Humanities and Cultural Studies Flashcards

What is 'postcolonial theory' concerned with in literary and cultural studies?

Answer: The effects of colonialism on cultures and the literary representation of colonial experience

Postcolonial theory examines the cultural, social, and political legacies of European colonialism, focusing on issues of identity, representation, and power in literature and culture.

In philosophy, what does 'epistemology' study?

Answer: The nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and foundations of knowledge, asking how we know what we know and what counts as justified belief.

Which art movement of the early 20th century rejected traditional forms in favor of abstraction and experimentation?

Answer: Modernism

Modernism was a sweeping early 20th century cultural movement that broke with traditional forms in art, literature, and music in response to industrialization and social change.

What is 'feminist literary criticism' primarily concerned with?

Answer: Examining how gender, power, and representation shape literature and its interpretation

Feminist literary criticism analyzes how texts reflect, reinforce, or challenge gender norms and power structures, and examines the historical marginalization of women writers.

In film studies, what is 'mise-en-scène'?

Answer: Everything visible within the frame: setting, lighting, actors, and composition

Mise-en-scène (French for 'placing on stage') refers to all the visual elements a director controls within the camera frame, including set design, lighting, costume, and actor positioning.

What does 'cultural hegemony' mean as theorized by Antonio Gramsci?

Answer: The dominance of one group's worldview through cultural institutions rather than force

Gramsci's concept of cultural hegemony describes how dominant social groups maintain power by making their worldview seem natural and commonsense through cultural institutions like media, schools, and religion.