The Cultural Crisis of Europe

Key Questions n In what ways was the period, , one of crisis, challenge and change in the arts, sciences, ideas, and society? n How does the rise of organized sports, , relate to the other trends of the era?

The Impact of 1848 n a n a turn away away from Romanticism n new n new focus on realism in art, literature, ideas, science, politics n emphasis n emphasis on material reality instead of inner emotions and the supernatural

Liberal Achievements n constitutions (except Russia) n representative assemblies n free trade n suffrage expanded n ministerial responsibility n guarantees of rights n middle-class influence in government

“A Hollow Victory” n Freiler’s cryptic egg metaphor n the outward appearance of Liberalism.. n but the conditions have changed and sucked the yoke and substance out of classical Liberalism (J.S. Mill would not be pleased)

Realism and Materialism n Darwin n Darwin focuses on environment, genetics, struggle, and randomness n Marx’s n Marx’s economic determinism n Auguste n Auguste Comte’s stages of scientific development--positivism

Trends of the Era nsnsnsnspread of mass education and literacy nwnwnwnweakening of established churches nsnsnsnself-determination for nations ngngngngradual expansion of the suffrage

Mass Politics--What is it? n leaders appeal to public opinion--yellow journalism, nationalism, mass communication n demagoguery and popular hatreds (jingoism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism) n masses politicized n conflict increases

Western Europe n Britain—losing ground, minority groups, Liberal Party, strikes & violence = class conflict n France—3 rd Republic, role of church and army, Dreyfus, Boulanger = ideological divisions n Spain—loss of empire, rebellions, anarchism = status quo plods on

Central and Eastern Europe n Germany—industrialization n Germany—industrialization and its problems, dismissal of Bismarck, SPD = class conflict n Austria-Hungary—minority n Austria-Hungary—minority agitation, anti- Semitism, Vienna, waning Hapsburg days = national conflict n Italy—trasformismo, n Italy—trasformismo, corruption, violence = aggressive nationalism n Russia—indust., n Russia—indust., rev. groups, Rev—1905

Ideas and Culture n toward the irrational—Freud & Nietzsche n modern art—realism > impressionism > post-impressionism > expressionism and Cubism > abstraction n literature—extreme realism and biological determinism (Dickens, Flaubert, Zola) n music—atonality (Schoenberg and Stravinsky)

Challenges and Crises n assault n assault on Enlightenment values of progress, reason, optimism n la n la belle époque v. fin de siecle n emphasis n emphasis on violence, struggle, racism/Social Darwinism n THE n THE HEIGHT OF EUROPEAN POWER AND GETTING READY FOR…. BIG BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1914)