Vocab Flashcards
Globally unifying ideas that are repeated or developed throughout a literary/ artistic work
Universal Themes
One of the most powerful emotions a human can feel.
Love
A long poem, typically narrating the deeds and adventures of a heroic or legendary figure
Epic
A real current symbol or term in literature, art, or mythology
Archetype
A selfless love of one person for another on a spiritual level
Agape
The hero’s journey
Monomyth
Erotic Love
Eros
The qualities that give pleasure to the senses.
Beauty
Comes from the latin word “humanitas”, which refers to humans and their culture.
Humanities
The study of the various ways people, in all times past and present; and in all places around the world, live out the human experience
Humanities
The art and science of exploring the overlaps of what are often considered quite different subjects
Consilience
Unifying ideas that are repeated or developed throughout a literary/ artistic work
Themes
an organized system of spiritual beliefs and practices, usually offering a moral code and a worldwide view.
Religion
an artistic form of auditory expression that incorporates instruments or human voices in a structured and continuous manner.
Music
An artistic medium that uses the motion picture as a vehicle for storytelling and other creative expressions
Cinema
Art forms that entail creation of primarily visual works, which can be both two and three dimensional.
Visual Art
An art form of the written word
Literature
A branch of the performing arts in which actors preform a drama or musical before a live audience
Theater
An art form involving a sequence of rhythmic movements or steps usually performed to music
Dance
The science and art of designing buildings and other structures
Architecture
The systematic investigation of fundamental questions concerning such matters as existence, reality, consciousness, knowledge, truth, and justice
Philosophy
The study of creative an intellectual contributions of all human cultures
Humanism
Philosophical system based on the teachings of Confucius, stressing moral order and harmony in thought and conduct.
Confucianism
Religion originated in India by Siddhartha Gautama(The Buddha). Buddhists seek the path to enlightenment through physical and spiritual discipline
Buddhism
The linking together of principles across different academic subjects, such as the science and humanities
Consilience
That which separates one unique person from another, as well as the social and philosophical viewpoint that celebrates that difference
Individualism
A fundamental, dramatic shift in organizational structure that occurs over a short period of time.
Revolution
Aesthetic attitudes and principles found in the art, architecture, and literature of Ancient Greece and Rome
Classicism
An experience of beauty that inspires a feeling of pleasure which is its own justification
Aesthetic Experience
The achievement of putting into harmony different compositional elements that are in a dynamic tension with one another
Balance
The accurate and genuine reality of the world; that which is indisputably factual
Truth
The thought information of judgments based on a local process
Reason
Government directly ruled by the people, a form developed by the Greeks
Democracy
Government where a supreme power rests indirectly in the body of the citizens entitled to vote but is directly exercised by representatives
Republic
The belief in the existence of more than one god
Polytheistic
Goddesses of inspiration for literature, art, and science
Muses
The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
Virtue
Aristotle’s term for the desirable middle between two extremes, between excess and inadequacy
Golden Mean
The pleasing or harmonious proportionate arrangement of corresponding parts of artwork, literature, architecture, or music
Symmetry
The horizontal layers of material of a building that are supported by columns or walls
Entablature
Roman agrarian-based class that competed for power with the equestrians
Patricians
Followed by the dark age, and saw the rise of important political structures and democracy
Archaic Age
Type of statue featuring life-size male nudes in a stance in which the left foot is placed in front of the right
Kouros
The belief in one god or Almighty deity; religion based on one supreme god
Monotheistic
Island off the coast of Greece, home of the Minoan civilization which existed during the Bronze Age (1900-1400BCE)
Crete
The body of myths belonging to a culture; The study of myths
Mythology
A civilization that conquered creed and was said to have conquered Troy (1600-1100BCE)
Mycenaean Civilization
A general term referring to a set of all the duties belonging to a certain polytheistic religion. Also refers to a temple dedicated to all the Roman gods
Pantheon
Philosophers from Greece who spoke and or studied Greek, the greatly and scientific knowledge without appealing to mythology
Greek Philosophers
Plato‘s allegory of prisoners in a cave mistake appearance for reality and wrongly believe the shadows they see on the cave wall are real
Allegory of the Cave
Describes an ideal community or society; often used to describe a society that does not exist in reality
Utopian
Analytical method of reasoning developed by Greek philosopher Socrates that asks a progression of questions in pursuit of the truth
Socratic Method
Most popular of Plato’s dialogue, in which he describes both the ideal person and the ideal state
The Republic
A long poem recounting in elevated style the deeds of a legendary hero; any narrative work dealing with epic themes
Epic
Poems that use rhythm scheme as a cohesive element and that are often set music; lyric poems generally expressed feelings rather than relate political or historical events.
