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

Understanding Narrative Structure

Narrative is the expressive form used to tell real or imagined stories. It communicates through description and dialogue, giving rise to two widespread literary expressions: the story and the novel. A narrative work functions as a communication system that transmits a specific message.

Story and Discourse

A narrative is composed of two primary components:

• The Story: The sequence of developments related through the narrator's words and the actions of the characters.
• The Discourse: The specific procedures and techniques a narrator uses to convey the events of the story.

Key Narrative Elements

Every narrative is composed of five essential areas:

• Reason: The catalyst that drives the action.
• Sequences: The distinct parts

4 Text Exposition

4 Text EXHIBITION S-> Exposition presents, explains, or develops ideas or issues.

4.1 Types of Exposition

According to the position of the issuer, the exposition will be objective or subjective. According to the intention, an exposition may be informative, instructive, predictive, or imperative. According to the receiver to which it is addressed, the exposition will be more informative. According to the broadcast channel, the exposition will be oral or written.

4.2 Structure of an Exposition

The structure of an exposition is not fixed, but in general terms it can be differentiated into three parts:

• Introduction (Home): contains the presentation of the topic.
• Development (Body): raises and develops the ideas presented.
• Conclusion:

Ferdinand de Saussure: Language as a System

For Saussure, language is defined by two essential features that form the institution: it is shaped by rules that are a) general (beyond individual control) and b) coercive (limiting possibilities in interactive behavior). From a social perspective, language is an institution; from a formal approach, it is a system.

Saussure utilized the notion of a system in the sense of a mathematical structure: a set of elements whose defining features are relational, meaning their existence and significance are determined by their relations with other elements within the set.

Synchronic vs. Diachronic Linguistics

Language must be differentiated by its current state versus the states that preceded it; we must distinguish... Continue reading "Saussure and Chomsky: Foundations of Modern Linguistics" »

The Scream by Edvard Munch

About the Artist: Edvard Munch

• Born: December 12, 1863, Løten, Norway.
• Childhood: Marked by profound loss (his mother and later his sister Sophie died of tuberculosis), which profoundly influenced his artistic themes of sickness, insanity, and death.
• Early Career: At 17, he decided to become a painter. He enrolled at Christiania Bohemia, where artists and writers sought to challenge societal hypocrisy and narrow moral and ethical principles.
• Paris (1889): During the Impressionist revolution, Munch wrote his manifesto against Naturalism.
• Later Works: From 1902, his paintings were integrated into a "Mural of Life," which included works like The Kiss, Anguish, and The Scream.
• Health: In 1908, Munch's anxiety reached such a

Principles of Visual Representation

1. Multiple Application: A single form can represent various objects or body parts.
2. Baseline: Characters and objects need a base or fulcrum, mirrored by a skyline.
3. Perpendicularity: Objects rest perpendicularly on their base, even on slanted surfaces.
4. Size Importance: The most important elements are larger than secondary ones.
5. Isolation of Parts: In sets, draw similar elements individually to show their properties (e.g., hand and fingers).
6. Territorial Imperative: Each element has inviolable space, avoiding overlaps. Hats are tangential to the head.
7. Exemplary Manner: Choose the representation that best highlights an object's main qualities, favoring orthogonal projections.
8. Depression: Draw vertical elements (people,

Mastering Textual Commentary

1. Analyzing General Ideas

• Identify the language: Determine if the text is written in Latin or a vernacular language. Latin targets educated humanists, while vernacular is often more didactic.
• Determine the text type: Identify if it is a speech or oratory, noting the use of vocatives.
• Scholastic structure: Observe if the text follows ancient scholastic methods of dividing and subdividing explanations, which is common in medieval writing.
• Tone: Assess whether the tone is conversational, erudite, pompous, or distant. Most humanities texts aim for an elegant, natural language known as grace.
• Classical influence: Evaluate the extent to which the text references old models, such as Greek, Roman, or Hebrew traditions.
• Human

The Theater in the 16th and 17th Centuries

The theater in the sixteenth century laid the groundwork for significant developments. This evolution would become the golden age of theater in the seventeenth century, branching into two main directions: the *Baroque theater* of Shakespeare in England and Lope de Vega and Calderón in Spain, and the *Classical theater* of Corneille and Molière in France.

Shakespeare is notable for his profound exploration of the human soul, expressing its innermost passions. He cultivated the three major dramatic subgenres: dramas, comedies, and tragedies. In his human tragedies, characters become symbols of humanity's great problems, such as love (Romeo and Juliet), indecision (Hamlet), and jealousy (Othello).

French

Characteristics of Baroque Architecture

• In Baroque architecture, the concepts of volume and symmetry are replaced by dynamism and theatricality. The product of this new way of designing space is a building of gigantic proportions which, rather than the accuracy of geometry, prioritizes overlapping planes and volumes. This approach aims to achieve various optical effects and color contrasts, as well as dramatic lighting, both on the facades and in the interior design. We must also note the interest in movement and the significant role of decoration.
• The anthropomorphic proportions of the Renaissance were transformed, leading to the use of duplicate columns and the giant order, continuously exploring new two-story facades. Early Baroque architects,

Understanding News Reports

The news: It is a text issued on radio, television, or in the press that provides information on recent events. News is the most common genre in the media and, in addition to verbal text, may contain photographs, drawings, or diagrams.

There are different types of news depending on the subject and nature. It is also categorized by length; there are short forms, including wedges, which are secondary news items.

Information is organized according to the principle of relevance: the fundamental facts are located in a prominent position, moving from general information to specific details.

Structure of a News Report

• Headline: Expresses the theme or main fact. It is located in the first position and highlighted in bold. The

Avant-Garde Art

Cubism

Inspired by Cézanne and influenced by physics and Schopenhauer, Cubism transforms the conventional approach using multiple points of view; light fades and reality breaks down into planes. Its works feature traditional themes from a new perspective. Notable artists include:

• Braque: Maintains recognizable elements of reality and uses the technique of collage.
• Juan Gris: Prefers still lifes.
• Léger: Works with geometric shapes.
• Pablo Ruiz Picasso (1881-1973): The best-known Cubist painter.

Expressionism

Expressionists reflect the inner world—mysterious and heartbreaking—using sinuous lines and dark tones to achieve truly disturbing pictures, such as those found in Munich.

Futurism

These artists reject the past and glorify new... Continue reading "Modern Art Movements and the Rise of Fascism" »