Humanities Notes: Visual Arts, Literature, Music, Drama & Theater, and Dance

Definition: Art of combining spoken or written words and their meanings into forms which have artistic and emotional appeal.
Key idea: Language used artistically to convey meaning and evoke emotion.

Definition: Art of arranging sounds in rhythmic succession and generally in combination.
Example shown: How Far I’ll Go (from Moana)
Tempo: $J = 84$
Verse 1: $14444$
Chords shown: $E$ , $F$ , $Asus2$
Composer/credit: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics excerpt (as presented):
I’ve been staring at the edge of the water long as I can re- mem ber never really know- ing why
Significance: Music as a structured arrangement of sounds and rhythms; includes melodic lines, harmony, and rhythm; connects to performance and emotional expression in media like films.

Definition: Story re-created by actors on stage in front of an audience.
Key idea: Live performance of a scripted or improvised narrative for an audience.

Definition: It involves movement of the body and feet in rhythm.
Key idea: Movement is organized in rhythm, often to music, to communicate meaning or emotion.

All listed disciplines fall under Humanities and share the goal of conveying meaning, culture, and emotion through different sensory channels (sight, sound, language, movement).
The sample music slide demonstrates interdisciplinary links: lyrics (Literature) set to music (Music) and performed (Drama/Theater) as a staged or cinematic experience.
Practical implications: Understanding how rhythm, form, and context shape interpretation; recognizing the role of composers, performers, and audiences in meaning-making.

Art as a vehicle for shared human experience vs. individual interpretation.
The responsibility of representation in performance and storytelling across visual, literary, musical, and dance forms.