Culture in the Age of Reaction and Revolution: The Mood of Romanticism At the end of the 18 th century, Romanticism challenges the Enlightenment’s preoccupation with discovering truth. Romantics tried to balance reason with intuition, feeling, emotion, and imagination 5/17/2015 1

The Characteristics of Romanticism Romantic writers emphasized emotion, sentiment, and inner feelings Romantic writers emphasized emotion, sentiment, and inner feelings The Sorrows of the Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, romantic model The Sorrows of the Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, romantic model Werther sought freedom to fulfill himself Werther sought freedom to fulfill himself Misunderstood and rejected by society, he still believed in his own worth through inner feelings Misunderstood and rejected by society, he still believed in his own worth through inner feelings Rejected by a girl he loved, he committed suicide Rejected by a girl he loved, he committed suicide 5/17/2015 2

The Characteristics of Romanticism Important characteristic of Romanticism was individualism Important characteristic of Romanticism was individualism Interest in unique traits of each individual Interest in unique traits of each individual Following inner drives led romantics to rebel against middle-class conventions Following inner drives led romantics to rebel against middle-class conventions Long hair, beards, outrageous clothes reinforced individualism (“shades” of the 60s) Long hair, beards, outrageous clothes reinforced individualism (“shades” of the 60s) 5/17/2015 3

The Characteristics of Romanticism Sentiment and individualism came together as a stress for the heroic Sentiment and individualism came together as a stress for the heroic Solitary genius ready to defy the world Solitary genius ready to defy the world Thomas Carlyle wrote of heroes who did not destroy themselves but transformed society for the better Thomas Carlyle wrote of heroes who did not destroy themselves but transformed society for the better 5/17/2015 4

The Characteristics of Romanticism Many Romantics had passionate interest in the past Many Romantics had passionate interest in the past In Germany, the Grimm brothers collected and published fairy tales In Germany, the Grimm brothers collected and published fairy tales Hans Christian Anderson in Denmark (ditto) Hans Christian Anderson in Denmark (ditto) Literature reflected historic consciousness Literature reflected historic consciousness Novels of Walter Scott—Ivanhoe—clash between Saxon and Norman knights Novels of Walter Scott—Ivanhoe—clash between Saxon and Norman knights 5/17/2015 5

The Characteristics of Romanticism Gothic literature can be added to the bizarre and unusual, including chilling short stories Gothic literature can be added to the bizarre and unusual, including chilling short stories Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Romantics sought unusual experiences in their lives Romantics sought unusual experiences in their lives Pursuing states of experience in dreams, nightmares, frenzies, etc., and experimenting with cocaine, opium, and hashish to produce altered states of consciousness Pursuing states of experience in dreams, nightmares, frenzies, etc., and experimenting with cocaine, opium, and hashish to produce altered states of consciousness 5/17/2015 6

Romantic Poets Romantics ranked poetry highest literary form— saw it as expression of the soul Romantics ranked poetry highest literary form— saw it as expression of the soul Romantic poets viewed as seers who revealed invisible world to others Romantic poets viewed as seers who revealed invisible world to others Many living intense, but short lives Many living intense, but short lives Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Prometheus Unbound –a revolt of against laws and customs Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Prometheus Unbound –a revolt of against laws and customs Died by drowning in Mediterranean Sea Died by drowning in Mediterranean Sea 5/17/2015 7

Romantic Poets Lord Byron Lord Byron Dramatized himself as the melancholy Romantic hero described in his work, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage Dramatized himself as the melancholy Romantic hero described in his work, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage Participated in the movement for Greek independence and died fighting the Ottomans Participated in the movement for Greek independence and died fighting the Ottomans 5/17/2015 8

Love of Nature Romantic poets gave full expression to love of nature Romantic poets gave full expression to love of nature William Wordsworth William Wordsworth Nature contained a mysterious face the poet could perceive and learn from Nature contained a mysterious face the poet could perceive and learn from Nature was alive and sacred Nature was alive and sacred Nature was a mirror in which humans could learn about themselves Nature was a mirror in which humans could learn about themselves 5/17/2015 9

Love of Nature Other Romantics carried this worship of nature further into pantheism by identifying the great force in nature with God Other Romantics carried this worship of nature further into pantheism by identifying the great force in nature with God Romantics would not recognize the deist God of the Enlightenment Romantics would not recognize the deist God of the Enlightenment German Romantic poet, Friedrich Novalis, wrote, “Anyone seeking God will find Him anywhere.” German Romantic poet, Friedrich Novalis, wrote, “Anyone seeking God will find Him anywhere.” 5/17/

Critique of Science The Romantics believed science reduced nature to a cold object of study The Romantics believed science reduced nature to a cold object of study To Wordsworth, the poet who left the world “one single moral precept, one single affecting sentiment,” did more for the world than scientists who were soon forgotten To Wordsworth, the poet who left the world “one single moral precept, one single affecting sentiment,” did more for the world than scientists who were soon forgotten The Frankenstein monster symbolized the danger of science trying to conquer nature The Frankenstein monster symbolized the danger of science trying to conquer nature 5/17/

Romanticism in Art Visual art were deeply affected by Romanticism Visual art were deeply affected by Romanticism Romantic artists shared two characteristics Romantic artists shared two characteristics Artistic expression (e.g. painting) was a reflection of the artist’s inner feelings--his own imagination Artistic expression (e.g. painting) was a reflection of the artist’s inner feelings--his own imagination The principles of Classicism were rejected The principles of Classicism were rejected Beauty not timeless—depended on one’s culture and age Beauty not timeless—depended on one’s culture and age Abandoned classical restraint for warmth, emotion, and movement Abandoned classical restraint for warmth, emotion, and movement 5/17/