Lyric Poetry
Traditional stories of people or culture that serve to explain some natural phenomenon, the origin of humanity, or customs/religious rights
Myth
Plato describes the ideal state as one that is ruled by a philosopher king who makes decisions based on reason and justice
Ideal State
The Greek god of wine and fertility. Closely associated with theater and arts
Dionysius
how the various events of a story are arranged
Plot
term used to describe each person is being depicted in a drama
Character
Word choice; can be classified as formal or informal, or denotative or connotative
Diction
underlying meaning, message, or significance of a story; in music a musical idea repeated through the composition.
Theme
An outdoor venue shaped as a circle or ellipse Used by Romans for performances; the shape of the theater amplify the sound naturally.
Amphitheater
A drama with an unpleasant ending, generally involving the downfall of a flawed protagonist, which often involves catharsis
Tragedy
Greek word for excessive pride, presumption or arrogance
Hubris
A work of theater where the sympathetic main characters experience a happy ending, not all comedy has the primary goal of making the audience left, though this is a common element
Comedy
delivered introduction of information suggesting an event that will take place later in the story
Foreshadowing
when a word or phrase can be understood two ways
Double Entendre
During a tragedy when the main character situation dramatically shift to the contrary
Reversal (of fortune
moment when the main character becomes aware of an essential truth about himself or his situation, also called the recognition
Discovery
in a Greek drama, a group of actors who comment on the action and provide societies view of the events, also a group of singers
Chorus
The cultural movement of the renaissance, based on Greek and Roman classic literature, that emphasize the dignity, worth, and rationality of humankind
Classical Humanism
artwork from Greece 8,000 - 146 BCE
Ancient Greek Art
artwork produced by Roman civilization 500 BCE- 476CE
Roman Art
a set of rules developed by the Greek artist Polykleitos for creating perfect proportionality in the human figure. In literature, art, and religion, and agreed-upon list of sanction works or loss. In music, a piece that employs a melody with one or more limitations of the melody played after a given time.
Canon
A broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration; usually on a wall near the ceiling.
Frieze.
The horizontal layers of material of the building that are supported by columns or walls
Entablature
The triangular upper part of the front of the building and the classical style.
Pediments
The top part of the column between the column and the entablature.
Capitals
an architecture, design where horizontal pieces(lintels) are held up by vertical columns(posts)
Post-and-lintel
A string instrument like a U-shaped harp known for its use by the classical Greeks.
Lyre
A symbol for Greek
Hellenic
And overland route from Constantinople to Beijing using the trade of silks and spices between Europe and the Far East. It was eventually blocked by the Ottoman Empire and travel by sea became more popular
Silk Road
religion originated in India by Siddhartha Gautama, the “Buddha”. Buddhists seek the path to enlightenment through physical and spiritual discipline
Buddhism
Idealistic religious system with Christian, gnostic, and eastern elements founded by the Iranian prophet Mani
Manichaeism
Philosophical system based on the teachings of Lao-tzu; followers seek Dao(the “Way”) which they believe governs the universe.
Daoism
A point of view that emphasizes the role of reason, over the senses, and gaining knowledge.
