Culture in the Age of Culture in the Age of Reaction and Reaction and

Revolution: The Mood Revolution: The Mood of Romanticism of Romanticism At the end of the 18At the end of the 18thth century, century, Romanticism challenges the Romanticism challenges the

Enlightenment’s preoccupation Enlightenment’s preoccupation with discovering truth. with discovering truth.

Romantics tried to balance reason Romantics tried to balance reason with intuition, feeling, emotion, with intuition, feeling, emotion,

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The Characteristics of The Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

Romantic writers emphasized emotion, Romantic writers emphasized emotion, sentiment, and inner feelingssentiment, and inner feelings

The Sorrows of the Young Werther The Sorrows of the Young Werther by by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, romantic Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, romantic modelmodel Werther sought freedom to fulfill himselfWerther sought freedom to fulfill himself Misunderstood and rejected by society, he still Misunderstood and rejected by society, he still

believed in his own worth through inner believed in his own worth through inner feelingsfeelings

Rejected by a girl he loved, he committed Rejected by a girl he loved, he committed suicidesuicide

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The Characteristics of The Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

Important characteristic of Important characteristic of Romanticism was Romanticism was individualismindividualism Interest in unique traits of each Interest in unique traits of each

individualindividual Following inner drives led romantics to Following inner drives led romantics to

rebel against middle-class conventionsrebel against middle-class conventions Long hair, beards, outrageous clothes Long hair, beards, outrageous clothes

reinforced individualism (“shades” of the reinforced individualism (“shades” of the 60s)60s)

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The Characteristics of The Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

SentimentSentiment and and individualismindividualism came came together as a stress for the together as a stress for the heroicheroic Solitary genius ready to defy the worldSolitary genius ready to defy the world Thomas Carlyle wrote of heroes who did Thomas Carlyle wrote of heroes who did

not destroy themselves but transformed not destroy themselves but transformed society for the better society for the better

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The Characteristics of The Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

Many Romantics had passionate Many Romantics had passionate interest in the pastinterest in the past In Germany, the Grimm brothers In Germany, the Grimm brothers

collected and published fairy talescollected and published fairy tales Hans Christian Anderson in Denmark Hans Christian Anderson in Denmark

(ditto)(ditto) Literature reflected historic Literature reflected historic

consciousnessconsciousness Novels of Walter Scott—Novels of Walter Scott—Ivanhoe—Ivanhoe—clash clash

between Saxon and Norman knightsbetween Saxon and Norman knights

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The Characteristics of The Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

Gothic literature can be added to the Gothic literature can be added to the bizarre and unusual, including chilling bizarre and unusual, including chilling short storiesshort stories Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe FrankensteinFrankenstein by Mary Shelley by Mary Shelley Romantics sought unusual experiences in Romantics sought unusual experiences in

their livestheir lives Pursuing states of experience in dreams, Pursuing states of experience in dreams,

nightmares, frenzies, etc., and experimenting nightmares, frenzies, etc., and experimenting with cocaine, opium, and hashish to produce with cocaine, opium, and hashish to produce altered states of consciousness altered states of consciousness

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Romantic PoetsRomantic Poets

Romantics ranked poetry highest Romantics ranked poetry highest literary form—saw it as expression of literary form—saw it as expression of the soulthe soul

Romantic poets viewed as seers who Romantic poets viewed as seers who revealed invisible world to othersrevealed invisible world to others

Many living intense, but short livesMany living intense, but short lives Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Prometheus Prometheus

Unbound Unbound –a revolt of against laws and –a revolt of against laws and customscustoms

Died by drowning in Mediterranean Sea Died by drowning in Mediterranean Sea

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Romantic PoetsRomantic Poets

Lord ByronLord Byron Dramatized himself as the melancholy Dramatized himself as the melancholy

Romantic hero described in his work, Romantic hero described in his work, Childe Harold’s PilgrimageChilde Harold’s Pilgrimage Participated in the movement for Greek Participated in the movement for Greek

independence and died fighting the independence and died fighting the OttomansOttomans

