Art & Thought… Challenges to Art & Thought… Challenges to Confidence of Victorian IntellectConfidence of Victorian Intellect

I. Realism & NaturalismI. Realism & Naturalism

II. Examples in LiteratureII. Examples in Literature

III. ModernismIII. Modernism

IV. Modernism in Literature and ArtIV. Modernism in Literature and Art

V. Attack on Reason (Nietzsche & V. Attack on Reason (Nietzsche & Freud)Freud)

I. Realism & NaturalismI. Realism & Naturalism• A. Both rely on observation (like science… A. Both rely on observation (like science…

remember, this is “primacy of science” era)remember, this is “primacy of science” era)– RealismRealism = life like it REALLY IS (often dull, dark, = life like it REALLY IS (often dull, dark,

violent & lacking hope or direction… no answers violent & lacking hope or direction… no answers provided)provided)

– NaturalismNaturalism = proving human conditions directly = proving human conditions directly relate to social environment (Zola & the relate to social environment (Zola & the ‘experimental novel’… struggles due to nature of ‘experimental novel’… struggles due to nature of society)society)

– Both attacked middle class moralityBoth attacked middle class morality & idea of & idea of world w/only beauty (the anti-Romantics… possibly world w/only beauty (the anti-Romantics… possibly valid to call early “punks?”)valid to call early “punks?”)

II. Literature & DramaII. Literature & Drama

• A. Gustave A. Gustave FlaubertFlaubert: : Madame Bovary Madame Bovary (1857) (real)(1857) (real)– A woman goes looking for love, spiritual and physical, A woman goes looking for love, spiritual and physical,

that her Victorian husband doesn’t provide. Challenges that her Victorian husband doesn’t provide. Challenges the “Nick-at-Nite” perfection many claimed existed in the “Nick-at-Nite” perfection many claimed existed in Victorian family life. First realist novel in many ways.Victorian family life. First realist novel in many ways.

• BB. Fyodor . Fyodor DostoyevskiDostoyevski: : Crime and Punishment Crime and Punishment (1866) (Realist)(1866) (Realist)

– Man commits murder to obtain elderly woman’s savings. Man commits murder to obtain elderly woman’s savings. Isn’t caught by police at first, but Dostoyevski analyzes Isn’t caught by police at first, but Dostoyevski analyzes his his psychologypsychology of guiltof guilt… drives man crazy/insane that he … drives man crazy/insane that he is is notnot punished… serves as much worse punishment punished… serves as much worse punishment

Lit and Drama Continued• C. Emile Zola: C. Emile Zola: GerminalGerminal (1885) (Nat.) (1885) (Nat.)

– Story of child labor in coal mines… little hope of Story of child labor in coal mines… little hope of escape or future/better life for these children who escape or future/better life for these children who will likely die in their early teens, if lucky… pointed will likely die in their early teens, if lucky… pointed out “unseen” prolems often ignored by Victorian out “unseen” prolems often ignored by Victorian bourgeosiebourgeosie

• D. Henrik D. Henrik IbsenIbsen: : A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House (1879) (Nat.) (1879) (Nat.)– Hopeless life of middle class wife… it ain’t that Hopeless life of middle class wife… it ain’t that

pretty (nothing nice in “Cult of Domesticity”… wife pretty (nothing nice in “Cult of Domesticity”… wife “slams door” on hopeless life)“slams door” on hopeless life)

III. ModernismIII. Modernism• A. A. Rebellion againstRebellion against traditional in art & literature… traditional in art & literature…

break break all accepted rulesall accepted rules (goal is to “make art (goal is to “make art musical”… more melodic than methodic)musical”… more melodic than methodic)– Like realism/natrualism in that it’s Like realism/natrualism in that it’s anti-Victorian values… anti-Victorian values…

butbut focused on the “pretty” ( focused on the “pretty” (aestheticaesthetic) instead of social ) instead of social change as subject matterchange as subject matter

– Strong focus on inner self (feelings, imagination, etc.)Strong focus on inner self (feelings, imagination, etc.)

– Glorified irrational& unpredictable in world that used to Glorified irrational& unpredictable in world that used to prize rational & orderly (again, think what Victorian home prize rational & orderly (again, think what Victorian home was supposed to look like… NOT unpredictable)was supposed to look like… NOT unpredictable)

– Music without harmonic chords (Music without harmonic chords (Stravinsky’s Stravinsky’s Rite of SpringRite of Spring ballet… combined many styles and went against tradition… ballet… combined many styles and went against tradition… honestly caused riots in initial cities it played since it was so honestly caused riots in initial cities it played since it was so ‘revolutionary’)‘revolutionary’)

• Literature in different forms, not just Literature in different forms, not just beginning, middle and end beginning, middle and end – James JoyceJames Joyce, , UlyssesUlysses

• Story that tells everyday story of people’s lives in Story that tells everyday story of people’s lives in Joyce’s hometown of Joyce’s hometown of Dublin, IrelandDublin, Ireland… seems to be … seems to be pointless and is difficult to read due to his pointless and is difficult to read due to his erratic erratic stylestyle