Rationalism
That which separates one unique person from another, as well as the social and philosophical viewpoint that celebrates that difference
Individualism
The process of fashioning one’s individual sense of self and public persona according to the set of socially acceptable standards
Self-Fashioning
A religious movement of the 16th century to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.
The Protestant Reformation
The study of Thinking
Epistemology
A period in western history, from the 14th through the 16th centuries, marked by revival of interest in the culture of Greco Roman antiquity and a flourishing of artistic and intellectual achievement
Renaissance Period
The creation of the illusion of depth through gradations of light and shade
Chiaroscuro
Time period between the early 15th to the early 17th centuries when Europeans sailed around the globe and transferred goods, food, plants, and people transforming the country they reached.
Age of Exploration
Having to do with the seafaring population
Maritime
A challenge to a rejection of the orthodox doctrines of a religion or church
Heresy
A satirical essay written by Desiderius Erasmus(1466-1536) in which he criticizes the abuse and the corruption of the Catholic doctrine in parts of the Catholic Church.
In Praise of Folly
Roman Catholic doctrine that the pope cannot err when he speaks about faith or morality because of divine guidance
Papal Infallibility:
The deliberate destruction of religious art, imagery, icons, and other symbols or monuments.
Iconoclasm:
early 16th century theater, consisting of improvisational sketches or stock scenes presented on temporary stages by troupes of actors who traveled across Europe
Comedia Dell’arte
A character used to emphasize and highlight the qualities or features of the protagonist or other characters by projecting the opposite qualities or features
Foils
A form of language which is particular to a group of people, such as those belonging to a religion or social class
Dialect:
A verse written in iambic pentameter without rhyme
Blank Verse:
language that flows naturally as opposed to a language that confirms the beat of rhythm such as poetry
Prose
speech by the character in a drama expressing his or her in most thoughts, heard by the audience but not by any other character
Soliloquy
A work of art which represents some abstract quality or idea; often religious or political, by means of symbolic representation.
Allegory
The creation of the illusion of depth based on the fact that parallel lines or edges appear to coverage, and objects appear smaller as the distance between them and a viewer increases.
Linear Perspective
A point in the picture plane that is the intersection of the projections (or drawings) of a set of parallel lines in space on to the picture plane.
Vanishing Points
A term describing an individual with broad knowledge and versatile talents spanning many intellectual and artistic discipline
Renaissance Man
Art movement of the 16th century, largely in Northern Europe, that reflected religious views of Protestant Reformation.
Reformation Art
The pleasing or harmonious proportionate arrangement of corresponding parts of artwork, literature, architecture, or music.
Symmetry
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.
Madrigal
The moment of diverse populations into urban areas
Urbanization
The period in Western history spanning the 17th and 18th centuries, during which a notable shift toward rational thinking and advancement occurred in science, philosophy, society, and politics.
Enlightenment
Art movement of the 18th century that drew on Greek and Roman art for models of harmony, idealized realism, and reason
Neoclassical Art
Greek philosophical school that maintained human knowledge was limited and uncertain and probability of correct morality was enough for acting in a moral fashion.
Skepticism
A point of view that emphasizes the role of reason, over the senses, in gaining knowledge
Rationalism
Philosophical doctrine that says all knowledge is derived from our senses
Empiricism
The steady march of advancements made in certain intellectual areas that allow the human race to develop and grow
Progress
The belief that God created the natural laws that govern nature but does not directly intervene or interfere in any way.