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Love of NatureLove of Nature

Romantic poets gave full expression Romantic poets gave full expression to love of natureto love of nature William WordsworthWilliam Wordsworth

Nature contained a mysterious face the Nature contained a mysterious face the poet could perceive and learn frompoet could perceive and learn from

Nature was alive and sacredNature was alive and sacred Nature was a mirror in which humans could Nature was a mirror in which humans could

learn about themselveslearn about themselves

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Love of NatureLove of Nature

Other Romantics carried this Other Romantics carried this worship of nature further into worship of nature further into pantheism by identifying the great pantheism by identifying the great force in nature with Godforce in nature with God Romantics would not recognize the Romantics would not recognize the

deist God of the Enlightenmentdeist God of the Enlightenment German Romantic poet, Friedrich German Romantic poet, Friedrich

Novalis, wrote, “Anyone seeking God Novalis, wrote, “Anyone seeking God will find Him anywhere.” will find Him anywhere.”

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Critique of ScienceCritique of Science

The Romantics believed science reduced The Romantics believed science reduced nature to a cold object of studynature to a cold object of study

To Wordsworth, the poet who left the To Wordsworth, the poet who left the world “one single moral precept, one world “one single moral precept, one single affecting sentiment,” did more for single affecting sentiment,” did more for the world than scientists who were soon the world than scientists who were soon forgottenforgotten

The Frankenstein monster symbolized The Frankenstein monster symbolized the danger of science trying to conquer the danger of science trying to conquer nature nature

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Romanticism in ArtRomanticism in Art

Visual art were deeply affected by Visual art were deeply affected by RomanticismRomanticism

Romantic artists shared two characteristicsRomantic artists shared two characteristics Artistic expression (e.g. painting) was a Artistic expression (e.g. painting) was a

reflection of the artist’s inner feelings--his own reflection of the artist’s inner feelings--his own imaginationimagination

The principles of Classicism were rejectedThe principles of Classicism were rejected Beauty not timeless—depended on one’s culture and Beauty not timeless—depended on one’s culture and

ageage Abandoned classical restraint for warmth, emotion, Abandoned classical restraint for warmth, emotion,

and movement and movement

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FriedrichFriedrich

German painter Casper David Friedrich German painter Casper David Friedrich had life experiences that guided him to had life experiences that guided him to preoccupation with God and naturepreoccupation with God and nature Mountains shrouded in mist, gnarled trees Mountains shrouded in mist, gnarled trees

bathed in moonlight, etc., conveyed bathed in moonlight, etc., conveyed mystery and mysticismmystery and mysticism

Nature was a manifestation of divine lifeNature was a manifestation of divine life Look to your inner vision—”Shut your Look to your inner vision—”Shut your

physical eye and look first at your picture physical eye and look first at your picture with your spiritual eye…”with your spiritual eye…”

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TurnerTurner

Englishman Joseph Malford William Englishman Joseph Malford William TurnerTurner Twenty thousand paintings, drawings, Twenty thousand paintings, drawings,

watercolorswatercolors Concern with nature—innumerable Concern with nature—innumerable

landscapes, seascapes, sunrises, and sunsetslandscapes, seascapes, sunrises, and sunsets Did not produce nature accurately—conveyed Did not produce nature accurately—conveyed

natures mood using skilled interplay of light natures mood using skilled interplay of light and color to suggest natural effectsand color to suggest natural effects

Objects melt into surroundings Objects melt into surroundings

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DelacroixDelacroix

Eugene Delacroix was the most Eugene Delacroix was the most famous French romantic artistfamous French romantic artist Largely self-taughtLargely self-taught Fascinated with the exotic and had Fascinated with the exotic and had

passion for colorpassion for color The Death of Sardanapalus—The Death of Sardanapalus—portrayal of portrayal of

last Assyrian kinglast Assyrian king Theatrically and movement with daring use Theatrically and movement with daring use

of colorof color ““a painting should be a feast to the eye”a painting should be a feast to the eye”

