A Summary

Well, this is the last post in the series regarding the history of humanities.  There may be future posts to come, that are strictly highlights of a certain artwork, or song, or book, but for now, this is it.  I thought for this post that I would show my favorites, and tell you why they're so great.

First, Chopin.

Lately, I have been playing through some Chopin etudes when I need a break, or just want to play the piano. His music is beautiful and it's natural.  Because it was from the Romantic Era, it was meant to be very emotional, and to me, it most certainly is.  I feel that if Chopin were alive, we would be able to understand one another perfectly, strictly based on the music we chose to play.  It's sort of an interesting thought, but I believe everyone has some form of self-expression, or a self-identifying feature that they completely enjoy and can become immersed in.  Chopin's music is mine.

Next is Monet.

I love his work because it doesn't tell me how to feel; it's an impression, and it just is.  It's natural and speaks of the person that Monet was.  Chopin's music encourages me to feel a certain way, while Monet's art just gives me an impression.  Then I can choose to interpret however I choose.  

Last is Wordsworth.  Wordsworth is one of the greats when it comes to poetry.  Though cryptic at times, to me it's fascinating to uncover the meaning in his poems and to know that I'll never know exactly what he meant; the poem will always be a mystery.  I think there is always something to be learned from reading and rereading poetry written by inspired men.  Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite poems: I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud.

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

As a last little note (a.k.a., a plug), Humanities may seem like the study of art history, music history, and written history, which on the surface, it is.  It is also a study about how people expressed themselves.  In essence, it is a study about ourselves.  I hope you can all come to enjoy, or at least appreciate, those works of the past that have done such a tremendous job of representing  the history of humankind.  We wouldn't be ourselves without them.

Toward the Modern Era: Art, Music, and Literature

The modern era began with Manet.  His painting, Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe, opened the way for revolutionary creativity.

He also painted this: A Bar at the Folies-Bergere.  

Then came Monet.  

Renoir.  

Seurat. 

van Gogh.  

Gaugin.  

Mary Cassatt.  

Munch.  

Cezanne.  

Picasso, and many others.

It seems that as time grows closer to our era, the artistic styles grow farther apart.  There is no "ism" to  classify modern art, other than modernism itself.

In the way of literature, Dostoyevsky wrote Crime and Punishment, Ibsen's A Doll's House was performed, Wilde published Salome, Kate Chopin composed The Awakening, and Freud created Interpretation of Dreams.  These literary works share the theme of societal development.  Again, the styles are different but the theme of modernism pervades all.

Music nearing the modern era gains the name Impressionism.  This is also what the works of artists such as Monet, were called: Impressionistic.  Debussy and Ravel were th two most well known musicians for this era.  However, once Shoenberg's music appeared, the modern era had been reached.  Shoenberg is man credited with developing atonal works.  They are difficult to listen to, but very modern in their sound.  Stravinsky, Cage, and Mahler were also musicians that are grouped in the moder era.  It is interesting to seek for the symbolism in their works.  Just as Mahler said, "A symphony should be like the world-it should contain everything."  Their works strive to do just that.

Toward the Modern Era: history, background, and philosophy

What do you think of when you hear the word 'modern'? In relation to humanities, I think of a time that is growing increasingly chaotic in it's representation of art, music, literature, and philosophy.  There are many reasons for this entropy, but I think the main reason is the growing sepration from God that humanity is choosing to experience.  Here is what Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra:

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

In conclusion, this is a time when the world grew increasingly violent, increasly pessimistic, and increasinly dinstant from God.

The Romantic Era: art, music and literature

Just because the title of this era is Romantic, doesn't mean that this era is about love.  It is, however, about passion.  Beethoven is probably the most well-known composer of this era, and his life was full of passion.  As a child, he grew up with his abusive father, who was also a musician, and realized his son's talent early on.  As he grew, it seems that Beethoven used his music as an escape from the trials in his life.  He was known to have a fierce temper and it only grew worse as he progressively lost his hearing.  His last symphony, Symphony #9, was composed after he was completely deaf.  It's been said that he even cut off the legs of his piano, to lay it on the ground so that he could feel the vibrations of the pitches. 

The six characteristics of the Romantic Era were these:
1. The Expression of Personal Feelings
2. Self-Analysis
3. Love of the Fantastic and Exotic
4. Interest in Nature
5. Nationalism and Political Commitment
6. Erotic Love and the Eternal Feminine.

Chopin and Liszt were also composers of this era known for their great virtuosity and sense of nationalism.  Schubert was known for his smaller works, of which there are more than six hundred.  Brahms, most famous for his lullably, uses melody to express Romantic ideals that are easy to listen to while Bruckner's music takes a little more patience.  Verdi and Wagner were known for their operas which are still performed worldwide.  (For a sample of romantic music, please press play on the playlist found at the bottom.)

Revolutionary literature at this time came in the form of poetry, Dickens, transcendentalists, Marx, and Goethe.  Suggestions for some light reading: Poetry by Byron, Shelley, Keats, or Wordsworth.  Any novel by Dickens.  Walden by Thoreau, Moby Dick by Melville, Les Miserables by Hugo, War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leaves of Grass by Whitman, and Faust by Goethe. 

The artists of this era were diverse in their styles, yet held on to the ideals of Romanticism.  Try to see if you can find all the six characteristics in the artworks below.

 Constable

Courbet

 

Daumier

Girodet-Trioson

Goya

Friedrich

Ingre

Turner

Delacroix

 David