CHAPTER 2: Humanities and Critical Thinking

Figuratist:

-A critical thinker whose use of language is characteristically colorful, often playful, filled with metaphors that suggest a greater interest in the general than in just the particular.

Where did the term "Apollonian" derive from?

-Apollonian comes from Apollo who is: The god of the sun (light & truth)

CRITICAL THINKING: Recognizing Contexts

-CONTEXT: Environment background or special circumstances in which a work is best understood. No art can exist apart from how it is viewed in a contemporary context. -HISTORICAL CONTEXT: The influence that ideas, values and styles of a particular time have on society, work of art, or philosophy. No art can exist apart from how it is viewed in a contemporary context. -Every piece of art has its own context.

Where did the term "Dionysian" derive from?

-Dionysian comes from Dionysus who is: The god of vibrant energy of the earth.

CRITICAL THINKING: Defining and Solving Problems

-Find problem in order to solve it. -Critical thinkers are always identifying and solving problems, even hypothetical ones. -The first step in solving such a problem is to define it-to determine a problem actually exists. -This problem may not always be solvable, but it is definable.

Imagery:

-Found especially in poetry, the pictures the poet creates in your mind that communicate in a few words through their work what ordinary prose can not, or at least not as economically.

What shouldn't the critical thinker be restricted by?

-Intentions by the author or performer

Critical Thinking:

-The faculty of rational and logical analysis. -Looking at subjects objectively, gathering all information, drawing conclusions about the subject based on evidence.

Literalist:

-The noncritical person whose language reflects a concern for the immediate moment, especially as what is happening or being viewed relates to the self.

Dionysian:

-The side of human personality dominated by feelings, intuition and freedom from limits→the side that responds emotionally -Dionysus: God of vibrant energy of the earth.

Apollonian:

-The side of human personality dominated by reason and disciplined by analytical, rational and coherent thought→seeking meaning -Apollo: God of sun (light and truth)

Alienation:

-The use of theatrical techniques designed to distance the audience from an emotional response and instead encourage a social-critical one. -Apollonian response.

CRITICAL THINKING: Challenging Assumptions

-Think critically and listen carefully. -Do not just assume what the speaker is saying-always draw an analysis. -Dialogue can get us closer to the truth. -Recognizing.

Professional critics:

-Those who write for a living about film/art/dance/books/etc. -Reviewer. -Critically think through the art/film/food.

Six steps of critical thinking (SHORT ANSWER)

1) Defining what we want to determine (what made this film special?) 2) Acknowledging our instinctive, emotional response (How did it make me feel? 3) Collecting information and considering all pertinent factors (what can I find out about the artist's intentions and the craft that was at work here?) 4) Evaluating the work or the topic in its proper context (what can I find out about the historical and artistic context in which this work was produced?) 5) Accepting characters unlike yourself (can I like these people, or at least understand them, even though I have nothing in common with them?) 6) Forming an opinion with evidence to back it up (using all the information I have gathered, along with my initial emotional response, what can I say about this work?)

Empathy:

Identifying with another person or character in a book/film/play; becoming in a sense that person being totally limited in his/her problems

"Popcorn Movies":

We can be entertained w/o having to think→sit back, relax, munch on popcorn.