Romanticism and Existentialism

History and Sociocultural Influences

By Lisa L. Hazelwood

What is Romanticism? Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual

movement that originated in late 18th century Western Europe.

A revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Enlightenment period thought to be influenced by the ideologies and events of the French Revolution.

Enlightenment v. Romanticism Whereas the Enlightenment emphasized reason and

deduction, Romanticism focused on imagination and feeling – knowledge through intuition.

Origins of the Romantic Movement The French Revolution (1789–1799)

During this time, republicanism replaced the absolute monarchy in France, and the country's Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo a radical restructuring.

Socialism emerged – rejection of the ruling classes and a belief that people can govern themselves

Rousseau, often considered the first romanticist, was strongly influential in the socialist movement and growth of nationalism. The Social Contract questioned the idea that

people need government and charged that the people should make the laws directly, rather than rulers

Romantic Nationalism One of Romanticism's key ideas, which

became a central theme of Romantic art and political philosophy.

Proposed that the state derives its political legitimacy from the unity of those it governs, so that each nation had a unique individual quality that would be expressed in laws, customs, language, logic, and the arts.

Led to the development of national languages, folklore, and a focus on local customs and traditions.

The Napoleon Empire Following the Revolution, the French

Consulate was formed to rule the new Republic.

In 1799, Napoleon, one of the three Consuls, drafted a constitution that made him First Consul and essentially dictator.

He eventually crowned himself Emperor in 1804.

In other words… republicanism is dead! Over the course of little more than a

decade, the armies of France under his command fought almost every European power and acquired control of most of the western and central mainland of Europe.

Romantics Response to Napoleon Romantics had embraced the French Revolution

in its beginnings, then found themselves fighting the counter-Revolution in Napoleon’s dictatorship.

Romantics used nationalism to resist against the Napoleon Empire.

Romantic nationalism helped areas conquered by Napoleon that lost their independence to maintain a national identity. Revival of ancient myths, customs and traditions by

Romanticist poets and painters helped to distinguish their indigenous cultures from those of the dominant nations.

Romanticism and the Arts Music

Growing use of folk music

Heightened contrasts and emotions

Music that tells a story Conveys a sense of

individuality and freedom

Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Wagner

Romanticism and the Arts Visual Arts and Lit

Focused on emotion and dreams (vs. rationalism) in their works

Emergence of folk epics, legends, and fairy tales.

The concept of a national epic emerged – an extensively mythologized, legendary work of poetry of defining importance to a certain nation (e.g., Beowulf).

Goethe, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne

Existentialism v. Romanticism Existentialism was a philosophical movement that

occurred within the Romantic era, but was different from Romanticism.

They can both be considered a resistance to rationalism and reasoning. They both value subjectivity over objectivity.

However, Romanticism focused on the whole of human nature and the irrational components of human beings.

Existentialism looked a little deeper than human nature, to the very meaning of our existence. Questions regarding the meaning of life and subjective

experience were seen as more important than all other scientific and philosophical pursuits.

Existentialism – Who am I? Existentialism emphasizes action, freedom, and decision as

fundamental to human existence. In the 19th century, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, the first

philosophers considered fundamental to the existentialist movement, realized that human nature and human identity vary depending on what values and beliefs humans hold.

Idea that human beings are have no choice to come into existence. Being thrown into existence is the basis for any other thoughts or ideas that humans have or definitions of themselves that they create.

How did I get into the world? Why was I not asked about it, why was I not informed of the rules and regulations but just thrust into the ranks as if I had been bought by a peddling shanghaier of human beings? How did I get involved in this big enterprise called actuality? Why should I be involved? Isn't it a matter of choice? And if I am compelled to be involved, where is the manager—I have something to say about this. Is there no manager? To whom shall I make my complaint? – Kierkegaard

Sartrean Existentialism Jean-Paul Sartre, emerging in the 20th

century, is perhaps the most well-known existentialist and is one of the few to have accepted being called an "existentialist".

Existence precedes essence – This is a reversal of the Aristotlean premise that essence precedes existence, where man is created to fulfill some goal. Sartrean existentialism argues man exists without purpose, finds himself in the world and defines the meaning of his existence.

Identities are constructed by the individual consciousness only – Sartre argues that no one else, including God if he existed, can choose your "identity" for you

Sartrean Existentialism Values are subjective – Something is valuable because

the individual consciousness chooses to value it. There are no objective standards on which to base values.

Responsibility for choices – The individual consciousness is responsible for all the choices he/she makes, regardless of the consequences. Sartre claims that to deny the responsibility is to be in “bad faith”. Here, existentialists draw on psychological concepts to investigate feelings such as angst and despair that arise by being in “bad faith”.

Condemned to be free – Because our actions and choices are ours and ours alone, we are condemned to be responsible for our free choices.

Existentialism and Psychology Sigmund Freud was affected in many of his

theories by Nietzsche. Existential psychology –initiated by Rollo

May and Carl Rogers, both of whom were influenced by Kierkegaard.

Anxiety's importance in existentialism makes it a popular topic in psychotherapy.

"Anxiety occurs because of a threat to the values a person identifies with his existence as a self...most anxiety comes from a threat to social, emotional and moral values the person identifies with himself.” – May

Therapists using an existential approach believe that the patient can harness his or her anxiety and use it constructively. Instead of suppressing anxiety, patients are advised to use it as grounds for change. By embracing anxiety as inevitable, a person can use it to achieve his or her full potential in life.