: melodía pegadiza
• Bass: bajo
• Live performance: actuación en vivo / directo
• Choir: coro
• Recorded: grabado
• Deafening: ensordecedor
• Playable: interpretable / tocable
• Gig: concierto / bolo
• Vocals: voz / parte

The Importance of Images in Multimodal Texts

The image that appears in multimodal texts is a very important element. A photograph, for instance of a [specific subject, e.g., woman], is often used to bring a sense of immediacy and reality to the text, fostering interaction with the reader. This image might be very large and highlighted prominently, perhaps on the left side. The subject depicted often provides or reflects [specific meaning or emotion].

Information Value and Reading Path

We typically read information value from left to right and from top to bottom.

Salience: Attracting the Reader's Attention

Regarding salience, different elements of a composition try to catch the reader’s attention. Examples include:

• The subject's face
• A message on