Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Romanticism

My high school English teachers always described Romanticism as everything being ideal. According to the article, Romanticism focused more on “intuition, imagination, and feeling,” and came after Rationalism. Romantics were less concerned about everything being proven and factual and more concerned with how things felt, seemed, and should be. The idea of Romanticism gave followers a better understanding of themselves. It made followers believe they were special as individuals and gave them a better appreciation of life and the world.
                The article explains Romanticism as "an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement...embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature..." Romantic composers include figures such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin; all of which are renowned figures in classical music. When we think of classical music, these composers and some of their works are the first that come to mind because there is such an inherent beauty about them. As far as literature goes, some famous authors include Edgar Allen Poe and Washington Irving. Because of Romanticism, these authors could portray more emotion than ever before. The authors related their characters to everyday life and its struggles, appealing to a more general audience. Romanticism also changed the way artist’s painted. One famous painter from the Romantic era that I recognized was Francisco De Goya. I remember seeing one of his paintings in my art appreciation class and finding it very odd. The painting I am speaking of is Saturn Devouring His Son. This work is a bit disturbing, but De Goya was able to express himself without inhibitions thanks to the ideas of Romanticism. Romanticism also helped instill national pride, which is a common reflection in many artists’ paintings of the time.
                All in all, I think the Romantic era was a great time period. I believe it helped give birth to an entirely new and different style of thinking. Before, things were interpreted and thought of very literally, scientifically, and matter-of-factly. With Romanticism, things were more free-spirited which gave rise to self-expression. Some of the greatest works in literature, art, and music came from this time period because people were no longer limited in how they expressed themselves.

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