RomanticismA Movement Across

the Arts

Revolution

• 17th and 18th century writers prepare the way with writings that emphasize a new awareness of social justice

• Age of optimism, tempered by the realistic recognition of the sad state of the human condition and the need for major reforms

• Critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals

• Voltaire –18th century French Enlightenment writer/ supporter of social reform especially defense of civil liberties and freedom of religion

• Jean Jacques Rousseau-18th century French Enlightenment philosopher whose writings influenced the French Revolution/ socialist and nationalist ideas/ subjectivity in writing lead to development of Romanticism

• John Locke-17th century English philosopher whose writings strongly influenced the founders of the American Revolution/ Social contract theory provides the rationale behind the historically important notion that legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed/ right of individual

Revolution:The American Revolution

• late 18th century• European monarchs and aristocrats

alarmed• Middle class and peasants were

inspired

Revolution: French Revolution and the Reign of

Terror Many peasants and artists unhappy with the king

and aristorcracy• lots of wars/ support of American revolution put

France in great debt• unfair taxation to try to pay debt• consumption by aristocracy-despite financial

situation• high unemployment and outrageous bread

prices• famine/malnutrition• resentment of aristocracy and desire for liberty• failure of king to deal with any of these

problems

Revolution: French Revolution and the Reign of

Terror• Many artists/writers spoke out and were

imprisoned (Voltaire, Moliere,Robespierre)

• July 14, 1789 Bastille Day: mob storms the Bastille prison and releases all prisoners-France’s Independence Day

• For 3-4 years France is in total chaos• In 1793 King Louis XVI was executed • 16,000-40,000 executed (most via

guillotine and most without a trial)

Revolution: French Revolution and the Reign of

Terror1799 Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup

and declared himself “Emperor” of France• Militarily aggressive-became dictator of

Europe• 1815 he was defeated by English,

Prussian and Russian forces at Waterloo• Exiled by English but escaped and took

back power in France for Hundred Days-finally overthrown by French people because he had too much power

• Spent rest of life in exile

Revolution

• Europe in turmoil• French monachy restored then

replaced by Second republic• Popular revolts in Italy, Austria,

Poland, Hungary, Belgium • Uprising in Russia in 1825 was

unsuccessful-many intellectuals exiled

British Reaction

• Ruling class feels threatened/worried about breakdown in social order

• Government outlawed talk of reform, banned public meetings, suspended some basic rights

• Writers, intellectuals, common people inspired by democratic ideals of the French Revolution

Revolution:The Industrial Revolution

Explosion of scientific knowledge leads to many technological achievements

• steam engine, electricity, aluminum and steel

• telegraph, electric light, repeating rifle

• factories, steamboats, railroads built (noise and smoke)

Revolution:The Industrial Revolution

Farm workers move to cities to get factory jobs and a better life

• found overcrowding of cities-slums, unsanitary conditions, poverty

• Working conditions inhumane-adults and children worked 12 hours a day/6 days a week

• no safety standards, no health insurance, or unemployment insurance

Revolution:The Industrial Revolution

• Charles Darwin-theory of evolution seen as a way to justify inhumane treatment-strong survive weak don’t

• Karl Marx-Communist Manifesto-workers rights inspired the beginning of communist governments around the world (Communism is a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production)

• New middle class developed-manufacturers, bankers, lawyers

• Optimistic that material progress would improve life for all.

Darwin and Marx

British Reaction

• Government ignores problems associated with Industrial Revolution

• Government (ruling class) sides with factory owners and resists all reforms

• Workers protest and riot/ attempt to form unions

British Reaction

• Continued protests and riots slowly lead to governmental reforms:– 1824 law permits formation of first labor union– 1832 law extends voting rights to middle class

males– 1833 law abolishes slavery– 1833 law establishes factory safety

regulations

Romanticism: DefinitionRefers to a movement in art, literature, and

music during the 19th century. (Approximately 1770-1870)

Has little to do with things popularly thought of as “romantic”

Redefined the fundamental way people in Western culture thought about self/ world

Romance refers to the “romance languages” of French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese which developed from Latin—a “romance” work was one that was written in the vernacular (popular) language (not Latin)

Revolt against the restrictions imposed by the classical, aristocratic ideals of the 18th

century (1700’s) called Neo-Classicalism which was focused on:

objectivityreasonelevated (sophisticated) language upper class peoplesocial settingsbased on ancient Greek/Roman artists

Romanticism focused on the liberation of the artist’s imagination and style

discarded the accepted forms of literature subjectivity (emotion) vs. objectivity (facts) imagination vs. reason written in everyday language of the people written about everyday people and situations idealized nature and people who lived close to

nature(reaction to increase of urbanization and industrialization in Europe)

fascination with fantasy, supernatural, folklore belief in the importance of the individual the Romantic “hero” was daring, rebellious, free to

express emotion desire for social change

Romanticism is characterized by the 5 “I”sImaginationIntuitionIdealismInspirationIndividuality

ImaginationImagination was emphasized over

“reason.”This was a backlash against the

rationalism characterized by the Neoclassical period or “Age of Reason.”

