- "Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) is an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century."
This topic explores the critique of classicism, including the Romantic movement's rejection of classicism's emphasis on reason and rationality.
Literary Classicism: The history, definition, and principles of literary classicism, including its focus on reason, order, restraint, and adherence to classical forms.
The Enlightenment: The philosophical and cultural movement that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, which celebrated reason, science, and progress, and challenged traditional forms of authority.
Neoclassicism: The artistic and architectural movement that sought to revive the classical ideals of beauty, harmony, and proportion in the 18th century.
Romanticism: The literary, artistic, and cultural movement that followed classicism and rejected its emphasis on reason and order, instead emphasizing emotion, individualism, and the sublime.
The Sublime: The concept of an overwhelming and awe-inspiring beauty or power, often associated with nature or the divine, which became a key theme in literature and art during the Romantic era.
Postmodernism: The literary and cultural movement that emerged in the 20th century and rejected the grand narratives of modernism and classical thought, instead emphasizing fragmentation, irony, and pastiche.
Deconstruction: The philosophical and literary theory developed by Jacques Derrida that challenges traditional notions of meaning, truth, and representation, often by analyzing language and texts.
Feminist Criticism: The critical lens that examines literature and culture through the lens of gender and seeks to challenge patriarchal structures and assumptions.
Marxism: The political and economic theory that emphasizes the struggle between social classes and the need for collective action to achieve equality and justice.
Postcolonialism: The critical perspective that examines the effects of colonialism and imperialism on literature and culture, often highlighting issues of power, identity, and representation.
Queer Theory: The critical lens that examines literature and culture through the lens of sexuality and gender identity, often challenging normative assumptions and advocating for greater diversity and acceptance.
Structuralism: The philosophical and literary theory that emphasizes the underlying structures and systems that shape our understanding of reality and consciousness.
Psychoanalysis: The psychological theory developed by Sigmund Freud that examines the workings of the unconscious mind and seeks to understand the roots of human behavior and experience.
Reader-Response Theory: The critical perspective that emphasizes the role of the reader in interpreting and creating meaning from literature, often focusing on the emotional and psychological impact of reading.
Marxist critique of classicism: Marxist critique of classicism in literature examines how classical works reinforce and perpetuate the ruling class ideology and capitalist political and economic structures.
Feminist critique of classicism: Feminist critique of classicism examines the patriarchal biases and exclusion of women within classical literature and artistic canons, challenging the dominant male perspectives and advocating for the inclusion and empowerment of women's voices.
Post-colonial critique of classicism: The post-colonial critique of classicism in literature examines the ways in which colonial power dynamics have influenced and shaped the understanding and interpretation of classical literature and its canon.
Psychoanalytic critique of classicism: The psychoanalytic critique of classicism in literature examines the underlying psychological and subconscious elements present in classical works, offering insights into the characters and the societal norms represented.
Deconstructionist critique of classicism: The deconstructionist critique of classicism challenges traditional notions of order, hierarchy, and fixed meanings within literary texts, emphasizing the instability and contradictions inherent in classical works.
New historicist critique of classicism: The New historicist critique of classicism analyzes the historical and cultural contexts of classic texts to challenge the dominant power structures and ideologies within them.
Cultural critique of classicism: Cultural critique of classicism examines the biases, exclusions, and limitations of classical texts and aesthetics in relation to diverse cultural perspectives, challenging their perceived universalism and advocating for inclusivity and diversity in literary discourse.
Structuralist critique of classicism: The structuralist critique of classicism in literature explores the underlying systems and patterns of meaning within classical works, challenging the traditional view and emphasizing the role of language and social structures in shaping literary texts.
Postmodern critique of classicism: The postmodern critique of classicism in literature challenges the traditional norms and assumptions of classical literature by highlighting its exclusionary and oppressive tendencies, resulting in a more inclusive and diverse understanding of literary canons.
Formalist critique of classicism: The formalist critique of classicism in literature examines the artistic value and formal elements of classical works, focusing on their constricting adherence to established rules and conventions.
- "Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and nature, preferring the medieval to the classical."
- "Romanticism was partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, and the prevailing ideology of the Age of Enlightenment, especially the scientific rationalization of Nature."
- "It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature; it also had a major impact on historiography, education, chess, social sciences, and the natural sciences."
- "Romantic thinking influenced conservatism, liberalism, radicalism, and nationalism."
- "The movement emphasized intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience."
- "It granted a new importance to experiences of sympathy, awe, wonder, and terror."
- "Romantics stressed the nobility of folk art and ancient cultural practices, but also championed radical politics, unconventional behavior, and authentic spontaneity."
- "In contrast to the rationalism and classicism of the Enlightenment, Romanticism revived medievalism and juxtaposed a pastoral conception of a more 'authentic' European past with a highly critical view of recent social changes, including urbanization, brought about by the Industrial Revolution."
- "Many Romantic ideals were first articulated by German thinkers in the Sturm und Drang movement, which elevated intuition and emotion above Enlightenment rationalism."
- "The events and ideologies of the French Revolution were also direct influences on the movement; many early Romantics throughout Europe sympathized with the ideals and achievements of French revolutionaries."
- "Romanticism lionized the achievements of 'heroic' individuals – especially artists, who began to be represented as cultural leaders."
- "Romanticism also prioritized the artist's unique, individual imagination above the strictures of classical form."
- "In the second half of the 19th century, Realism emerged as a response to Romanticism, and was in some ways a reaction against it."
- "Romanticism suffered an overall decline during this period, as it was overshadowed by new cultural, social, and political movements, many of them hostile to the perceived illusions and preoccupations of the Romantics."
- "However, it has had a lasting impact on Western civilization."
- "Many 'Romantic', 'neo-Romantic', and 'post-Romantic' artists and thinkers created their most enduring works after the end of the Romantic Era as such."