1. Culture for the Upper Class
Books, Music, Architecture and the “Grand tour”

2. Elite culture: Combining Old and New
Patronage and sponsorship of artists with works performed in private halls
Classical spirit of ancient Greece and Rome – symmetry, proportion and reason
New:
Artists and authors emphasizing emotion and nature creating a “cult of sensibility” & realism in art and literature
Increase in literacy and access to books makes things more accessible

3. New: Rococo
In contrast to France’s prior obsession with symmetry and classicism, rococo was ornate and used light colours, asymmetrical designs, curves, and gold. Unlike the political Baroque, the Rococo had playful and witty themes. 

4. Fashion
There was a common culture of elaborate clothing, polished manners and highly structured conversation throughout upper class Europe

5. Bookstores & Novels Accessible place to find Enlightenment ideas
Women began to read more and more – writers emerged who wrote to their tastes & female writers
Global book trade
Middle class are the readers so books reflect their tastes

6. Art : Pride and sentiment
Aristocracy commission portraits and paintings
Paintings show scenes of intimate aristocratic private life
Classical themes with current people
Everyday people represented as well

7. music Music was made to appeal to aristocratic tastes
It began to be performed in more public halls for more people to hear - Opera houses were springing up everywhere
Vienna, Austria is the music “hub”
Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel & Mozart
Mozart became wealthy enough to leave his patrons, and he composed 600+ works

8. “Grand tour”
Many considered travelling across Europe to learn different things and experience different cultures as a vital aspect of life during the Enlightenment
This was called the “Grand Tour” and it was considered important to education
It could also include travelling to ruins of ancient Greece & Rome

9. Culture for the Lower Class
Festivals, religion, stories & Alcohol

10. Festivals & Alcohol
Festivals were generally seasonal, and based on agriculture or religion
Weddings included a community procession, religious aspects, music, dancing, feasts and games
Mingling of upper and lower class at some festivals, and at things like cockfights and dogfights
Sports are popular

11. England had an issue with the lower classes suffering from alcoholism – specifically with gin = fear of social decay

12. Literature
Increased literacy from the printing press – % of people were literate
There was mostly oral story telling, but small pamphlets, books and almanacs were popular
Folktales and songs revolved around how to survive or morals
Middle and upper classes do have some crossover in what they read
 1724 book published in Britain containing biographies of contemporary pirates

13. Religion
Churches ran schools and hospitals, church bells kept the time, and holidays were religious
Pietism = minimized dogma and increased individual piety
Revivalist movements
Methodism in England
Catholic Jansenism and Quietism
Jewish Hasidism in Eastern Europe
These movements kept the social order intact