Imagination was considered necessary for creating all art.

British writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it “intellectual intuition.”

IntuitionRomantics placed value on

“intuition,” or feeling and instincts, over reason.

Emotions were important in Romantic art.

British Romantic William Wordsworth described poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

IdealismIdealism is the concept that we can

make the world a better place.Idealism refers to any theory that

emphasizes the spirit, the mind, or language over matter – thought has a crucial role in making the world the way it is.

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, held that the mind forces the world we perceive to take the shape of space-and-time.

InspirationThe Romantic artist, musician, or

writer, is an “inspired creator” rather than a “technical master.”

What this means is “going with the moment” or being spontaneous, rather than “getting it precise.”

IndividualityRomantics celebrated the individual.During this time period, Women’s

Rights and Abolitionism were taking root as major movements.

Walt Whitman, a later Romantic writer, would write a poem entitled “Song of Myself”: it begins, “I celebrate myself…”

OriginsRomanticism began to take root as a

movement following the French Revolution.

The publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1792 is considered the beginning of literary Romanticism.

The ArtsRomanticism was a movement across all

the arts: visual art, music, and literature.All of the arts embraced themes

prevalent in the Middle Ages: chivalry, courtly love. Literature and art from this time depicted these themes. Music (ballets and operas) illustrated these themes.

Shakespeare came back into vogue.

Visual ArtsNeoclassical art

was rigid, severe, and unemotional; it hearkened back to ancient Greece and Rome

Romantic art was emotional, deeply-felt, individualistic, and exotic. It has been described as a reaction to Neoclassicism, or “anti-Classicism.”

Visual Arts: Examples

Neoclassical Art

Romantic Art

Music“Classical”

musicians included composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Josef Haydn.

Romantic musicians included composers like Frederic Chopin, Franz Lizst, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky

Music: Components1730-1820.Classical music

emphasized internal order and balance.

1800-1910.Romantic music

emphasized expression of feelings.

LiteratureIn America, Romanticism most

strongly impacted literature.Writers explored supernatural and

gothic themes. Writers wrote about nature –

Transcendentalists believed G-d was in nature, unlike “Age of Reason” writers like Franklin and Jefferson, who saw G-d as a “divine watchmaker,” who created the universe and left it to run itself.

• http://movieclips.com/xFydi-the-raven-movie-a-ghost/0/40.6

• http://movieclips.com/63Vv-dracula-movie-children-of-the-night/0/45.18

• http://movieclips.com/8tMy-bride-of-frankenstein-movie-shes-alive-shes-alive/11.4/64.84

• http://movieclips.com/PHtk-psycho-movie-the-truth-about-mother/0/60.64

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm23PSrJLRI

The Gothic • Movement in literature

(1764-1840)• Rebellion against the

rationalism of the Enlightment

• Gothic refers to medieval or ancient ideas

• Began with The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole

• Dominated the literary scene for over 60 years

• Ann Radcliff-best selling author

• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein-most enduring novel

• Influenced the novel, the short story, poetry, and even film making up to the present day.

The Gothic Conventions • Setting: wild, remote, gloomy landscapes• Setting: castle (or castle-like place)-sometimes abandoned, secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, dark or hidden

staircases, dungeons, tombs, and ruined sections.

• Atmosphere of mystery and suspense

• Omens, portents, visions, prophecies

• Supernatural events

The Gothic Conventions• Women in distress• Women threatened

by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male

• Gloom and terror• Dramatic and

sensational• High, even

overwrought emotion

Gothic vs. HorrorGothic terror aims to stimulate readers through imagination and perceived evils while horror closes them off through fear and physical dangers.

Typical Characters in the Gothic

• Virginal Maiden – young, beautiful, pure, innocent, kind, virtuous

• Hero-Strong physical/sexual presence; driven by an all-consuming passion; usually isolated either physically or emotionally

• Villain-the epitome of evil, often with supernatural powers, controlling, driven, scheming, manipulative

Typical Characters in the Gothic

• The Stupid Servant – acts as comic relief

• The Wanderer-the epitome of isolation as he wanders the earth in perpetual exile, usually a form of divine punishment

• Clergy – always weak, usually evil

• Older, Foolish Woman