HUM 223 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Anthropomorphism, Francisco Goya, Romantic Hero
8 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Expression of Romanticism
Romanticizing nature
•Naturalism as an elevation of nature
–Philosophy—humanity is centered on its relationship with nature
–Religion—unity of humanity and nature
•Nature as a subject of Romanticism
–Glorification of the power and beauty of nature
–“Eternal” nature vs. human fragility
Wordsmith and Nature
•Nature as a means of discovering the purity of humanity
•Nature as a means of encountering the divine
•“Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” as an ode to nature
–Overgrowth merits the lyrics rather than the ruined monastery
Turner and the power of nature
•J.M.W. Turner depicts nature as ever present
•Interior of Tintern Abbey (1794)
•What does this picture convey about the power of nature?
Constable and countryside
•John Constable’s paintings capture the beauty of life in the English countryside
•“Traditional” English culture in the age of the Industrial Revolution
Romanticizing political culture
•Personification of political struggles in the portrayal of the Romantic Hero
–Napoleon as embodying the spirit of the French Revolution
•Glorification of personal sacrifice for the sake of political ideals
–Ideal hero receives the burden so others may carry on
Prometheus-Divine hero for humanity
•Prometheus challenges the authority of Zeus
•Prometheus steals the secret of fire and gives it to humans
•Wrath of Zeus—defeats Prometheus and chains him to a rock
–Each day an eagle feeds on Prometheus’ liver
•Byron’s Prometheus as a glorification of the mythology
•“The Godlike crime was to be kind, to render with thy precepts less the sum of human
wretchedness, and strengthen Man with his own mind;”
Napoleon as romantic hero
•Remembering the glory and tragedy of Napoleon
•Pushkin’s Napoleon
•“How recently your eagles glowered, atop a disenfranchised world, and fallen sovereignties
cowered beneath the thunderbolts you hurled!”
Antoine-Jean Gros
•Propaganda artist for Napoleon
•Accompanied Napoleon on his military campaigns
•Paintings reflect a combination of Gros’ and Napoleon’s imagery
•Napoleon as First Consul (1804)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Romanticizing nature: naturalism as an elevation of nature. Philosophy humanity is centered on its relationship with nature. Religion unity of humanity and nature: nature as a subject of romanticism. Glorification of the power and beauty of nature. Wordsmith and nature: nature as a means of discovering the purity of humanity, nature as a means of encountering the divine, lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey as an ode to nature. Overgrowth merits the lyrics rather than the ruined monastery. Constable and countryside: john constable"s paintings capture the beauty of life in the english countryside, traditional english culture in the age of the industrial revolution. Romanticizing political culture: personification of political struggles in the portrayal of the romantic hero. Napoleon as embodying the spirit of the french revolution: glorification of personal sacrifice for the sake of political ideals. Ideal hero receives the burden so others may carry on.