– little beginning and end or flow to paragraphs… little beginning and end or flow to paragraphs…

– largely written in stream of conscious); hit on strong largely written in stream of conscious); hit on strong themes that challenged morality… themes that challenged morality…

– but was soon seen as a masterpiece (is supposed to be but was soon seen as a masterpiece (is supposed to be modern epic, modern epic,

– Joyce’s version of Homer’s ancient tales Joyce’s version of Homer’s ancient tales IliadIliad and and Odyssey Odyssey set amidst 20th century streets, pubs and houses) set amidst 20th century streets, pubs and houses)

– Virginia Woolf, Room of One’s Own– Early feminist critique of Victorian Cult of

Domesticity…

– says that only way for woman to be free and individual is if she possesses an escape from society…

– literally a room to one’s self

– Influential member of Bloomsbury Group, progressive British writers at turn of century

B. B. ArtArt• 1. Best Example of Modernism… no more 1. Best Example of Modernism… no more

reliance on Renaissance rules (perspective, reliance on Renaissance rules (perspective, proportion… largely first group to break with proportion… largely first group to break with traditions from the 15th/16th centuries)traditions from the 15th/16th centuries)

• 2. Evolving art:2. Evolving art:– ImpressionismImpressionism (1860-86): capture picture as eye (1860-86): capture picture as eye

sees it in fleeting instant… “1st sees it in fleeting instant… “1st impressionimpression” ” (natural landscapes popular subjects)(natural landscapes popular subjects)

– Post-ImpressionismPost-Impressionism (1880s-90s): strong use of bold (1880s-90s): strong use of bold lines (wide brush strokes) & bright colors (art as lines (wide brush strokes) & bright colors (art as ‘emotional experience, not a ‘photograph’)‘emotional experience, not a ‘photograph’)

– CubismCubism (1900s-10s): put 3-D image on flat canvas, (1900s-10s): put 3-D image on flat canvas, using objects from multiple viewpoints… lots of using objects from multiple viewpoints… lots of geometry, geometry, very very ModernistModernist

Cubism

• Pablo Picasso, Les demoiselles d’Avignon

• Interesting use of geometry and shape in painting… notice influence of African tribal art, as in masks. Shows Europe’s fascination with imperialism in Africa and Asia and newfound cultures introduced to the Continent through museums and anthropology.

IV. Nietzsche’s Revolt against ReasonIV. Nietzsche’s Revolt against Reason• A. Many late 19th century philosophers A. Many late 19th century philosophers

thought thought animal instinctanimal instinct, NOT reason (as , NOT reason (as had been thought by Enlightenment had been thought by Enlightenment philosophes), drove all human actionsphilosophes), drove all human actions

• B. Said inner drives & B. Said inner drives & animalistic hungeranimalistic hunger drove men, not rational thoughts drove men, not rational thoughts

• C. C. “God is dead.“God is dead.” Man liberated b/c ” Man liberated b/c Christianity bred weakness & followers Christianity bred weakness & followers

– (a way for the early slaves/plebians to govern the masters, like (a way for the early slaves/plebians to govern the masters, like democracy was in his day… protected the masses, but held democracy was in his day… protected the masses, but held back greatness of the truly powerful and individualistic)back greatness of the truly powerful and individualistic)

• D. D. Good & Evil don’t existGood & Evil don’t exist as absolute, global as absolute, global truths… man needs to shed bonds of traditional truths… man needs to shed bonds of traditional values to values to succeed in life (be true Individual… set succeed in life (be true Individual… set your own rules)your own rules)– Supermen (overmen) Supermen (overmen) who lived free from restrictions, who lived free from restrictions,

rules & codes of behavior… a ruthless warrior alone rules & codes of behavior… a ruthless warrior alone could save the timid European societycould save the timid European society

• E. Who listened/appreciated ideas?E. Who listened/appreciated ideas?– World War I enlisteesWorld War I enlistees (war would provide path to new, (war would provide path to new,

heroic age… shedding passive nature to find glory… heroic age… shedding passive nature to find glory… didn’t pan out just as hoped for them)didn’t pan out just as hoped for them)

– Hitler & NazisHitler & Nazis (Nietzsche would have hated, but they (Nietzsche would have hated, but they twisted his ideas for own ends… eliminate the weak, forge twisted his ideas for own ends… eliminate the weak, forge master race, etc.)master race, etc.)

V. Freud’s PsychoanalysisV. Freud’s Psychoanalysis• People are NOT naturally good (as philosophes said); they People are NOT naturally good (as philosophes said); they

are naturally reckless & aggressiveare naturally reckless & aggressive– DreamsDreams show these ‘immoral’ values; show these ‘immoral’ values; idid knows no good knows no good

or evil… when awake, mind holds down ‘bad thoughts’or evil… when awake, mind holds down ‘bad thoughts’– IdId = immoral inner desires (everything Dirty that goes on = immoral inner desires (everything Dirty that goes on

in human minds… to Freud, this could mean MANY in human minds… to Freud, this could mean MANY things)…Nietzsche?things)…Nietzsche?

