MEDIA ARTS: HISTORY AND THEORY

Animism   Storytelling   Teepees   Greeks   Iliad   Homeric epic, the Iliad   Protagonist   Socrates   Allegory of the Cave   Skene   Theatre of Dionysis   Satyr Play Protagonist and Antagonist Golden Mean Neoclassical Ideal Romans Pendentive Gothic Cathedral Baroque Orchestra Pit Operas   Opera Akhnaten Wagner

5 Points Greek plays include both comedy and tragedy, each with distinct purposes. Comedy uses satire to mock politicians, gods, and social norms, while tragedy explored deep moral and existential conflicts. Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides examined the consequences of moral choices, often presenting life or death situations while emphasizing ethical lessons Aristotle’s Poetics defined tragedy as the imitation of a complete action, emphasizing catharsis, unity of action and time, and moral lessons. He argued that experiencing fear and pity through drama allows the audience to reflect on universal human weaknesses and strengths. The Golden Mean, in Aristotle’s philosophy, is about balance, reflected in both ethical behavior and well-structured art.  Intermezzi were elaborate court shows with music, dance, scenery, and symbolic stories, often used to honor nobles and dazzle audiences. They started as short breaks in plays and later became part of opera. Discussion Quest...

Summary The Baroque period brought new ideas to architecture, theatre, and music. Bernini designed St. Peter’s Square, while Michelangelo created the great dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. These works showed the power of the Catholic Reformation after Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation. Baroque theatre became larger and more exciting, adding balconies, pit orchestras, trap rooms, and stage machines that created depth and helped form the idea of a 4th wall. Around the same time, composers like Monteverdi wrote the first Baroque operas. These operas told stories from ancient myths and were performed without microphones, relying on strong singers, including the high-pitched castrati. Much later, artists such as Cathy Barberien and John Cage changed opera again with experimental works like Water Walk and 4'33" . They used everyday sounds, TV, transistor radios, and the Moog Synthesizer, leading to contemporary opera and musical theatre that mix tradition with new technology and ...

Substantive Points: In the early 1900s, Native American art inspired white American artists and helped shape a distinctly “American” style of art. Artists admired the designs, colors, and forms, using them in their own modernist works. Large exhibitions, like the 1931 Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts and the 1941 MoMA show, introduced thousands of Americans to Native art. These shows included both historical objects and contemporary paintings, giving wider audiences access to Indigenous art. Artists such as Fritz Scholder, T.C. Cannon, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith explored Native identity, politics, and culture. Their work placed Native perspectives within the broader American art world. Many museums continued to display Native art only in historical sections, separating it from mainstream American art making it seem like it's only meant to be historical artifacts. Recent exhibitions, such as The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky , use video and other modern ...

Summary Early Native American architecture , like adobe homes built into hillsides, showed the close bond between natives and their land. Their religion centered on animism , the belief that humans, animals, plants, rocks, and natural forces such as the sun and rain all have souls. This is similar to Protestant and Catholic religion in sharing a creation story , a single Great Spirit or Creator, and ideas of souls and mortality. Culture was passed down by storytellers through songs and dances, while Europeans for centuries said  Native American visual artists as mere “craft” makers. In Ancient Greece, the  Amphitheatre showcased drama on stage with the theatron for seating.  Thespians , all of them men, performed tragedies wearing masks, joined by a chorus , and used stock characters while competing for different theater awards . The Romans took entertainment further by adding violence. The Circus Maximus held chariot races for 150,000–300,000 spectators an...

Summary The article discusses a study that explored why some people are more creative than others. Researchers asked 163 participants to do a task where they came up with new uses for everyday objects while having their brains scanned. They discovered that highly creative people have a unique brain network where three areas, the default, salience, and executive control networks, work together at the same time. Normally, these areas don’t activate together, but in creative people, the connections are stronger. The stronger the links between these areas, the higher the person’s creativity score. This suggests that creativity is connected to how certain brain regions communicate. The study also suggests the possibility that creative thinking could be strengthened through practice or training, though more research is needed to confirm this. Reflection This article shows that creativity isn’t just something people are born with, it’s linked to how the brain works. I found it interesting tha...

Summary In Passion Time with Patricia Gras, Dr. Raul Cuero discusses the meaning of creativity and how it connects to human growth. He explains that creativity is not just inspiration but a process fueled by intensity, curiosity, and discipline. Cuero stresses the role of universal consciousness, or awareness of our connection to the world, in shaping innovative thinking. He reflects on his grandmother’s advice, which taught him humility and perseverance, and credits mentors with guiding but not limiting his journey. According to Cuero, instruction is only half the story. True learning requires personal development. He critiques what’s wrong with our education, pointing out that schools often prioritize memorization over creativity. Instead, he believes education should balance inductive and deductive knowledge to develop better thinking and creativity. Finally, Cuero emphasizes mental, physical, and spiritual development, arguing that a whole person must engage in all three to reach ...

Hi, my name is Colin White, and I am currently a junior majoring in Film and Media Arts at the University of Tampa. Within my major, I enjoy exploring many aspects of the filmmaking process, with a particular interest in directing, camera work, lighting, and editing. After graduation, I hope to pursue a career in one of these areas and work toward making a name for myself in the film industry. I enjoy watching all kinds of films, however I have a particular interest in action, thrillers, comedies, science fiction, and dramas. In addition to film, I am passionate about music. I play bass guitar in a local rock band that performs all around the Tampa Bay area and we are currently finishing up our debut album.

In Tampa, Florida, hurricanes and big storms rarely make a direct impact on Tampa Bay. Some believe it is because of a local legend involving the Tocobagan burial mounds. Others believe it is due to geographical factors such as wind patterns, gulf currents, or the depth of the bay itself. Scientists claim that the shallow waters of the bay area reduce hurricane intensity near shore and that regional currents and wind patterns influence storm paths by steering them away. Personally, I believe that the burial mound theory emphasizes cultural identity and tradition, maintaining the heritage and traditions of the native tribe in today's modern world. Scientific explanations provide a clearer reasoning backed by evidence and studies.