ash.p3.t6 Victorian Era Synthesis Question Response

The Victorian Era was a time period of restraint and reserved sentiments. It followed the mystical and somewhat ominous romantic period, and because of this took much inspiration from the larger-than-life and entrenched gothic themes from the era and carried them into the Victorian period. However, the Victorian period showcased a clash between classical art, largely associated with the new flux of restrained culture, and gothic art from the era past. This was quite the contrast, as romantic and gothic pieces and ideals focus on freedom and separation from society’s judgements, while classical art focuses much more on structure and archetypal, typical works and messages. This clash was enhanced by the rapid move toward urbanization and industrialization during this time. Enhanced affluence and movement into cities led to enhanced exposure to culture and the arts. As more common people became involved in the humanities, the line between romantic and victorian sensibilities blurred despite their clear differences. For example, romantic literature such as Frankenstein and the works of Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne all had a touch of the supernatural, and required emotion and willing suspension of disbelief to elevate their stories. Victorian era literature bridges the gap between conventional story lines and the touch of supernatural that the romantic era introduced. Authors such as Charles Dickens wrote storylines that the masses of ordinary, low and middle class individuals were finally able to indulge in, and their works tended to focus on real issues but still take on some out of the ordinary themes or plotlines. Victorian literature also had a strong moral thread, a fact that is directly tied to the influence of prudery and upper class morality in the era. Art forms also displayed the ties between Victorian and Romantic sensibilities. Romantic era art often displayed images of awesome forces of nature and supernatural struggles, although the humans depicted were incredibly realistically presented. For example, Frederic Edwin Church displayed a scene of mystical ancient ruins in his romantic piece, Sunrise in Siria. Victorian era paintings tended to be more focused on real issues (this influence came largely from industrialization) and accurate depictions of humans and their surroundings. But they always kept a touch of mystery and other-worldliness in their drawings, and that was a result of gothic ideals. A significant change in art in the victorian era was the availability to the common people. Culture became more readily accessible. For example, Hunt’s Victorian painting, “Light of the World” was engraved and reproduced so more people could enjoy it at a cheaper price.