Romanticism and Existentialism: History and Sociocultural Influences

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 (17891799)
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 Napoleons 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 managerI 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.

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Romanticism and

Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that

Whereas the Enlightenment emphasized reason and deduction,

Origins of the Romantic

The French Revolution (17891799)

During this time, republicanism replaced the absolute

Rousseau, often considered the first romanticist, was

The Social Contract questioned the idea that people

One of Romanticism's key ideas, which became a central

The Napoleon Empire

Following the Revolution, the French

In other words republicanism is dead!

Over the course of little more than a

Romantics had embraced the French Revolution in its

Revival of ancient myths, customs and traditions by

Romanticism and the Arts

Growing use of folk music

Romanticism and the Arts

Visual Arts and Lit

Focused on emotion and dreams

within the Romantic era, but was different from

Questions regarding the meaning of life and subjective

Existentialism emphasizes action, freedom, and decision as

Jean-Paul Sartre, emerging in the 20th century,

Values are subjective Something is valuable because the

Sigmund Freud was affected in many of his theories

"Anxiety occurs because of a threat to the values a

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