– SuperegoSuperego= societal norms/values & expectations (the = societal norms/values & expectations (the ‘anti-‘anti-id, id, this is designed to act as “conscious” and this is designed to act as “conscious” and suppress the Id)suppress the Id)

– EgoEgo= middle ground… way people usually act… a = middle ground… way people usually act… a mediation between both sidesmediation between both sides

• Society w/too much Society w/too much idid was nasty place… need to find was nasty place… need to find median to keep people sane & civilmedian to keep people sane & civil

Continuing Freud• Father of “psychoanalysis”… talk to victims about

problems to work them out– Problems usually rooted in or came from repressed or hidden

sexual thoughts and/or childhood experience– Victorian society strongly frowned upon taboo subjects like

sex… Freud brought it to the forefront

• Significance…Freud dealt with inner workings of mind and found that man had uncontrollable thoughts that could affect people’s actions (dream of water… wake up thirsty). This really scared Victorian era, whose people largely believed they had full control over the world as a whole. To hear that they lacked control over something as close as their own brains/thoughts was disturbing. They talked of a chaste life of traditional, ultra-conservative social values, but Freud argued that they were largely driven by animalistic impulses based on sexual drive, a very un-Victorian idea.

VI. Herzl & ZionismVI. Herzl & Zionism• Anti-Semitism rising in Europe (started Anti-Semitism rising in Europe (started

heaviest in Russia, leading to movement to W heaviest in Russia, leading to movement to W Europe… then anti-Jewish feeling picks up Europe… then anti-Jewish feeling picks up there as well)there as well)

• 1896, 1896, Theodor HerzlTheodor Herzl starts starts Zionist Zionist movement movement (call for independent Jewish country… find (call for independent Jewish country… find land of Zion)land of Zion)

• Guarantee safety for Jews & end anti-semitismGuarantee safety for Jews & end anti-semitism

• Pre-cursor to modern day IsraelPre-cursor to modern day Israel

Leo XIII (1878-1903)• Liberalizing pope• Encyclical Rerum Novarum :

– Addressed the conditions of the working classes”– Of primary concern was the need for some amelioration

for "the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class.”

– It supported the rights of labor to form unions – Rejected communism and unrestricted capitalism– But affirmed the right to private property

Theory of Evolution

• Charles Darwin and Sir Alfred Wallace simultaneously developed the theory of evolution, but Darwin is famous, because he was the first to publish the idea.

• In his works, The Origin of the Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871), Darwin held that the existing animals and plants (including man) have evolved during millions of years from simpler forms of life.

Darwin

• Darwin also held that forms of life are constantly changing, and that new forms of life are coming into existence all of the time.

• He claimed that life was a constant struggle for existence, with only the strongest, most adaptable species surviving.– He called this process Natural Selection or the

Survival of the Fittest.

Effects of Darwinism• Darwin’s ideas were met with a storm of protest,

especially from religious circles.

• Social Darwinism: other people, such as Herbert Spencer, tried to apply Darwin’s evolutionary ideas to man and society.– Spencer stated that only the strongest, most fit, humans

should survive, and thus, he attacked social welfare measures, such as shielding the poorer (and inferior) people from starvation, etc.

– This justified the attitudes of many industrialists.

Other Effects of Darwinism

• Eugenics: (selective breeding of humans)• Imperialism: colonizers were inherently better and

had the right to exploit others.• Elitism: some Social Darwinists saw superior

people in all races & nationalities and urged the to band together so as to prevent their being submerged by the ignorant and inferior masses.– Nietzsche: superman – Extreme racial elitism later applied by the Nazi party

during the holocaust.

The New Physics

• Science by late 19th c. was a key pillar supporting Western society’s optimistic and rationalistic view of the world.

• The New Physics: Challenged long-held ideas and led to uncertainty

Max Planck

• Developed the basis for quantum physics

• Postulated matter and energy might be the same thing

• Shook foundations of Newtonian physics that saw atoms as stable, building blocks of nature. W/ a different kind of UNBREAKABLE ATOM for each element

Einstein

• 1905: Theory of relativity of time and space challenged Newtonian physics

• United apparently infinite universe with incredibly small, fast-moving subatomic world

• M and E are interchangeable and that even a particle of matter contains enormous levels of potential E.

Werner Heisenberg

• Heisenberg Principle of Uncertainty—ias it is impossible to know the position and speed of an individual electron, it is therefore impossible to predict its behavior.– Dynamics of an experiment alters the state of

the subject

Impact of the New Physics

• New Universe seemed strange and troubling

• Universe was now relative dependent on the observers frame of reference

• Universe was uncertain and undetermined, w/out stable building blocks

• Physics no longer provided easy, optimistic answers, or any answers for that matter.