The Enlightenment Movement - Essay Sample

The Enlightenment can be referred to as the intellectual movement that spanned the 17th and 18th centuries in America and Europe, and subsequently gave birth to the age of reason, not only for civilization in the West but also for all humanity. One of the famous definitions for Enlightenment was that given by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), a German philosopher: Enlightenment is mans emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use ones understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in the lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another. Sapere Aude! Have the courage to use your understanding! that is the motto of enlightenment (Kant 2010 [1784], p. 1). It was the first movement that pursued a global vision through the propagation of self-relying, entrepreneurial, cosmopolitans, and the basic ideal to aspire the creation of wealth, liberty, peace, for all mankind, as well as overcoming religious disputes. For this reason, the Enlightenment Movement marked the development of arts, literature, as well as philosophy. The emphasis on learning and reasoning meant that music and art became widespread, especially for the middle class, as well as other study areas, including philosophy, literature, and science. The Enlightenment movement was crucial in the application of reasoning and promoted religious tolerance, restored and promoted literature, arts, music, as well as the advent of philosophy.

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The Enlightenment Movement increased the quantity and diversity of artistic works. In essence, since the focus on reason over superstition, the movement cultivated the arts. In essence, the beginning of the 17th century the Baroque arts were beginning to be popular, as well as other arts, including rococo motifs (Cassirer, E2009). For instance, rococo paintings, gave an emphasis on refined pleasures and airy grace of the boudoir and salon, delicate porcelains and jewelry, wooden scenes, artful dances, as well as of women, and in particular women in the nude. The rococo painters specialized in artistic portraiture, showcasing fine aristocratic subjects who were beautified and idealized on canvas. For instance, Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) rococo paintings gave a blend between acute observation of nature with fantasy, thereby conveying luxury and ease of the French while courting (Cassirer, E2009). Watteau had various successors, including Francois Boucher (1703-70), as well as Italian painters, such as Giovanni Tiepolo (1696-1730) also displayed some influence from Rococo paints. Even though English paintings lacked Rococo frivolity, it affected the painting works of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) and Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) whose works gave an impression of flattering their aristocratic subjects (Cassirer, E2009).

Also, 18th Century neoclassicism in paintings became more difficult from the works highlighted in Louis XIVs era. For instance, Charles Le Brun (1619-1690) projected the balance and order in grandiose scenes from mythology or antiquity. The neoclassic approach and its inclusion in artistic works, such as paintings expressed criticism and dissatisfaction of the existing order by using realism and colossal allegory, such as Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), and his famous work named Death of Socrates, showcased his respect for Greco-Roman traditions (Israel, 2009). For instance, his Marie Antoinettes sketch en route to a guillotine presents one of his revolutionary sympathies. The works of William Hogarth (1697-1764) and Francisca Goya (1746-1764) highlights examples of social criticism and pure realism in the English and Spanish contexts respectively.

Neoclassicism was also expressed in sculpture and architecture. In the Enlightenment, architecture marked the return of intrinsic dignity of noble simplicity and ancient, tranquil loftiness. For instance, the Madeleine of Paris provided a copy of a Roman temple while the Brandenburg Date in Berlin was a monumental representation of the Acropolis in Athens entrance. Neoclassical sculptors Claude Michel (1738-1814) and Jean Houdon (1741-1828) achieved success in contemporary portraits, for example, the Portrait Voltaire (Cassirer, E2009). As such, the Enlightenment movement marked the beginning of appreciation to artistic works.

