Enlightenment Period - Romantic Age Comparisons

Enlightenment Period - Romantic Age Comparisonsand Greece, gave rise to a styling that conveyed
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindlerinfluence, power, and wealth. Clients of architects
The authors of this paper are going to present toadmired and wished to embody the ideology of
the reader five areas of the humanities, art,Roman power and exhibition into their own homes
music, architecture, philosophy, and literature fromand public buildings, conveying to the observer a
the Enlightenment period as well as the Romanticsense of virtue, wisdom, and harmony.
Age. The examples chosen are meant to reflectIn the Romantic Age, America's diversity was
the developments and forces that affected worldcelebrated by the diversity of and supported by
events and how these examples molded culturalan explosion in the size of growing population.
patterns. This evolution of humankinds views ofArchitectural stylings of federal buildings are
the world and humans place in the worldobvious interpretations of Greek and Roman
profoundly affected the following century and thearchitecture, an attempt by leaders of a young
course of the modern people in today's society.struggling country to convey structure and the
Art has traditionally been a reflection and anpower of the government. More important, the
artist's interpretation of the world around theuse of iconic architectural types fosters the
artists. During the Age of Enlightenment, thereloyalty and faith of the people in the new
were five major types of art movements;democracy.
Neoclassicism, Romanticism, French Naturalism,Philosophy in the Renaissance era was greatly
French Realism, and Impressionism. "In part ainfluenced by the bubonic plague also known as
reaction against baroque and rococo excesses,the Black Death. An example of philosophical
neoclassicism is associated, in France, with achange brought on by the plague was the shift in
return to "virtue" and an acceptance of the newthought that caused people to challenge traditional
ideological demands of the Frenchseats of authority. Because of the lack of skilled
Revolution."(Boguslawski, 2005) This form of artlabor due to shrinking population, laborers began
reinforced society's responsibilities to honor, duty,demanding higher standards of living and a more
and more important, patriotism.equitable place in society.
Impressionism in the Age of Enlightenment lendsThe randomness of the plague, the fact that it
to a play on light within common themes. Claudeafflicted people from all social and economic
Monet is perhaps the best example. While notclasses lead to the abandonment of traditional
politically inspiring, Impressionism allows the viewerreligious practices and changed the way people
to spend time reflecting on the beauty and thethought of death. During the enlightenment period
play of colors and lighting.intellectuals attempted to understand and explain
"Romantic artists interpreted things through theirtheir environment. This inquisitiveness bore a set
own emotions, and these emotions included socialof principles which were believed to govern all
and political consciousness--as one would expect inhuman interactions. These principles were believed
a period of revolution, one that reacted soto be part of the universe and mandated by
strongly to oppression and injustice in the world."reason as opposed to being ordered or forced on
(English Department, Brooklyn College, 2001)people by kings or the church.
Despite the term Romantic, the period was aA second example is the political theories that
time of revolution and social upheavals as societyframed the debate of the social contract
on all levels struggled for a voice and a place inbetween rulers and those being ruled. John Locke's
the evolving world. Across all fields of expression,view that the ruled possesses ultimate power and
the period was a movement away fromhave a natural right to life, liberty and estate
rationalism towards an exploration of humanclearly influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote
nature. Emotion became both the subject and thethe American Declaration of Independence 100
object of most popular art forms of this period.years later.
