CLASSIC ENGLISH LITERATURE
Classic English literature
The twentieth century ushered an era of myriad changes in the life of humanity. The spread of the industrial revolution boosted by technological advancements had phenomenal impacts on the social, economic, and political life in Europe, and the world. However, its impact on society is inevitable. During this period, modernization set the pace of transformation of society into a new form of civilization characterized by urbanization and high levels of technological development.
Scholars in various fields recorded this happening, and their debates rage on as society incessantly undergoes astonishing changes. Europe is appreciated for the nurturing of classical English literature where many scholars contributed literary works such as poems, essays, art, and poetry. These works of antiquity are appreciated in modern society for their depiction of civilization of their time, and their connection to the endless quest for industrialization and modernization.
It is apparent that art has immensely contributed to various areas in society, but it is difficult to assign any piece of art roles that it has played without considering the context of the piece of art. The contemporary person must be able to relate the artist’s idea at the time of creating the piece and their individual thoughts about the piece. Therefore, a piece of art may be created to perform a physical function in the society where it performs a service while other forms of art address characteristics of collective behavior. Other artists may create pieces of art for self gratification and expression, and to influence its readers of issues in society.
The Metamorphosis is one of the invaluable works of art that portrayed the ancient Europe in the midst of transformation into an influential industrial powerhouse alongside countries like America. The quote “Was he an animal,” he notes, “that music had such an effect upon him. He felt as if the way were opening before him to the unknown nourishment he craved” describes a confusing thought that Gregor has as he listens to Crete playing her violin. He is in a state of transformation into an insect even though his human emotions are still active. He is moved by the music because he has not heard his sister play for a long time, and in his current condition, he will seldom hear her play. Gregory is in a state of dilemma between his animal instincts and his human emotions. Even though his instincts are attracted to an unknown desire, his human actions are dictated by his emotions. The society has shaped his attitude and assigned him duties and responsibilities. He has to take care of the huge family and save money for his sister to go to school. He has a family that needs to be fed and sustained. This stage of transformation reflects the mystic allusion that animals are influenced by music.
This phrase means that Gregor begins to recapture his unknown nourishment but the present world declines to nurture it. Many scholars have written pieces of work that describe the modernization process. These contributions disagree on the scope of modernization because there are certain practices that cannot be considered primordial. These scholars were keen observers of the various ages and acted as interpreters of different eras.
Firstly, scholars argued that it is prudent to describe modernity according to the physical world. It was difficult for people to comprehend abstract pieces of art that failed to depict the present life without creation of fantasies. This was influenced by the rise of realism after the fall of the Roman Empire. Pieces of art that depicted idealized scenes and figures were inspired by the past, and it was not right to refer people to the past because many changes had occurred. The present situation in the nineteenth century was characterized by the spread of capitalism, and many scholars preferred realism to represent the large divide between members of society. This identified the social function of art that represents collective behavior. The works of art reflect the social condition of society that led to division into classes.
Secondly, other scholars believed in the use of art in predicting future occurrences. This was a period of increased industrial revolution in Europe particularly Italy. Many appreciated the modern changes as a result of rapid advances in technology that led to urbanization, mechanization, and industrialization. As a result, they expressed their infatuations in every form of art that ranged from paintings to films and literature. This movement represented the political function that art plays in the modern society. The adherents of the movement grew, and its mandate extended to enforcement of its practices. This promoted violence, and youth as the main perpetrators, characterized the fascist movement in Italy.
Thirdly, a piece of art can perform a function of self expression and gratification. This is a situation where a piece of art as Kant argument represents finality without an end from pieces which appeal to a mass audience, and are created intentionally as such. These scholars expose the debate about the scope of modernity. The scope of modernity was influenced by an individual's conception of life. According to Baudelaire, modernity was an ethical task of self expression, and there was no period in life that characterized modernity. As a result the duty of self cultivation was a feature of modernity and a difficult ideal that individuals who sought modernity faced. His view was supported by Jameson who insisted that the creation of art should influence by the desire for self expression in determining the scope of modernity.
However, Marinetti rejected the past works of art, and insisted that artwork should consider the projection of the future of life. The past conceptions of art gave a still representation of life, and would cause a relapse to past practices. The is evident in The Metamophorsis where Gregor’s nature is rejected by the modern society that rapidly changing due to industrialization. However, according to Baudelaire, his behavior should not be considered by society as immoral because he is seeking to express himself in his condition, and his actions cannot be disregarded on the basis of past behavours. They argue we are living in a postmodern world because the society is in a different economic and cultural state following the industrial revolution. However, this meaning is subjective because many people disagree on various theories of modernization.
