C100 Intro to Humanities Flashcards
Age of Exploration
Time period between the early fifteenth to the early seventeenth centuries when Europeans sailed around the globe and transferred goods, food, plants, and people (in the form of slaves) transforming the countries they reached.
chromaticism
The movement or displacement of notes by a half-step, as opposed to the tradition of whole-step movement in previous periods.
classical humanism
The cultural movement of the Renaissance, that emphasized the dignity, worth, and rationality of humankind.
Classicism
Aesthetic attitudes and principles found in the art, architecture, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome.
colonialism
The political, economic, and cultural domination by one country over another country or region.
Darwinism
The theory of evolution by natural selection developed by biologist Charles Darwin.
Deism
The belief that God created the natural laws that govern nature but does not directly intervene or interfere in any way.
Democracy
Government of direct rule by the people, a form developed by the Greeks.
egalitarianism
A belief in promoting social and political equality.
Empiricism
all knowledge is derived from our senses.
epistemology
The study of thinking.
exoticism
An artistic trend that took place in Europe in the 19th century, which borrowed and glorified cultural aspects from non-Western civilizations.
Golden Mean
Aristotle’s term for the desirable middle between two extremes, between excess and inadequacy.
Humanism
The study of the creative and intellectual contributions of all human cultures.
iconoclasm
The deliberate destruction of religious art, imagery, icons, and other symbols or monuments.
idealism
Theory that reality is a mental construction or that the object of external perception consists of ideas.
Imperialism
The policy of extending the rule of an empire/nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.
Impressionism
Art movement of the late 19th century that emphasized simplified composition and the effect of light and color to capture a painter’s visual impression.
individualism
That which separates one unique person from another, as well as the social and philosophical viewpoint that celebrates that difference.
Industrialism
The emphasis on an industrialized economic system.
Kouros
Type of statue featuring life-sized male nudes in a stance in which the left foot is placed in front of the right.
linear perspective
The creation of the illusion of depth based on the fact that parallel lines or edges appear to converge, and objects appear smaller as the distance between them and a viewer increases.
madrigal
A polyphonic vocal work, usually written for four or five voices, setting a pastoral poem to music, performed without instrumental accompaniment, and intended for secular use.
Materialism
Philosophical position that all processes, phenomena, and objects/beings can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.
Motifs
In music, a brief but recognizable recurring fragment of a melody.
nationalism
A variant of patriotism characterized by intense loyalty to a particular nation and its defining values and features.
Natural Selection
The gradual process by which certain biological traits fade away or grow through the reproductive success or failure of the individuals that have that trait; a term coined by Charles Darwin to illustrate that certain traits are better suited for certain environments than others.
Neoclassicism
Art movement of 18th century that drew on Greek and Roman art for models of harmony, idealized realism, and reason.
Order
Natural laws that Enlightenment thinkers believed should guide the structure of civilized life.
passion
The evocation of strong, irrational emotion within an artistic or literary work.
Polytheism
The belief in multiple gods; religion based on more than one god.
Post-Impressionism
Art movement of the late 19th century that while influenced by Impressionism emphasized a greater concern for expression, structure, form, and emotional response.
Progress
The steady march of advancements made in certain intellectual areas that allow the human race to develop and grow.
Prose
Language that flows naturally as opposed to language that conforms to the beat of a rhythm such as in poetry.
rationalism
A point of view that emphasizes the role of reason, over the senses, in gaining knowledge.
Renaissance Man
A term describing an individual with broad knowledge and versatile talents spanning many intellectual and artistic disciplines.
Republic
Government where supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly.
Revolution
A fundamental, dramatic shift in organizational structure that occurs over a short period of time.
self-fashioning
The process of fashioning one’s individual sense of self and public persona according to a set of socially acceptable standards.
Skepticism
A philosophy that maintains that there can be no certainty in human knowledge and that mankind should continually be involved with finding the truth.
Social Darwinism
The theory that individuals, groups, and communities are subject to the same principle of natural selection as plants and animals.
Socratic Method
Analytical method of reasoning developed by Greek philosopher Socrates that asks a progression of questions in pursuit of the truth.
transcendentalism
Philosophical movement during the Romantic era that emphasized feeling over reason and the role of the individual finding an intuitive relation to the universe through solitude amid nature.
Utilitarianism
The ethical approach that emphasizes pragmatic ethical decisions for the greater good.
What is an aesthetic experience?
A feeling of pleasure that justifies itself
Which topic is studied by the humanities?
The cultures and beliefs that make up the experience of being human
What is a clear example of the creation ofaesthetic beautyin a humanities discipline?
An artist feels inspired by nature and paints a picture of the mountain landscape.
Match each type of love with its definition.
Eros- passionate love favored by Greek poet; Platonic - Non Sexual love emphasized by acient Greeks; Courtly- A romatic love emphasized in the medieval period
Which classical theme critiqued the belief that only the gods could create models of morality?
Humanism
What are three techniques used by ancient Greek playwrights Sophocles and Aristophanes?
Foreshadowing, discovery, and reversal of fortune
Why is Sappho’s classical poem “A Lament for Adonis” considered lyrical poetry?
It expresses feelings of romantic love.
What is true about Aristophane’s classical play Lysistrata?
The women decide to refuse to have sex with their husbands until the war is called off, which challenges traditional ideas of the role of wives in classical society.
Which two characteristics of classical epic poetry are shared by Homer’sOdysseyand Virgil’sAeneid?
They present the hero as a model of the ideal man in Greek and Roman culture. They explore the complex relationship between humans and the gods
How did the development of democracy impact the classical period?
The democratic republic emerged as an alternative to tyrannical forms of government.
How is the classical concept of the “republic” still evidenced in contemporary life?
In a republic, voting citizens have supreme rule but decisions are carried out through elected officials, which is the foundation of the American political system.
Which two beliefs are characteristic of the Renaissance?
Scientific inquiry will increase human knowledge of the world.Classical literary and philosophical works provide resources for learning and living.
How does Leonardo da Vinci’sThe Last Supperexemplify Renaissance art?
It employs linear perspective to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface
How did global exploration, such as during the golden age of Spain, contribute to art and literature of the Renaissance?
Artists and writers were inspired by the travels of explorers and incorporated themes of adventure and conquest into paintings and stories.
How is the theme of Renaissance humanism present in contemporary life?
A high value is placed on human rights, an individual’s education, and promotion of social rights
What doesclassicismrefer to as used in the termneoclassicism?
Using the visual art and architectural motifs of ancient Greece
How does Thomas Jefferson’s plantation home, Monticello, exemplify neoclassical architectural style?
It contains a columned facade and a pedimented front porch lined with Doric columns
What is the political significance of Jacques Louis David’s 1793 neoclassical workThe Death of Marat?
Itglorifies the Enlightenment ideals of revolutionaryheroism and self-sacrifice.
How did philosopher Rousseau’s concept of the “noble savage” set the stage for Enlightenment debates of the corruption and evils of slavery?
Rousseau’s arguments that native peoples were morally superior to “civilized” man, led to the romantic-period attitude that every man should have the right to live a natural life.
What effect did the rise of capitalism have during the neoclassical period?
It increased the exchange of ideas.
How does the contemporary idea of progress relate to the Enlightenment idea of progress
Contemporary society places great emphasis on an individual’s education, which parallels the Enlightenment view that the pursuit of knowledge was a form of moral progress.
Which three attributes apply to music from the romantic period?
Exploration of heroic and nationalistic themes; Focus on the dramatic and expressive qualities of sound; Expansion of the orchestra to include a larger number and variety of instruments
How does this Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” exemplify themes from the romantic period
It reflects an egalitarian viewpoint through an intimate connection with nature.
How did the writings of romantic poets and novelists impact society during the romantic period
They demonstrated the importance of subjective experience and emotion
How do works of music from the romantic period continue to influence contemporary life?
Musical melodies from famous romantic period compositions can be heard in contemporary popular songs, such as Eric Carmen’s “All by Myself.”
What is the standard definition of natural selection, as described in Charles Darwin’sOn the Origin of Species?
Natural selection is an evolutionary process where certain traits are carried into subsequent generations and other traits are biologically eliminated in a living organism.
Which two themes of the realist period are explored in Henrik Ibsen’s playA Doll’s House?
The rights of women; Individual rejection
How does Alfons Mucha’s poster for Victorien Sardou’sGismondademonstrate the influence of Eastern culture on European art?
It borrows from the style of Japanese woodblock prints.
Classical Period – Birth period (beginning of classical thinking)*B/RTH P/RD
B/RTH – Birth, Reason/Truth and Humanism P/RD- Polytheism, Republic and Democracy
Neoclassical Period- CORDES (listening to chords of classical music)
C- Classicism O-Order R-Rationalism D-Deism E-Empricism S-Skepticism
Realism Period – I ID AoD ( age of doubt)
I- Industrialization I-Indvidiualism D-Darwinism AoD-Age of Doubt
