| Enlightenment Period - Romantic Age Comparisons | | | | and Greece, gave rise to a styling that conveyed |
| Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler | | | | influence, power, and wealth. Clients of architects |
| The authors of this paper are going to present to | | | | admired 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 from | | | | and public buildings, conveying to the observer a |
| the Enlightenment period as well as the Romantic | | | | sense of virtue, wisdom, and harmony. |
| Age. The examples chosen are meant to reflect | | | | In the Romantic Age, America's diversity was |
| the developments and forces that affected world | | | | celebrated by the diversity of and supported by |
| events and how these examples molded cultural | | | | an explosion in the size of growing population. |
| patterns. This evolution of humankinds views of | | | | Architectural stylings of federal buildings are |
| the world and humans place in the world | | | | obvious interpretations of Greek and Roman |
| profoundly affected the following century and the | | | | architecture, 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 an | | | | power of the government. More important, the |
| artist's interpretation of the world around the | | | | use of iconic architectural types fosters the |
| artists. During the Age of Enlightenment, there | | | | loyalty 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 a | | | | influenced 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 a | | | | change brought on by the plague was the shift in |
| return to "virtue" and an acceptance of the new | | | | thought that caused people to challenge traditional |
| ideological demands of the French | | | | seats of authority. Because of the lack of skilled |
| Revolution."(Boguslawski, 2005) This form of art | | | | labor 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 lends | | | | The randomness of the plague, the fact that it |
| to a play on light within common themes. Claude | | | | afflicted people from all social and economic |
| Monet is perhaps the best example. While not | | | | classes lead to the abandonment of traditional |
| politically inspiring, Impressionism allows the viewer | | | | religious practices and changed the way people |
| to spend time reflecting on the beauty and the | | | | thought of death. During the enlightenment period |
| play of colors and lighting. | | | | intellectuals attempted to understand and explain |
| "Romantic artists interpreted things through their | | | | their environment. This inquisitiveness bore a set |
| own emotions, and these emotions included social | | | | of principles which were believed to govern all |
| and political consciousness--as one would expect in | | | | human interactions. These principles were believed |
| a period of revolution, one that reacted so | | | | to 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 a | | | | A second example is the political theories that |
| time of revolution and social upheavals as society | | | | framed the debate of the social contract |
| on all levels struggled for a voice and a place in | | | | between 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 from | | | | have a natural right to life, liberty and estate |
| rationalism towards an exploration of human | | | | clearly influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote |
| nature. Emotion became both the subject and the | | | | the 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 to | | | | which championed women's importance to |
| the influences and motivations of the artists in this | | | | society, was milestone in society. The work is |
| period, rather than describing how a portrait may | | | | written as a debate where she interviews three |
| have affected the few. | | | | goddesses on moral issues. The authors selected |
| Music in the Enlightenment period was | | | | this 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 through | | | | society in that it was one of the first instances of |
| diversity and necessity that forced Mozart to | | | | the subject being addressed from a woman's |
| achieve his potential. Most musicians of the period | | | | point of view by a woman. Niccolo Machiavelli's |
| were at the employ of churches and royalty. The | | | | book "The Prince" was a practical guide of how to |
| free lance lifestyle Mozart led, lent to a freedom | | | | establish political stability through the use of |
| of expression… "This step in the direction | | | | arbitrary power. The author selected this work |
| of artistic and intellectual freedom was a central | | | | because 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 reinforced | | | | friend and foe alike. This ideology gave form and |
| his attachment to the ideas of the Enlightenment | | | | a certain level of legitimacy to the "ends justify |
| period, while a feeling of subversion is also equally | | | | the means" mentality common to many |
| expressed at times. | | | | autocratic governments thereafter. |
| Mozart was not easily impressed that was until | | | | The first example is Locke's "Of Civil |
| Ludwig van Beethoven performed for Mozart in | | | | Government". 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 of | | | | set forth in our own Declaration of Independence |
| instructors, some of histories most memorable | | | | and Constitution. While reading "Of Civil |
| composers of the time. Beethoven's hearing loss | | | | Government" the author came to understand that |
| was a progressive deterioration over a 16 year | | | | our Declaration of Independence was Jefferson's |
| period beginning in 1801. Around the year 1802, his | | | | affirmation 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 the | | | | The 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 has | | | | It applied Natural Law to labor and trade and |
| been immeasurable. Aside from his architectonic | | | | defined free trade. |
| innovations and expansion of the classical sonata | | | | The authors have explored specific examples, |
| and symphony, he brought to music a new depth | | | | people in history, and how social tides changed the |
| and intensity of emotion that was emulated by | | | | directions 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 between | | | | themselves through art, music, architecture, |
| two types of composers. A conservative | | | | philosophy, and literature. The emotions, ideas, and |
| approach embodying the Romantic periods styling | | | | energy conveyed through time, give humans a |
| and ideology, yet in close quarters to traditional | | | | better understanding of where they have been |
| sounding classical music. Prominent composers of | | | | and 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 |
| a more forward thinking expression of music | | | | 22, 2008, from |
| included Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner. "Berlioz, | | | | Boguslawski, A. (2005). 18TH-Century: Intorduction. |
| Strauss, and Wagner were all progressives whose | | | | Retrieved 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 the | | | | Enlightenment. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from |
| Romantic period faced a common problem, taking | | | | Donelan, J. (1999, September 26;). Mozart and |
| music in a new direction. The composers | | | | Enlightenment Thought. Retrieved January 22, |
| mentioned composed memorable works of music, | | | | 2008, from |
| but nothing notable that truly changed the music | | | | English Department, Brooklyn College (2001, |
| world. This period was more of a transition that | | | | September 23,). Introduction to Romanticism. |
| led the world to begin experiencing new | | | | Retrieved January 22, 2008, from |
| innovations that led to modern music. | | | | Schmidt-Jones, C. (2007, October 31;). The Music |
| British architects of the Enlightenment age include | | | | of the Romantic Era. Retrieved January 22, 2008, |
| Colen Campbell, James Gibbs and Robert Adam | | | | from |
| whom also happen to be of Scottish descent, | | | | Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler |
| "interpreting the first phase of Classicism in the | | | | Free to distribute - However- Do not strip |
| Palladian form." (Boyd-Brent, 2008) Architecture of | | | | Research Article References, remove the HTML if |
| the period, inspired by the classic forms of Rome | | | | needed, but keep the URL text. |