The Enlightenment Era

The Enlightenment Era1700-1800

Beginnings in Paris Roughly 1700 Spread to Germany, Netherlands, Great

Britain, Italy, and North America French is now the language of choice

Reason& Logic

Traditionsand

Superstitions

1. Empiricism2. Tolerance3. Rationalism4. Skepticism5. Deism

1. nostalgia for the past

2. Absolutism3. organized

religions4. Irrationalism5. emotionalism

What is “Enlightenment?

Centers of Enlightenment

The Philosophe►polymathic --– broad knowledge► autonomous –-- beholden to no one.► sociable –-- worked with other

philosophes.► moral obligation –-- improve society.

- find the most just and efficient “systems.” (economic, political, social)

The “Republic of Letters”►URBAN –-- gathering of elites in the

cities. (salons)► URBANE --– cosmopolitan, worldly

- music, art, literature, politics - read newspapers & the latest books.

► POLITENESS –-- proper behavior - self-governed.

Why Study the Enlightenment?1. Its values –-- autonomous & free use of one’s

own reason, toleration, progress &questioning authority.

2.Assumptions –-- perfectibility of all humans; reliability of the evidence of the senses & instruments of measurement.

3.Practices –-- technological treatment of nature.4. Institutions –-- scientific institutes, centralized

states, & technocratic experts.

The Importance of the Salon

►Literacy: - 80% for men; 60% women.► Books were expensive (one day’s

wages.)► Many readers for each book (20 : 1)

- novels, plays & other literature. - journals, memoirs, “private lives.” - philosophy, history, theology. - newspapers, political pamphlets.

“Must Read” Books of the Time

The Culture of the Enlightenment

The Rococo Style 1715-1774 A reaction to the Baroque Style

Purely ornamental Flowing curves Elegance Open, light Subject themes – nature, religion,

passionate emotions

A Drawing Room

Jean-Honore Fragonard “The Swing” 1761

“The Stolen Kiss” late 1780s

“Young Woman Reading” 1776

“The Pleasures of Life” Jean-Antoine Watteau 1718

“Morning Coffee” Francois Boucher 1739

“Marquis de Pompadour” 1756

Music and the Enlightenment Opera

Spreads throughout Europe in the 18th Century The “biggies”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Christoph Gluck Joseph Haydn

Court Composer Antonio Salieri – Austria Franz Joseph Haydn – England George Frideric Handel - Germany

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Enlightenment Values in: 1. Education

Only was taught music because it was his interest 2. Music

Light and airy Considered to be the “Musical Descartes” “The Marriage of Figaro”

3. Thought Played in the homes of the wealthy Played free outdoor concerts Traveled Europe Taught piano lessons