The movement also saw the incorporation of typical Baroque characteristics, including instrumental music, and in particular that of organ and the strings. Baroque medium, opera, provided opulence, as well as highly emotional content. The Enlightenment era saw the culmination of the development of religious music of Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), who was a prolific German choir director. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was best known for his dramatic and grand operas, cantatas, and oratorios, and he is best known for his religious work, Messiah (1742). Also, composers in the 18th Century turned from complex and heavy baroque styles to classical music of greater simplicity, clarity, formal models, and simpler structures (Cassirer, E2009). Folk-like melodies also gained prominence in the era, as well as the appearance of symphonies, chamber music, concertos, sonatas, and less interest, was given to mere accompaniment of religious services. However, more interest was given to technical perfection, orchestration, and melody, which is all summed up in works of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) who wrote over 600 works, which included 22 operas and 41 symphonies (Cassirer, E2009). Musicians depended on public transport, and concerts became more common, which helped supplement the incomes of the composers. Also, as the economy of the middle class expanded, there were more musicians, which also involved women on a social level. In essence, the Enlightenment saw the increase in the number of women involved in professional roles, such as singers, as well as their increased role in amateur performance, including in keyboard music (Israel, 2009). Also, music publishers commenced printing music that these music armatures could understand and play. In fact, the majority of works that were published were for chamber, keyboard, and keyboard and voice ensembles. Therefore, it can be derived that the Enlightenment era saw the increase in study of fine arts, as well as the accessibility of friendly published works, meant that many people were interested in discussing and reading music magazines, critical works, and reviews, which further suited the amateurs, and in effect, connoisseurs surfaced in the movement.

The Enlightenment also marked the age of reason in philosophy. However, the most fundamental concept in the Enlightenment era was faith in nature and the belief espoused in human progress. In fact, nature was seen as a complexity of interacting laws that govern the universe and the individual human being was part of it and designed to act in pure rationality. The movement saw a belief that if people were let to exercise their reason, they would be naturally good, and thus, they would act to further their happiness, as well as the happiness of others (Cassirer, E2009). Essentially, human happiness and righteousness required freedom from any needless restraints, such as those imposed by the church or state. The Enlightenment era uncompromised hostility towards religion and monarchies established provided a disdain for the past, and also provided an inclination that favors utopian reforms. In fact, most of the thinkers in the Enlightenment believed in the quest for human progress, mainly via education. It was thought that the society would emerge perfectly if individuals became free with the use of reason (Israel, 2009). The philosophers were mostly intellectuals and writers who analyzed the evils of the society, such as Immanuel Kant. For instance, Kant has highlighted the importance of morals and society from a social and political dimension and sought reforms by the principles of reason. A leading light of philosophers in the era includes Marquis de Montesquieu (1688-1755), who was a judicial official and nobleman. He criticized absolute monarchy and sought for democracy. One of his great works is The Spirit of Laws (1748), which expressed his political principles. The work advocated on checks and balances in the government, as well as uncompromised defense of liberties against the use of tyranny (Israel, 2009).

The Enlightenment Movement also significantly affected religion, which was in response to conflicts of religion, such as the Thirty Years War. Theologians in the era supported faith reforms to its non-confrontational roots, as well as limiting the controversy connected with religion and war or politics while also maintaining true faith in God (Cassirer, E2009). For instance, John Locke supported the idea of unprejudiced examination of the Word of God and determined the essence of Christianity to be the absolute belief in Christ. Enlightenment scholars also played an important role in curtailing the power of organized religion, which prevented religious wars. For instance, Spinoza removed politics from theology. Radical enlightenment also prompted the separation of state and church, which was credited to John Locke (Israel, 2009). According to Lockes principle of social contact, the government lacked the authority in influencing individual conscience, as this should be placed upon the rights of rational citizens (Israel, 2009).

As such, it can be concluded that the Enlightenment movement supported rational inquiry and reason in the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, with the right use of reason, problems in the society would be solved, and all would live contentedly and prosperously. For this reason, the Enlightenment movement was crucial in the application of reasoning and promoted religious tolerance, restored and promoted literature, arts, music, as well as the advent of philosophy.

References

Cassirer, E. (2009). The Enlightenment. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Israel, J. (2009). A Revolution of the Mind: Radical Enlightenment and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Democracy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Kant, I. (1784, 2010). An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment? New York, NY: Penguin.