Overview
Mastering key terms and techniques is essential for analyzing and interpreting the arts and ideas explored in the humanities. These concepts help describe what you see, hear, and read—and how it works to convey meaning.
Core Terms in the Humanities
- Allegory: A narrative with symbolic meaning (e.g., morality plays, Animal Farm).
- Motif: A recurring symbol or idea that develops a theme.
- Genre: A category of artistic composition (e.g., epic, tragedy, portrait, documentary).
- Perspective: Visual or philosophical point of view; in art, how space is represented.
- Medium: The material used in a work (e.g., oil on canvas, bronze, film).
- Symbolism: The use of images or ideas to represent larger meanings.
- Style: The distinctive features or manner of an artist, period, or movement.
- Aesthetic: Concerned with beauty, taste, or artistic value.
- Theme: Central topic or message explored in a work.
Analytical Techniques
- Close Reading: Careful analysis of a text’s language and structure.
- Formal Analysis: Examining a work’s composition, technique, and use of elements.
- Contextual Analysis: Placing a work within its historical, social, or cultural background.
- Comparative Analysis: Juxtaposing two or more works to highlight contrast or similarity.
Quick Tip
Use terms like “symbolism,” “genre,” and “style” in your writing to show analytical depth. Combine formal and contextual analysis to interpret meaning more effectively.