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Romanticism in MusicRomanticism in Music To many Romantics, music was the most To many Romantics, music was the most

Romantic of the arts because it enabled Romantic of the arts because it enabled the composer to probe deeply into the composer to probe deeply into human emotionshuman emotions …’…’the awakening of emotion”the awakening of emotion”

Eighteenth century: ClassicismEighteenth century: Classicism Nineteenth century: RomanticismNineteenth century: Romanticism Ludwig van Beethoven served as bridge Ludwig van Beethoven served as bridge

between both Classicism and between both Classicism and RomanticismRomanticism

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BeethovenBeethoven

One of few composers to One of few composers to singlehandedly transform the art of singlehandedly transform the art of music (1770-1827)music (1770-1827) Ablaze by events in FranceAblaze by events in France Yearned to communicate his cherished Yearned to communicate his cherished

beliefsbeliefs ““I must write, for what weighs on my heart, I must write, for what weighs on my heart,

I must express”I must express” Music had to express his deepest inner Music had to express his deepest inner

feelingsfeelings

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BeethovenBeethoven

Born in Bonn, came from family of Born in Bonn, came from family of musiciansmusicians

Reflected the influence of Haydn and Reflected the influence of Haydn and MozartMozart

Wrote from largely Classical frameworkWrote from largely Classical framework Wrote Wrote Eroica—Eroica—originally intended for originally intended for

NapoleonNapoleon 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….”

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BeethovenBeethoven

Chorale finale of Ninth Symphony, Chorale finale of Ninth Symphony, most moving of pieces, composed most moving of pieces, composed when he was totally deaf when he was totally deaf

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BerliozBerlioz

Frenchman Hector Berlioz Frenchman Hector Berlioz composed in Romantic stylecomposed in Romantic style One of founders of program music—One of founders of program music—

usiing the moods and sound effects of usiing the moods and sound effects of music to depict the actions and music to depict the actions and emotions in a storyemotions in a story Symphonie Fantastique – Symphonie Fantastique – complete program complete program

symphony—invoking passionate emotions of symphony—invoking passionate emotions of tortured love affairtortured love affair

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The Revival of Religion in The Revival of Religion in the Age of Romanticismthe Age of Romanticism

After 1815, Christianity experienced a After 1815, Christianity experienced a revivalrevival Catholicism had lost its attraction with Catholicism had lost its attraction with

educated elites as they flirted with the educated elites as they flirted with the Enlightenment in 18Enlightenment in 18thth century century

Restoration of nobility brought new Restoration of nobility brought new appreciation for Catholic faith as force for order appreciation for Catholic faith as force for order

Force was greatly reinforced by Romantic movementForce was greatly reinforced by Romantic movement Attraction of Romantics to Middle Ages, emotion, Attraction of Romantics to Middle Ages, emotion,

etc.etc.

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CatholicismCatholicism

Romantic period benefitted Romantic period benefitted Catholicism Catholicism Many conversions to Catholic faithMany conversions to Catholic faith Frenchman Francois-Rene de Frenchman Francois-Rene de

Chateaubriand wrote, Chateaubriand wrote, Genius of Genius of ChristianityChristianity

Defense of Catholicism based on Romantic Defense of Catholicism based on Romantic sentimentsentiment

““You could not enter a Gothic church without You could not enter a Gothic church without feeling a kind of awe and vague sentiment of feeling a kind of awe and vague sentiment of the Divinity”the Divinity”

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ProtestantismProtestantism

Protestantism experienced revivalProtestantism experienced revival The “awakening”The “awakening”

Evangelical preachers and messagesEvangelical preachers and messages Sin and redemption central to messageSin and redemption central to message Hellfire and emotional conversion Hellfire and emotional conversion

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