Question 1

Which example best illustrates the Victorian spirit of progress and the use of new industrial materials?

Accepted Answer

Paxton's Crystal Palace was a prime example of the Victorian spirit of progress as it was constructed using new industrial materials like iron and glass. The building was innovative at the time and showcased the technological advancements of the era.

Question 2

In which work is the principle of "natural selection" a central concept?

Accepted Answer

The principle of "natural selection" is a central concept in Darwin's Origin of Species.

Question 3

What statement best expresses the utilitarian philosophy of J. S. Mill?

Accepted Answer

J. S. Mill was a utilitarian philosopher who believed that actions should be judged based on their ability to promote happiness and prevent pain. This principle is known as the Greatest Happiness Principle and is the core of utilitarianism. Therefore, option B best expresses the utilitarian philosophy of J. S. Mill.

Question 4

What made Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace notable?

Accepted Answer

Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace was notable for its innovative iron-and-glass construction.

Question 5

Why would traditional art critics in 1850 have criticized Gustave Courbet's Burial at Ornans?

Accepted Answer

Traditional art critics in 1850 valued art that depicted grand historical or mythological scenes, not ordinary life. Courbet's Burial at Ornans depicted a scene from everyday life, which would have been seen as a lowly subject for high art.

Question 6

Which statement best describes a central principle of "social" Darwinism?

Accepted Answer

Social Darwinism is the application of Darwin's theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest to human society. The central principle is that social divisions and hierarchies are a result of a competitive struggle for life, where the strongest and most capable rise to the top and the weakest fall to the bottom. This idea was used to justify the belief in the inherent superiority of certain races, classes, and individuals, and to argue against efforts to promote social equality and reform.

Question 7

Which of these works would properly be classified as "realist"-aiming to depict its subject in full detail and with honesty?

Accepted Answer

Madame Bovary is a novel that aims to provide a realistic portrayal of the life of its central character, Emma Bovary, without romanticizing or idealizing it. Flaubert uses detailed descriptions of everyday life to create a realistic portrait of Emma's experiences, struggles, and emotions. The other options listed are not necessarily realist in style or intent.

Question 8

Which of these decadent and mystical artists helped inspire a movement called l'art pour l'art - "art for art's sake"- with morbidly erotic poetry?

Accepted Answer

Charles Baudelaire is the artist who helped inspire a movement called l'art pour l'art with his morbidly erotic poetry. Claude Monet was an Impressionist painter, Richard Wagner was a composer, and Gustave Courbet was a Realist painter, and none of them were directly associated with the l'art pour l'art movement.

Question 9

In whose world would one expect to find a Leitmotif?

Accepted Answer

Richard Wagner is known for his use of leitmotifs in his operas, in which he assigns a specific musical theme to a character, object, or idea that recurs throughout the work.

Question 10

Which statement best describes Richard Wagner's cycle of four operas titled Ring of the Nibelung?

Accepted Answer

Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung is known for synthesizing orchestral music, song, and staging in a "total" artwork, incorporating all aspects of opera into a cohesive piece of art. It was not particularly focused on experimenting with exotic instruments or adapting love stories and gay tales. It was also not important in the development of late nineteenth-century ballet.

Question 11

What composer achieved innovations in orchestration and tonality that are often called "impressionism in music"?

Accepted Answer

Claude Debussy is best known for his innovations in orchestration and tonality, which are often referred to as "impressionism in music." He was a key figure in the development of modern classical music and his style greatly influenced later composers.

Question 12

The literary names of Gustave Flaubert and Henrik Ibsen are closely associated with what "-ism"?

Accepted Answer

Gustave Flaubert and Henrik Ibsen are two of the prominent figures of literary realism, which is characterized by a focus on accurately portraying everyday life and society without idealization or romanticism.

Question 13

Why would the artistic public of the 1860s most likely have rejected Edouard Manet's Luncheon on the Grass?

Accepted Answer

The artistic public of the 1860s would most likely have rejected Edouard Manet's Luncheon on the Grass because it placed a bold nude woman in a contemporary setting, which was seen as scandalous and inappropriate at the time.

Question 14

In explaining the importance of Baron Haussmann's new Paris, which cheerfully destroyed traditional neighborhoods in favor of efficient boulevards and up-to-date apartment buildings, what term would you most appropriately use?

Accepted Answer

The term "modernity" best describes the importance of Baron Haussmann's new Paris as it represents the trend of progress and modernization of urban planning in the 19th century.

Question 15

Which term is best associated with Louis Sullivan's Wainright Building in St. Louis and other "Chicago-style" skyscrapers?

Accepted Answer

The steel-cage frame was a defining feature of the "Chicago-style" skyscrapers, including Sullivan's Wainright Building. This construction technique allowed for taller and more stable buildings, as well as the expressive use of exterior ornamentation. Exoticism, post-impressionism, and iron-and-glass construction are not directly associated with this architectural style.

Question 16

How is the style of Art Nouveau best described?

Accepted Answer

Art Nouveau is characterized by the use of sinuous, flowing lines and floral or vegetal motifs that are often abstracted or stylized. This style is meant to evoke the natural world and its organic forms.

Question 17

Which statement best describes the statue of the novelist Balzac sculpted by Auguste Rodin?

Accepted Answer

The statue of Balzac by Rodin is known for its depiction of the novelist's energetic and appetitive nature through its exaggerated features and dynamic form.

Question 18

What stylistic term is best associated with the flowing lines and vegetal decoration of Gaudí's Casa Milá in Barcelona?

Accepted Answer

The flowing lines and vegetal decoration of Gaudí's Casa Milá are characteristic features of the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in Europe at the turn of the 20th century.

Question 19

Which phrase best describes the music of Claude Debussy, as exemplified in works like Prelude to 'Afternoon of a Faun' and Claire de lune (Moonlight)?

Accepted Answer

Debussy's music is characterized by harmonies and tonal colors that create an atmosphere or mood, rather than a traditional melody and harmony structure. The use of innovative harmonies and tonal colors creates a sense of fluidity and movement in the music, despite its static nature. This style of music is often referred to as impressionism.

Question 20

In what European city would one have seen the first impressionist exhibition?

Accepted Answer

The first impressionist exhibition took place in Paris in 1874. The exhibition included works by artists such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Quiz 12: The Industrial Age