Interdisciplinary Insights: Culture, History, and Society

Philosophical Foundations & Social Theories

Key Thinkers and Concepts

  • Jacques Derrida: French philosopher who coined “deconstruction.”
  • Franz Boas: Believed culture determines human social development. Argued that race is not biology, but culture; human nature is best understood through culture.
  • Walt Rostow: Proposed stages of economic development:
    1. Traditional society (agriculture)
    2. Transitional stage (specialization)
    3. Take-off (industrialization)
    4. Drive to maturity (innovation)
    5. High mass consumption
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Italian Baroque Art: Quirinal Palace Frescoes & Caravaggio

Italian Baroque Art: Quirinal Palace & Caravaggio

On the sides, there are several scenes:

  • Battle of Romans against Veienti and Fidenati (1598-1601)

    In this battle scene, a huge diagonal line creates a foreshortened pyramid. The vanishing points vary from one extreme to another, and movement is highlighted in the main figure, possibly referencing Corvetto Palace (or a study of horses from the 15th century, perhaps by Florentine Floriano). Some figures wear transparent armor that reveals their detailed

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Notable Modern Indian Sculptures

Santhal Family

Artist: Ramkinker Baij

Medium: Cement and Concrete

School: Modern School

Santhal Family by Ramkinker Baij (1910-1980) is a rare example of an artist who rose to greatness by sheer willpower and dedication. He was born in 1910 into a poor family of barbers on the outskirts of Bankura, West Bengal. The family could not spare money for his papers, paints, or teaching.

The sculpture Santhal Family is a complex composition featuring two figures standing side by side, a dog, and a child sitting

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Transformaciones de la Edad Moderna: Exploración, Reforma y Colonización

El Descubrimiento y la Conquista de América

Descubrimientos Portugueses

  • En el siglo XV, Portugal era la mayor potencia en términos de descubrimientos geográficos.
  • Los portugueses establecieron puestos comerciales en la costa africana para obtener esclavos, marfil y oro.
  • Esta exploración fue apoyada por Enrique el Navegante, quien fundó una escuela de navegantes y cartógrafos.

El Plan de Cristóbal Colón

  1. La llegada de los europeos a las Américas está asociada a Cristóbal Colón, un marinero experimentado
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20th Century Novel: Defining Traits and Kafka’s Enduring Literary Impact

The 20th-Century Novel: Defining Traits

Throughout the century, a commercial novel, catering to the general public, persisted, continuing the tenets of 19th-century Realism. Among its features are:

  • Presence of an Omniscient Narrator: Often omniscient, the narrator guides the reader, interprets, and suggests the directions of the work.
  • Linear Narrative Order: Events are narrated in a linear order.
  • Classic Story Structure: The structure of the story fits the classic divisions of problem, development,
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Unlocking Meaning: Signs, Symbols, Art, and Aesthetic Perception

Signs, Symbols, and Meaning

We possess the capacity to speak in a language with meaning. Language provides a set of words and grammar to form meaningful expressions. A language has meaning when the word order and grammar convey significance. Words are signs, that is, something that represents something else for someone who perceives them. The significance or relationship between the signifier and signified in conventional signs is established by agreement. Art objects become signs for humans; therefore,

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