The emphasis today is on getting through the day and we forget to romanticize life. Why have human beings lost connections with nature and self?
Discussing literary critic John Ruskin's ideas of the pathetic fallacy could work when building an argument around the emotional connection between nature and self. He noticed that the people in art (including poetry) had disappeared. As in, people were less frequently being depicted in art during this time. And so instead, human emotions were being assigned to aspects of nature. More than this though, he proffered that it was the emotional state of the human reflected into the natural aspects of the artwork. You can find this practice in the poetry of Keats, Wordsworth, and most of the big six. (This is a very rough summary of his argument, of course, Ruskin's book Modern Painters would be the text to refer to for the far more eloquent expression of his idea). – Samantha Leersen4 years ago
Romanticism isn’t necessarily dead, but rather it’s bland and not as interesting anymore. – kyeferreira4 years ago
The contemporary man is rejecting romanticism objectively. Emerson, Whitman, Thoreau has not emphasized that there would be a day when we lose our connection with naturalism, but they have glorified romanticism enough to imply that. – metamorphicrock4 years ago
This is a particular kind of Romanticism called Naturalist Romanticism. This narrows this topic somewhat in its own right but whoever decides to write this may benefit from further narrowing. I would recommend looking at a particular nation’s naturalist literature of the Era. The richest would be the United States (c. 1820-1900), the United Kingdom (1798-1837), and France (1789-1914). – J.D. Jankowski4 years ago
I agree that it's not dead, but perhaps it's taken a back seat since now we explore things virtually. The pandemic especially has made this more prevalent. – Ndeu3 years ago
The pandemic certainly has changed how the natural world is thought of. As we spend less time in the world we’ve created for ourselves many people find themselves returning to the natural world. Popular social media apps such as Instagram and Tiktok bring a fresh perspective to time-honoured traditions such as foraging and gardening. It would definitely be interesting to look more closely at the at the effects of a pandemic in forcing people to reconnect with nature. – mielcheveux3 years ago
It can be argued that Romanticism has continued to persist past the 1800s and continued on one form or another. With this in mind, it would be interesting to see a comparison between Romanticism and Hippie culture. Is Hippie culture a continuation of Romanticism? What are the similarities and differences between these ideals? How does it show up in literature?
Romanticism was an 18th century movement that espoused imagination over rationality and the individual over the masses, but it also an existential state (i.e. a way of being) that some people continue to live in. In this way, it exists both in time and outside of time. As we plunge further and further into the grips of technology, and become ever more distant from nature and the reality of aloneness, are we losing the romantic sensibility? Are we too distracted to feel the sublime and the beautiful?
I do a lot of work in the romantic period and this is a question I have definitely thought about. I think that if we look at something like the movie "Her" it definitely gives one something to think about. Not only is it romantic in the common sense (genre), there are elements of romanticism and the gothic. I think this would make an awesome article – DClarke9 years ago
Great topic. In some ways you can access virtual nature, yes? Who hasn't relaxed to the sounds of the bamboo flute and a babbling stream? In some ways do you think technology can help us get in touch with beautiful spaces around the world? – Munjeera9 years ago
Great topic. Just as DClarke mentioned the movie "Her" I too immediately thought of said motion picture . I often feel we are currently at the brink of a great change in just about everything we know and think about the world. I am excited to see what will happen in the next few decades. – TK1029 years ago
For starters, I think you need to add a little clarity to your concept of beauty (the different kinds of beauty) and explain how it correlates to romanticism. In addition, there needs to be an explanation for how seeing or ignoring nature coincides with loneliness. Another question you might want to look into answering is whether or not more technology and virtual connection makes people feel more alone due to the different reality and awareness of how vast this world actually is? Lastly, I agree with you that exploring what your ultimate conclusions say about human nature would an interesting venture. – lgonsiorek9 years ago
Romanticism also addresses the role of the artist. Let me take Wordsworth as an example. He writes, “My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky”, - the rainbow is a symbol of hope, new beginning, simple and true nature; the promise given by God to the people that He will never flood the Earth again; rainbow is also symbol of imagination, something that is transcended, something majestic that holds mystery. Further poet says that his heart leaps through all stages of life – he feels same way as he young or old. Such a sensitiveness, sincere, true, and real emotions are contradict with materialism, and with reason itself – Wordsworth says “The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety”. The Great chain of beings is not just being challenged – it is being completely rejected: “Child is a father of the Man”. In addition, the Poet wants to feel the same way always, he is not being paralyzed by reason, his imagination goes in every direction – in past, in future, even in present, which is in the state of great joy, sincerity, and purity. All these themes are very romantic. Ultimately,the role of the poet focuses on the didactic nature. It is up to the individual to see the lesson and take it into the account or ignore it. Same approach may be used with any modern technologies, social media portals, and etc.: it is the individual choice either to notice "the sublime and the beautiful", or to ignore it. – kimletaon9 years ago
I am not sure whether Romanticism has necessarily to do with "the sublime and the beautiful." Nowadays artists have to deal with the modern and postmodern, which are more urgent matters. – T. Palomino2 years ago
