Spanish Post-War Novel: From Existentialism to Social Realism
The Post-War Literary Landscape in Spain
In the immediate postwar period, a natural breakdown of literary evolution is evident. The novel could not connect with the social narrative of the 1930s, banned by the dictatorship, nor with the dehumanized aesthetic of the 1920s. In this scene of confusion, three types of stories abounded, all in a traditional style: ideological, realistic, and humorous. The 1940s did not mark the start of the 1950s renewal. There were only exceptional and isolated cases,
Read MoreEros and Psyche Sculpture: Analysis of Canova’s Neoclassical Masterpiece
Eros and Psyche: A Neoclassical Sculpture
1. General Information
- Author: Antonio Canova
- Timeline: 1793
- Size: 60 cm
- Style: Neoclassical
- Type: Free sculpture
- Material: White marble
- Location: Louvre Museum
2. Biography of the Author
The author is Italian. Neoclassical art attempts to revitalize the classical Greek and Roman styles. Early neoclassical sculptors were Italian because Rome was the center of the Roman Empire. Initially, commissions came from aristocrats, but after the French Revolution, the bourgeoisie
Read MoreTennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire: Symbolism and Myth
Tennessee Williams’ “Plastic Theater” in *A Streetcar Named Desire*
Tennessee Williams names his theater the “Plastic Theater”, a term used to refer to a kind of theater that depicts life itself but with new, special techniques. In certain stage directions of the play, the author introduces some kinesic elements that symbolize the psychological state of the characters. Some of these are the Varsouviana music, lights, and shadows. The former sounds in Blanche’s head every time someone asks something
Read MoreByzantine Art: Architecture, Painting, Mosaics, and Sculpture
Byzantine Art
Byzantium, a Greek town that had been the head of a Roman province, suddenly rose in 330 AD, by the decision of Constantine the Great, to the rank of imperial capital under the name of Constantinople. Half a century later, Theodosius divided his kingdom between his two sons and created two independent states: the Western Empire, with Rome as its capital, and the Eastern Empire, centered in Byzantium. The fall of the Western Empire in 476 AD checked the spiritual heritage of Byzantium
Read MoreBaroque Masterpieces: Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa and Borromini’s Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza
Bernini’s *Ecstasy of Saint Teresa*: A Study in Baroque Art
The characters within Bernini’s *Ecstasy of Saint Teresa* do not seem concerned with the events unfolding around them. They are naturalistic portraits, capturing a moment of profound spiritual intensity. The background features an in-depth architectural projection, reminiscent of the *stiacciato* technique, a type of relief widely used during the Italian Renaissance. The first use of *stiacciato* is attributed to Donatello, particularly
Read MoreScientific Revolution: 16th-17th Century Transformations
During the late 16th and 17th centuries, scientific thought underwent a transformative shift from classical natural philosophy to the modern scientific method, influenced by significant developments in Europe and the Islamic world.
European Natural Philosophy
Natural philosophy, the precursor to modern science, involved the study of nature and the physical universe through observation, experimentation, and reasoning. This period marked a shift from Scholasticism, which relied on Aristotelian and theological
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