Deism
The set of natural laws that Enlightenment thinkers believes should guide the structure of civilized life
Order
The body of beliefs, principles and values in a knowledge or belief system such as religion
Doctrine
A term used to refer primarily to French Enlightenment philosophers who championed reason over faith
Philosophes
A longer work of fictional prose that presents the struggle of a main character/characters against a situation
Novel
The quality of being easily understood or cleanly expressed
Clarity
The simplest form of harmony features at least two melodic lines (referred to as voices or parts) of equal value played against one another
Counterpoint
Music with several independent parts sounding at once
Polyphonic
Music that moves from cord to cord, without underdo elaboration, or with a simple melody
Homophonic
Musically having an artistically beautiful or expressed quality
Lyrical
An early form of piano originating in the 18th and early 19th centuries and having a smaller range and softer timbre than the modern piano
Fortepiano:
A fully produced, multi sectional work for the theater who text (or libretto) is primarily sung by soloist and of course, and which is accompanied by instruments, usually a large orchestra
Opera
A system of tones and harmonies generated from a hierarchical scale of seven tones based on a tonic
Keys
The measured pace at which a composition is played
Tempos
The range of a human voice or musical instrument
Register
note or passage played by plucking strings
Pizzicato
The domination of one or many groups by another group or power
Hegemony
an organized effort to end the practice of slavery
Abolitionists Movement
Music that contains only a single part
Monophonic
Improvised and/or wordless vocals concerning the singer’s thoughts, typically associated with African American music and work songs from before the American Civil War
Field Hollers
movement of the early 19 century that stress passion, emotion, and exotic settings with dramatic action.
Romanticism
A variant of patriotism characterized by intense loyalty to a particular nation and its defining values and features
Nationalism
The 19th century transition in many countries from an agrarian economy to one dominated by machine manufacturing
Industrial Revolution
The political, economic, and cultural dominance by one country over another country or region
Colonialism
an artistic trend that took place in Europe in the 19th century, which borrowed and glorified cultural aspects from non-western civilizations
Exoticism
A fundamental, dramatic shift in organizational structure that occurs over a short period of time
Revolution
A stereotypical character of a romantic novel. An exceptional and gifted loner, perhaps misunderstood, who is driven to follow a personal passion rather than a traditional societal expectation
Romantic (Byronic)Hero
The evocation of strong, irrational emotion
Passion
A concept among romantic writers, particularly poets, that returning to nature as a state of ideal purity was a way to remove the corruption of centuries of human institutions. Also, a literary movement of the late 19th and early 20th century, inspired by the Darwinism view of nature and scientific means and approaches. In a representational visual art, it describes images with which retain some of the natural appearance of the objects depicted
Naturalism
A quality of greatness or vastness that is beyond calculation, comparison, or imitation. Often invoked with reference to nature
Sublime
Theory that reality is a mental construction or that the object of external perception consists of ideas. Also the belief in living by extraordinarily high standards or in creating something that is perfect
Idealism
Poetry without any fixed pattern of meter, rhythm, or rhyme
Free Verse
Philosophical movement during the Romantic Period that emphasized feelings over reason and the role of the individual findings an intuitive relation to the universe through solitude amid nature.
Transcendentalist Movement
a belief in promoting social and political equality
Egalitarian
a literary style popular during the Romantic era that emphasizes the flawed nature of man and his potential for destruction rather than progress; often through monstrous hero’s and/or sympathetic villains
Gothic Literature
Published account of former American slaves who related the hardships and injustice of slavery
Slave Narrative
Romantic era architectural movement that employed Gothic forms
Gothic Revival
The movement or displacement of notes by a half step, as opposed to the tradition of a whole step movement
Chromaticism
Movement of the second half of the 19th century that emphasize objective portrayals of the world with a critique of the establish social and political order in response to idealize romantic art and literature
Realism
The gradual process by which certain biological traits fade away or grow through the reproductive success or failure of the individuals that have a trait. A term coined by Charles Darwin to illustrate that certain traits are better suited for certain environments than others.
Natural Selection
The belief that physical reality, as seen through the natural sciences, is all that truly exists
Scientific Materialism
The policy of extending the rule of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies
Imperialism
A social, political, economic, and philosophical theory developed by Karl Marx that highlighted the role class conflict plays in the development of different social systems overtime. Marcus believe the capital systems will inevitably be overthrown because of social unrest
Marxism