Friedrich German painter Casper David Friedrich had life experiences that guided him to preoccupation with God and nature German painter Casper David Friedrich had life experiences that guided him to preoccupation with God and nature Mountains shrouded in mist, gnarled trees bathed in moonlight, etc., conveyed mystery and mysticism Mountains shrouded in mist, gnarled trees bathed in moonlight, etc., conveyed mystery and mysticism Nature was a manifestation of divine life Nature was a manifestation of divine life Look to your inner vision—”Shut your physical eye and look first at your picture with your spiritual eye…” Look to your inner vision—”Shut your physical eye and look first at your picture with your spiritual eye…” 5/17/

Turner Englishman Joseph Malford William Turner Englishman Joseph Malford William Turner Twenty thousand paintings, drawings, watercolors Twenty thousand paintings, drawings, watercolors Concern with nature—innumerable landscapes, seascapes, sunrises, and sunsets Concern with nature—innumerable landscapes, seascapes, sunrises, and sunsets Did not produce nature accurately—conveyed natures mood using skilled interplay of light and color to suggest natural effects Did not produce nature accurately—conveyed natures mood using skilled interplay of light and color to suggest natural effects Objects melt into surroundings Objects melt into surroundings 5/17/

Delacroix Eugene Delacroix was the most famous French romantic artist Eugene Delacroix was the most famous French romantic artist Largely self-taught Largely self-taught Fascinated with the exotic and had passion for color Fascinated with the exotic and had passion for color The Death of Sardanapalus—portrayal of last Assyrian king The Death of Sardanapalus—portrayal of last Assyrian king Theatrically and movement with daring use of color Theatrically and movement with daring use of color “a painting should be a feast to the eye” “a painting should be a feast to the eye” 5/17/

Romanticism in Music To many Romantics, music was the most Romantic of the arts because it enabled the composer to probe deeply into human emotions To many Romantics, music was the most Romantic of the arts because it enabled the composer to probe deeply into human emotions …’the awakening of emotion” …’the awakening of emotion” Eighteenth century: Classicism Eighteenth century: Classicism Nineteenth century: Romanticism Nineteenth century: Romanticism Ludwig van Beethoven served as bridge between both Classicism and Romanticism Ludwig van Beethoven served as bridge between both Classicism and Romanticism 5/17/

Beethoven One of few composers to singlehandedly transform the art of music ( ) One of few composers to singlehandedly transform the art of music ( ) Ablaze by events in France Ablaze by events in France Yearned to communicate his cherished beliefs Yearned to communicate his cherished beliefs “I must write, for what weighs on my heart, I must express” “I must write, for what weighs on my heart, I must express” Music had to express his deepest inner feelings Music had to express his deepest inner feelings 5/17/

Beethoven Born in Bonn, came from family of musicians Born in Bonn, came from family of musicians Reflected the influence of Haydn and Mozart Reflected the influence of Haydn and Mozart Wrote from largely Classical framework Wrote from largely Classical framework Wrote Eroica—originally intended for Napoleon Wrote Eroica—originally intended for Napoleon Broke through to elements of Romanticism Broke through to elements of Romanticism “opens flood gates of fear, of terror….” “opens flood gates of fear, of terror….” 5/17/

Beethoven Chorale finale of Ninth Symphony, most moving of pieces, composed when he was totally deaf Chorale finale of Ninth Symphony, most moving of pieces, composed when he was totally deaf 5/17/

Berlioz Frenchman Hector Berlioz composed in Romantic style Frenchman Hector Berlioz composed in Romantic style One of founders of program music—usiing the moods and sound effects of music to depict the actions and emotions in a story One of founders of program music—usiing the moods and sound effects of music to depict the actions and emotions in a story Symphonie Fantastique – complete program symphony— invoking passionate emotions of tortured love affair Symphonie Fantastique – complete program symphony— invoking passionate emotions of tortured love affair 5/17/

The Revival of Religion in the Age of Romanticism After 1815, Christianity experienced a revival After 1815, Christianity experienced a revival Catholicism had lost its attraction with educated elites as they flirted with the Enlightenment in 18 th century Catholicism had lost its attraction with educated elites as they flirted with the Enlightenment in 18 th century Restoration of nobility brought new appreciation for Catholic faith as force for order Restoration of nobility brought new appreciation for Catholic faith as force for order Force was greatly reinforced by Romantic movement Force was greatly reinforced by Romantic movement Attraction of Romantics to Middle Ages, emotion, etc. Attraction of Romantics to Middle Ages, emotion, etc. 5/17/

Catholicism Romantic period benefitted Catholicism Romantic period benefitted Catholicism Many conversions to Catholic faith Many conversions to Catholic faith Frenchman Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand wrote, Genius of Christianity Frenchman Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand wrote, Genius of Christianity Defense of Catholicism based on Romantic sentiment Defense of Catholicism based on Romantic sentiment “You could not enter a Gothic church without feeling a kind of awe and vague sentiment of the Divinity” “You could not enter a Gothic church without feeling a kind of awe and vague sentiment of the Divinity” 5/17/

Protestantism Protestantism experienced revival Protestantism experienced revival The “awakening” The “awakening” Evangelical preachers and messages Evangelical preachers and messages Sin and redemption central to message Sin and redemption central to message Hellfire and emotional conversion Hellfire and emotional conversion 5/17/