Lecture 4-Romanticism-Introduction

LectureFourTheRiseofAmericanRomanticismALandofParadoxesStirredbyspiritualdreamsShapedbytherealitiesofagrowingmaterialismseekingnewlibertiesandnewideasinlifeandart.ThetwoperiodsofAmericanromanticismPre-romanticism(1770s-1830s)WashingtonIrvingJamesFennimoreCooperWilliamCullenBryantPost-romanticism(1830s–1875)NathanielHawthorneHermanMelvilleHenryWadsworthLongfellow(JohnGreenleafWhittier)EdgarAllanPoeRalphWaldoEmersonHenryDavidThoreau(WaltWhitman)(EmilyDickinson)HistoricalContext:Classicism&NeoclassicismInthearts,historicaltraditionoraestheticattitudesbasedontheartofGreece&Romeinantiquity.ItinvokescharacteristicsnormallyassociatedwiththeartofantiquityItfollowsprecepts/principlesof--harmony--clarity--restraint--universality--idealism/idealization--proportion/balance--rationality(formality;order;authority)ItalianRenaissance(15-16thcenturies)Inthe18thcentury,itisconnectedwithrationalism--JohnDryden--AlexanderPope(Inpoeticalform,e.g.heroiccouplet)Inthecontextofthetradition,Classicismreferstotheartproducedinantiquityortolaterartinspiredbythatofantiquity;Neoclassicismalwaysreferstotheartproducedlaterbutinspiredbyantiquity.Thusthetwotermsareoftenusedinterchangeably.*antiquity:mattersrelatingtothelifeandcultureofancienttimesRomanticismcanbeseenasarejectionoftheprecepts…thattypifiedClassicismingeneralandlate18th-centuryNeoclassicisminparticular.ItwasalsotosomeextentareactionagainsttheEnlightenmentandagainst18th-centuryrationalismandphysicalmaterialismingeneral.Romanticismemphasizedtheindividualthesubjectivetheirrationaltheimaginativethepersonalthespontaneoustheemotionalthevisionaryandthetranscendental.romanticismneoclassicism1.freedomandindividualism1.duty,self-restraint2.imagination2.rationalism3.theirregularinnature3.neoclassicalorder4.theprimitive4.moderncivilizationCharacteristicattitudesofRomanticismAdeepenedappreciationofthebeautiesofnature;Ageneralexaltationofemotionoverreasonandofthesensesoverintellect;Aturninginupontheselfandaheightenedexaminationofhumanpersonalityanditsmoodsandmentalpotentialities;Apreoccupationwiththegenius,thehero,andtheexceptionalfigureingeneral,andafocusonhispassionsandinnerstruggles;Anewviewoftheartistassupremelyindividualcreator,whosecreativespiritismoreimportantthanstrictadherencetoformalrulesandtraditionalprocedures;Anemphasisuponimaginationasagatewaytotranscendentalexperienceandspiritualtruth;Anobsessiveinterestinfolkculture,nationalandethnicculturalorigins,andthemedievalera;Apredilection(=anestablishedpreferenceforsth.)fortheexotic,theremote,themysterious,theweird,theoccult(=mysterious),themonstrous,thediseased,andeventhesatanic.GrowthoftheNewnationPartiescameintobeingandbegantosquabble(/s'kwbl/,quarrel)andclimbforpower.Increaseofpopulation1810:7,000,0001861:31,000,000ExpansionofterritoryThepioneerspushingthefrontierfurtherwestbeyondtheMississippitotheGreatPlainsbypurchasingandannexationThespreadofindustrialism:anindustrialandurbansociety(Theword“technology”wascoinedin1829)cottongin(轧棉机)/sewingmachine/telegraph/principlesofassembly-linemassproductionhadbeenestablished/newlyperfectedsteamenginesChangefromarepublicofsmalllandholders,withoutsharpcontrastsofwealthtoalandofcontrastingrichesandpoverty.N.Y.becameAmerica’slargestcity.ThesuddeninfluxofimmigrationChangeofLifestylePursuitofsimplicity,utility,perfectionSimplerdressstylesUtopianco’mmunalsocietiesChurches:temperancecrusadestosavedrunkards1817,SocietyforthePreventionofPauperism1833-70,AmericanAnti-SlaverySocietyImprisonmentfordebtwasabolished.Feministmovement:1837,the1stcollege-levelinstitutionforwomen.Bythe1850s,thelevelofeducation&literacyhadrisensignificantly.Enactmentofcompulsoryschoolattendancelaws.Bymid-century,writer&magazinecontributorscouldmanagetoearnalivingwithapen.Alltheseproducedsomethingofaneconomicboomand,withitatremendoussenseofoptimismandhopeamongthepeople.Theoptimisticmoodofthenationandthespiritofthetimesseeminsomemeasureresponsibleforthespectacularoutburstofromanticfeelingofthattime.RiseofCulturalNationalismMusic:patrioticsongsadaptedEuropeanformstoAmericanlegendsandlovePainting:landscapepainterssearch“wildgrandeur”ofAmerica’snaturalscenesGardening:todisplayscenesofuntamednatureArchitecture:Gothicarches,towers,andornamentaldetailsbegantoreplacetheGreekandRomantemplestyle.EuropeanInfluenceAmongtheromanticwritersorpoets,theinfluenceofSirWalterScottwasparticularlypowerfulandenduring.Hewas,inaway,responsiblefortheromanticdescriptionoflandscapeinAmericanliterature.TheGothictradition.WeareabletofindthetraceofthistraditioninAllenPoe'sstoriesandpoetry.RobertBurnsandByronbothinspiredandspurredtheAmericanimaginationforlyricsofloveandpassionfornature.FeaturesofRomanticismTheliteraryworksofromanticismmostlyreflectedthefantasticandthrillingstoriestakingplace“longago”,or“faraway”asanescapefromthecivilizedsociety,andwererichinmysticcolor.Romanticismwasrebelliousinspirit,standinginreactionagainsttheneoclassicalspirit.Differentfromtheneoclassicalwhostressedformality,order