Many pieces of art in the industrialization era portrayed similar messages due to the widespread division of society into classes across Europe. This led to widespread dissent for the bourgeois class. Many artists were influenced to express their dissent in works of arts. These were meant to communicate messages that would change societal attitudes towards this oppressive class. This movement was common in architecture and influenced by the academies of art based in Europe.
The works of other scholars give us more insight into the nature of art in various societies that existed before the industrial revolution, and the stratified classes that characterized the modern society. Scholars concur that the appreciation of art and its contribution in modern life has waned since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Myriad changes experienced in transport and communication and technology have increased contacts between people that negatively affected the value of artistic materials.
According to Hobbes, the physical operation of the human body resembled a machine because it was composed of several mechanical processes occurring within the human system. Humans led a solitary life, were aggressive, and operated out of self interest. The medieval art resembled the materialistic view of the world, and because of this, it was readily accepted by people. He argued that events in the physical environment are sufficient to explain its existence. Therefore, human art was influenced by the rational features of the material world. These characteristics generated ideas in the brains of humans who thought of them, thus inspired their work in the medieval periods. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor resembles a man in this state of nature. However, he is denied a chance to nurture his identity because he is part of a society, which is identified by unique traditions and practices in the modern world.
However, Hobbes insists that the transition from medieval to modern thinking necessitated the formation of a government because individuals were not contented with their sources of livelihood. This society was guided by rules and regulations, which followed a tradition. However, the prominence of self interest among individuals in society led to the division of society into classes. This division was between sovereigns and subjects. This led to the rise of social ills in the relations between the bourgeoisie and the proletariats. Much of the artistic work of this time portrayed the class struggle and addressed a collective life of people in society. Gregor’s personality cannot be allowed by his family because they are part of a larger society that follows traditions and practices. Civilization in the modern world seldom encourages such existence because it takes us back to the past.
Other scholars insisted on the critical examination of nature, culture, and art. They insisted that art incorporated internal logic that was comprehensible through language. They focused on the language existing between an idea and its subject. This made it easier to redefine art in the medieval times because it was not limited to a given medium. This is a period where art was dominated by ideas formed in the mind of artists, and not the images in the physical world. The object was not for self expression of gratification but could be manipulated to demonstrate other properties of art that were analyzed through logic. Art work was not intended for its intrinsic properties but represented an analytic reevaluation of an object.
In his book Social Contract, Rousseau notes the importance of human freedom towards self development. He describes a state of nature that existed in the primordial ages where man had desirable freedom. This is because he was not limited by a repressive state or fellow men, and he was not bound by any materialistic desires. The works of art were highly regarded and represented the nature of man without the restrictions imposed by the state.
The increased interdependence between individuals in attaining their needs necessitated the formation of the state in modern society. However, the state has failed to guarantee the rights and freedoms of its society and has evolved to become an instrument of exploitation and domination. This is due to an inherent need to perpetuate self interest that sideline societal interest. Modern art was appreciated in highlighting the social ills that dominated relations among individual in society.
Lastly, other theories emphasized the status and value of art by providing a basis of the human thought process. According to Freud, human behavior was influenced by unconscious thought process in the human mind. In the human mind harbors concealed thoughts that form a large proportion of the thought process. These thoughts influence human behavior; therefore, it is impossible for artistic work to reflect only the material things in the physical world. Consequently, art considers its object on its capability of transforming into anything whose existence is not restricted to the physical world. However, modernization encourages materialism because it declines an individual’s capacity of thought processes beyond the physical world.
The transformation of the human race over the centuries is attributed to the rapid growth and development experiences due to technological advances. Rapid industrial revolution of the nineteenth century ushered several changes that had social, economic, and political impact on society. However, it is apparent that art is an outstanding way of conveying the forms of organization and cultures that characterized society before and after the industrial revolution.
Artwork provided acted as a mouthpiece for self expression. Expression led to the gratification of subjective notions about society. People in society faced many problems and were worsened by class divisions. This led to sufferings, and art was a medium of conveying societal ills that people resented. It was influential in changing the attitudes of society because it communicated messages that required action by the subjects in society. Moreover, some art movements culminated to political movements that were instituted in many governments as ideologies.
However, the relevance of artistic work in the modern society is declining because of accelerated rates of technological advancement that has led to little appreciation of artwork. Many scholars have debated the relevance of art in the contemporary world and insisted its irrelevance due to the difference in time. Most artistic work reflects the past, which has been overtaken by events. Other scholars insist on the relevance by criticizing the scope of modernity. They underscore that modernity is a continuous process, and every piece of art is relevant in explaining the events of its time. Moreover, it is through artwork that humanity traces the sources its traditions and practices. In conclusion, scholars argue that modern society is characterized by the pursuit of self interest and limited by the events in the physical world. Therefore, the modern society cannot satisfy the needs of individuals who formed it.
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