Rather then just picking a specific work of art,Christine De Pisan's Book of the "City of Ladies",
the authors' intention is to enlighten the reader towhich championed women's importance to
the influences and motivations of the artists in thissociety, was milestone in society. The work is
period, rather than describing how a portrait maywritten as a debate where she interviews three
have affected the few.goddesses on moral issues. The authors selected
Music in the Enlightenment period wasthis work because this example is a milestone in
immortalized in the works of Amadeus Mozart.women's emergence as equal partners in Western
Though gifted from a young age, it was throughsociety in that it was one of the first instances of
diversity and necessity that forced Mozart tothe subject being addressed from a woman's
achieve his potential. Most musicians of the periodpoint of view by a woman. Niccolo Machiavelli's
were at the employ of churches and royalty. Thebook "The Prince" was a practical guide of how to
free lance lifestyle Mozart led, lent to a freedomestablish political stability through the use of
of expression… "This step in the directionarbitrary power. The author selected this work
of artistic and intellectual freedom was a centralbecause Machiavelli ignored morality in his
part of the Enlightenment." (Donelan, 1999)explanations of how rulers imposed their will on
Interestingly, Mozart's work may have reinforcedfriend and foe alike. This ideology gave form and
his attachment to the ideas of the Enlightenmenta certain level of legitimacy to the "ends justify
period, while a feeling of subversion is also equallythe means" mentality common to many
expressed at times.autocratic governments thereafter.
Mozart was not easily impressed that was untilThe first example is Locke's "Of Civil
Ludwig van Beethoven performed for Mozart inGovernment". The author chose this because it
1787. Beethoven had a singular brilliance about him;serves as the basis of thought behind the ideals
as a result, he went through a number ofset forth in our own Declaration of Independence
instructors, some of histories most memorableand Constitution. While reading "Of Civil
composers of the time. Beethoven's hearing lossGovernment" the author came to understand that
was a progressive deterioration over a 16 yearour Declaration of Independence was Jefferson's
period beginning in 1801. Around the year 1802, hisaffirmation of Natural Law as applied to the social
hearing loss opened new doors in his composition.contract between governments and their citizens.
Compositions were written that challenged theThe second example is Adam Smith's Inquiry into
traditional characterizations of music of the time.the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
"Beethoven's influence on following composers hasIt applied Natural Law to labor and trade and
been immeasurable. Aside from his architectonicdefined free trade.
innovations and expansion of the classical sonataThe authors have explored specific examples,
and symphony, he brought to music a new depthpeople in history, and how social tides changed the
and intensity of emotion that was emulated bydirections taken in of each category that was
later romantic composers…"explored. The world that is known today is a
(Angelfire.com, n.d.)product of generations who were able to express
The Romantic era could easily be split betweenthemselves through art, music, architecture,
two types of composers. A conservativephilosophy, and literature. The emotions, ideas, and
approach embodying the Romantic periods stylingenergy conveyed through time, give humans a
and ideology, yet in close quarters to traditionalbetter understanding of where they have been
sounding classical music. Prominent composers ofand the courage to continue the journey forward.
this type of composition include Schubert,References - Do Not Strip Article References
Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Representing(n.d.). Ludwig van Beethoven. Retrieved January
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included Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner. "Berlioz,Boguslawski, A. (2005). 18TH-Century: Intorduction.
Strauss, and Wagner were all progressives whoseRetrieved January 22, 2008, from
music challenged the audiences of their day."Boyd-Brent, J. (2008). The Architects of The
(Schmidt-Jones, 2007) All composers of theEnlightenment. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from
Romantic period faced a common problem, takingDonelan, J. (1999, September 26;). Mozart and
music in a new direction. The composersEnlightenment Thought. Retrieved January 22,
mentioned composed memorable works of music,2008, from
but nothing notable that truly changed the musicEnglish Department, Brooklyn College (2001,
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led the world to begin experiencing newRetrieved January 22, 2008, from
innovations that led to modern music.Schmidt-Jones, C. (2007, October 31;). The Music
British architects of the Enlightenment age includeof the Romantic Era. Retrieved January 22, 2008,
Colen Campbell, James Gibbs and Robert Adamfrom
whom also happen to be of Scottish descent,Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler
"interpreting the first phase of Classicism in theFree to distribute - However- Do not strip
Palladian form." (Boyd-Brent, 2008) Architecture ofResearch Article References, remove the HTML if
the period, inspired by the classic forms of Romeneeded, but keep the URL text.