Michael Delahoyde, PhD

Professor of English

20th-Century Arts & Humanities: Exam 1

Humanities 304 — Delahoyde
Washington State University

MIDTERM EXAM:
A RITE OF PRE-SPRING


I. IDENTIFICATIONS. [Total 26 points.]

Maybe match Column A with Column B; or identify the character who says, “Give it me, Léa, give me your pearl necklace!” — that kind of question, only a bit more difficult. These questions will be inflicted individually and intracerebrally during the scheduled class period, Monday, February 26th. And there is No Exit!

II. QUOTATIONS. [Total 50 points; “Take Five” points each.]

A combination of identification and significance questions will follow quotations from the literature, musical excerpts, and images from the other relevant materials selected for their representativeness of our discussions on key points during these first weeks. This is not Trivial Pursuit, and I derive no glee from stumping you; but you do need to recognize key ideas and moments from the works and from our class interactions. If you have spent time with the material and paid attention in class, only a close review of notes is necessary for preparation. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a “Mood Indigo.”

III. TAKE-HOME ESSAY. [Total 30 points.]

DO THIS NOW! Answer the following thoroughly and precisely in a minimum of three (3) pages, double-spaced. The essay should be a virtuoso piece of brilliance manifested in impressive eloquence, with facile reference to specifics from an assortment of the 20th-century materials.

  • What good are the early 20th-century arts and humanities to us living in 2018?

    [Beware inauthentic fake answers. If you assert that we get a better sense of the times and its people, then the new question is simply what good is that?]

The hardcopy essay is due at in class on exam day to accompany the other in-class components of the exam. Here is more Essay Advice.


SAMPLE QUESTIONS

IDENTIFICATIONS
Identify the character, author, or thing referred to (underlined) in the following.

“Naked, if need be,” she would say,”but squalid, never!”

                                             _________________________________

“Where is my son?”
“Tomorrow, thousands will ask in anguish, where is my son?”

                                             _________________________________

He has been dubbed “the father of electronic music.”

                                             _________________________________

The art movement represented by Isamu Noguchi’s Table, Charles Eames’ Plywood Chair, and Eero Saarinen’s TWA Building.

                                             _________________________________

* * *


* * *

QUOTATIONS
Answer completely but concisely the following.

“Come closer. Closer. Look into my eyes. What do you see?”
“Oh, I’m there! But so tiny I can’t see myself properly.”

Identify the author and the work.
What important concept is the author trying to conveythrough this kind of seemingly trivial moment?


Observe the image on the back of this exam page.

What 20th-century art movement is represented here?
Upon what features can we make such an identification?
Do you agree with the philosophy behind such art? Why or why not?


Listen to the musical excerpt.

What eastern European composer and ethnomusicologist wrote this piece?
If this is, in a sense, “program music,” what is the program or story behind it? What musical evidence do you have?


BIG DAY: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26th, 1:10 pm.