CHAPTER 19: THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Art, Literature, and Society

By Priyanka Vaddi

Period 5

THE “PUBLIC SPHERE”

French was the international language, allowing the free flow of ideas without a language barrier.

The uninhibited exchange of ideas brought on by new forums and institutions, combined with new media created a “public sphere” (Chamber 566).

Enlightenment ideals were debated in more accessible urban public spaces such as coffeehouses, which served mainly as centers of social interaction.

“Republic of Letters”: a self-proclaimed community of scholars and literary figures that stretched across national boundaries.

Other social and intellectual forums include salons and freemasonic lodges.

Salons: gatherings organized by wealthy women who bring together important intellectuals with the influential people that were needed for patronage.

Freemasonry: a ritualistic fraternity concerned with moral and spiritual values.

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TRAVEL

By the middle of the 18th century, France had built new roads and improved older ones, spreading out from Paris to the outskirts.

Eventually all the European countries followed France’s example and created a network of roads throughout the continent.

This made traveling easier, although still slow and uncomfortable.

Traveling became a pastime, what we call today as tourism. Many went on a “grand tour,” which includes sights from both the modern and ancient worlds.

Publishing and Reading

A) Rise in publishing1. Travelling libraries

a. Originated in England around 1740

b. Booksellers- publishers, editors, salesperson all combined. Helped create fill demand for books.

B) Journals and Newspapers1. England led in this

domain2. Large increase in

periodicals between 1700 and 1780, from 25- 158.

3. Daily newspaper, originated in England.1. London Chronicle

C) “Bad Books” 1. romance books, sensational pamphlets, gossip sheets- low tastes 2. desperate writers attacked the character of notorious aristocrats and factions of politics. 3. helped to “desacralize” the monarchy and create an image of an immoral aristocracy (chambers 570).

RISE OF THE NOVEL

Strongest development in England

Samuel Richardson was the acknowledged pioneer of this genre.

Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (1740)

Advances in technologies of printing

Made the written texts available to the growing population of readers

Higher literacy rates and different modes of distribution

More of the population could read

Distribution by peddlers allowed the working-class and lower classes to access written texts

Most novels focused on family life and everyday problems, and social relations.

Popular writers: Daniel Defoe

Robinson Crusoe Jonathan Swift

Gulliver’s Travels Samuel Richardson Johann von Goethe

Sturm und Drang (storm and stress)- literary movement that emphasized strong artistic emotions

The Sorrows of Young Werther

Henry Fielding The History of Joseph

Andrews

POETRY

Poetry retained traditional qualities.

Neoclassical tradition- Art was meant to show eternal

standards of beauty and truth.

By the end of the century, English and German poets

rebelled against restraints of Neoclassicism.

Rebellion led to Romanticism- emphasized the

individual and inner passion.

These poets changed the composition of poetry and

made It flexible, similar to a novel.

Ex: Goethe, Henry Wordsworth, Friedrich von Schiller

NEOCLASSICISM

Jacque Louis David

• Began in 1760s• Emphasis on linear

design in the depiction of classical themes and subject matter.

• Reaction against frivolity of the preceding Rococo style.

Romanticism(popular writers)

William Wordsworth

Lord Byron

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Edgar Allan Poe William Blake

MUSIC The heart of music shifted from Italy and France to Austria. Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and

Ludwig van Beethoven all transformed the composition of music.

Beethoven ensured that the symphony was adaptable. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony provides a bridge between

18th century classicism and nineteenth century romanticism.

Aristocratic and court patronage remained the best way to have a career in music

Haydn worked successfully on a court for a prince, but Mozart had an unhappy ending trying to earn his living by composing.

Beethoven freed himself from dependence on a patron through individual commissions and public concerns.

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN

Austrian composer Often called father of symphony Was a court musician for most of his career in a remote

estate and was “forced to become original”.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Austrian composer Very talented, wrote music for all musical genres and

excelled in each one. Afraid of the trumpet

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN He is a deaf composer Considered greatest composer of all time. As a child, Beethoven was taught music with brutal vigor

by his father. He was ill-treated

POPULAR CULTURE For the poor, lower class population, publishers produced small,

cheap booklets. They were distributed by itinerant peddlers. There were three major forms of popular literature: