The Cultural Crisis of EuropeThe Cultural Crisis of Europe

1850-19141850-1914

Key QuestionsKey Questions

In what ways was the period, 1850-In what ways was the period, 1850-1914, one of crisis, challenge and 1914, one of crisis, challenge and change in the arts, sciences, ideas, and change in the arts, sciences, ideas, and society?society?

How does the rise of organized sports, How does the rise of organized sports, 1850-1914, relate to the other trends of 1850-1914, relate to the other trends of the era?the era?

The Impact of 1848The Impact of 1848

a turn a turn awayaway from Romanticism from Romanticism new focus on realism in art, literature, new focus on realism in art, literature,

ideas, science, politicsideas, science, politics emphasis on material reality instead of emphasis on material reality instead of

inner emotions and the supernaturalinner emotions and the supernatural

Liberal AchievementsLiberal Achievements

constitutions (except constitutions (except Russia)Russia)

representative representative assembliesassemblies

free tradefree trade suffrage expandedsuffrage expanded

ministerial ministerial responsibilityresponsibility

guarantees of rightsguarantees of rights middle-class middle-class

influence in influence in governmentgovernment

““A Hollow Victory”A Hollow Victory”

Freiler’s cryptic egg metaphorFreiler’s cryptic egg metaphor the outward appearance of Liberalism..the outward appearance of Liberalism.. but the conditions have changed and but the conditions have changed and

sucked the yoke and substance out of sucked the yoke and substance out of classical Liberalism (J.S. Mill would not classical Liberalism (J.S. Mill would not be pleased)be pleased)

Realism and MaterialismRealism and Materialism

Darwin focuses on environment, Darwin focuses on environment, genetics, struggle, and randomnessgenetics, struggle, and randomness

Marx’s economic determinismMarx’s economic determinism Auguste Comte’s stages of scientific Auguste Comte’s stages of scientific

development--positivismdevelopment--positivism

Trends of the EraTrends of the Era

spread of mass education and literacyspread of mass education and literacy weakening of established churchesweakening of established churches self-determination for nationsself-determination for nations gradual expansion of the suffragegradual expansion of the suffrage

Mass Politics--What is it?Mass Politics--What is it?

leaders appeal to public opinion--yellow leaders appeal to public opinion--yellow journalism, nationalism, mass journalism, nationalism, mass communicationcommunication

demagoguery and popular hatreds demagoguery and popular hatreds (jingoism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism)(jingoism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism)

masses politicized masses politicized conflict increasesconflict increases

Western EuropeWestern Europe

Britain—losing ground, minority groups, Britain—losing ground, minority groups, Liberal Party, strikes & violence = class Liberal Party, strikes & violence = class conflictconflict

France—3France—3rdrd Republic, role of church Republic, role of church and army, Dreyfus, Boulanger = and army, Dreyfus, Boulanger = ideological divisionsideological divisions

Spain—loss of empire, rebellions, Spain—loss of empire, rebellions, anarchism = status quo plods onanarchism = status quo plods on

Central and Eastern EuropeCentral and Eastern Europe

Germany—industrialization and its problems, Germany—industrialization and its problems, dismissal of Bismarck, SPD = class conflictdismissal of Bismarck, SPD = class conflict

Austria-Hungary—minority agitation, anti-Austria-Hungary—minority agitation, anti-Semitism, Vienna, waning Hapsburg days = Semitism, Vienna, waning Hapsburg days = national conflictnational conflict

Italy—Italy—trasformismotrasformismo, corruption, violence = , corruption, violence = aggressive nationalismaggressive nationalism

Russia—indust., rev. groups, Rev—1905Russia—indust., rev. groups, Rev—1905

Ideas and CultureIdeas and Culture

toward the irrational—Freud & Nietzschetoward the irrational—Freud & Nietzsche modern art—realism > impressionism > modern art—realism > impressionism >

post-impressionism > expressionism and post-impressionism > expressionism and Cubism > abstractionCubism > abstraction

literature—extreme realism and biological literature—extreme realism and biological determinism (Dickens, Flaubert, Zola)determinism (Dickens, Flaubert, Zola)

music—atonality (Schoenberg and music—atonality (Schoenberg and Stravinsky)Stravinsky)

Challenges and CrisesChallenges and Crises

assault on Enlightenment values of assault on Enlightenment values of progress, reason, optimismprogress, reason, optimism

la belle époque la belle époque v. v. fin de sieclefin de siecle emphasis on violence, struggle, emphasis on violence, struggle,

racism/Social Darwinismracism/Social Darwinism THE HEIGHT OF EUROPEAN POWER THE HEIGHT OF EUROPEAN POWER

AND GETTING READY FOR….AND GETTING READY FOR…. THE BIG BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1914)THE BIG BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1914)