ipl-logo

Gauguin's Primitivism And Visual Art

1051 Words5 Pages

Primitivism was a branch of early European modernism that diffused through various fields of art including music and visual art; but more than that, it was a cultural mindset that stemmed from the ages old debate between simplicity and civilization. With the development of new technology during periods like the Enlightenment, European empires began a long period of exploration and expansive colonization that would have huge cultural implications for them as well as the nations they claimed. This period of colonial growth reached its peak in the late 19th century. Western artists who had long held with the conventions of Renaissance art, were gradually being exposed to the artistic traditions of cultures all around the world. The effects of this exposure can certainly be seen in the subject matter of 19th century Romanticism; fascination with all things “foreign” was a prevalent theme during this time, and artists spared no effort in romanticizing their exotic subject matter. For the European, these “primitive” cultures soon became a symbol of the authentic, simple paradise they had lost to civilization and its repressive conventions. The writings of philosophers …show more content…

He is literally forcing the audience to listen to music in a way they never have before, by rejecting the idea that music should be pleasing and comprehendible. By taking the listener out of a familiar musical context, it’s as if Stravinsky has taken them out of their civilized world and planted them in a more primitive one, where he hopes to elicit authentic emotional and spiritual response. This is a clear connection to the goals of Primitivism. And even the subject matter echoes the influences of non-European exposure; the song is a programmatic piece about a pagan ritual in

Show More
Related

  • The Characteristics Of Hyperboreans And The Ethiopians

    903 Words  | 4 Pages

    Now that the mythical Hyperboreans and the imaginary Ethiopians have been discussed noble savages that were known by the Greeks and Romans to have existed will be considered. Unlike the former idealised people, the land of the Arcadians was accessible to the Graeco-Roman world, yet the notion of these people as a noble savage living the life of a golden race people persists in literature. Lovejoy and Boas note that they are particularly interesting because they are geographically located in Greece; the ethnocentric space. Because of its close-proximity to the civilised world it is easier to create inversions of the ethnocentric viewpoint. They have many traits characteristic of the golden race: pastoral life, position as the first humans, and vegetarianism among them.

    Read More

  • Comparing Civilization And The Decline West By Oswald Spengler

    1291 Words  | 6 Pages

    This book was composed time before the World War I, here the author talks about eight “high cultures” of the past: Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Arabian, Mexican, focusing particularly on the Classical and

    Read More

  • 19th Century American Romanticism Art

    314 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 19th century, the church lost its power and its traditional theme and the rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization led to to the birth of “Isms”. Neoclassicism, a revival of Greek and Roman art; a direct reaction to the excessiveness of Baroque and Rococo styles. During the American and French Revolutions, the political atmosphere began to lean towards an Age of Reason and Enlightenment. With admiration for classical Roman and Greek art renewed after excavations of Herculaneum and Pompei, efforts for style to accompany philosophy caused an inevitable return to the "classics"(AML 68). Early works of artists such as Jean August Dominique Ingres and especially Jacques-Louis David encompassed the thematic elements associated with Neoclassicism.

    Read More

  • Beethoven Romanticism Essay

    1321 Words  | 6 Pages

    The transition from the Classical period to the era of Romanticism affected all aspects of creative and performing arts. Romanticism was a Western cultural movement that started in the early 1800s. The movement affected all forms of art including literature, visual art and music. To extend the tone color alternatives accessible, a few new instruments were added to the ensemble amid this period, including a lot of percussion instruments, similar to the triangle, and in addition the tuba, show harp, and celesta, a piano-like instrument that has a sound like that of a music box. With this rich instrumental sense of taste, authors could make extremely passionate music.

    Read More

  • What Is The Foreign Travels Of Sir John Mandeville

    910 Words  | 4 Pages

    In “The Foreign Travels of Sir John Mandeville,” John Mandeville provides an account of his travels by creating an imaginative geography of the people and places he visits. Through this imaginative geography the idea of the Western “self” is explored by highlighting the differences between “self,” and the “other” – the peoples of civilizations Mandeville visits. It is in this way that the Western identity is formed – it is not concerned with what Western civilization is but more, what it is not. This dichotomy between self and other is explored in Mandeville’s writing in several capacities, specifically: the civilized human and the savage animals, the pious Christians and the uncivilized pagans, and the good and the evil.

    Read More

  • A Single Story In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    654 Words  | 3 Pages

    All in all, the Europeans and the Umuofians both misunderstood their religions and cultures and only viewed them through a ‘single story’, but sometimes that ‘single story’ is proven

    Read More

  • Romanticism Dbq Analysis

    748 Words  | 3 Pages

    The romantic movement swept across Europe during the nineteenth century. Poets, artists, and musicians at this time encompassed romanticism’s characteristics into their works. These documents will help to gain a better understanding of the characteristics through analysis and explanation. Romanticism is significant due to its characteristics of emotional exuberance, unrestrained imagination, and spontaneity in both artistic and personal life. To begin with, the literary and artistic scenes during this period were filled with emotive individuals.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Orchestra Conductors By Igor Stravinsky

    617 Words  | 3 Pages

    This shows that he has observed the work and performance of a conductor, and views it as that they are made to be egotistical and in a way narcissistic. He continues to say that being the “titan of the podium” (23-24) is “very nearly the worst obstacle to genuine music-making” (24-25). With those few lines, Stravinsky clearly states that conductors are a huge obstacle to real music and that they are more of an inconvenience than a

    Read More

  • Much Ado About Nothing Cultural Analysis

    439 Words  | 2 Pages

    While the definition of culture has changed dramatically since the 16th century the ideals of social expectations as well as the influence of war have not as today many people still are influenced by these cultural definitions. In conclusion, “Much Ado About Nothing” ultimately defines the structure of human nature through painting a complex understanding of cultural influence that still compares greatly to the 21 century

    Read More

  • Tim Blanning The Romantic Revolution Summary

    820 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the introduction Blanning argues that, besides the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, the Romantic Revolution was as, if not more, important, and just as radical and extensive. He then sets out to prove his point in a very rational setting. In his introduction, Blanning writes that the only way one can hope to understand Romanticism is ‘to enter the world of the romantics by the routes they chose themselves.’ His argument is that in order to fully appreciate Romanticism, one must know, or at least experience, its many appearances in literature, art and music. The book is filled with references to the iconic paintings, operas and novels that were born during the Romantic era.

    Read More

  • Stravinsky Russian Period Analysis

    1583 Words  | 7 Pages

    Discuss the innovations in the music of Stravinsky’s ‘Russian Period’ with specific reference to The Rite of Spring and at least one other work. Igor Stravinsky, born in Russia 1882, is widely know as one of the most influential composer of the 20th century. Most notably, his composition The Rite of Spring is considered to be where his innovations in music come into perspective. I will discuss these innovations in detail using The Rite of Spring(The Rite) as a main reference and comparing it to some of his other works. Stravinsky’s compositions can be divided into three periods during his life; Russian Period, Neo-classicism and Post-war/Serialism.

    Read More

  • How Did Colonialism Affect African Culture

    1753 Words  | 8 Pages

    Moreover, Western civilization became the ideal civilization, and became way superior to African “civilization.” As a consequence, African tradition became perceived as primitive, outmoded, and sadly not welcomed by the rest of the world. Unfortunately, a lot of Africans experienced a trend of a dying out culture. (2) It can be implied that even the Africans’ self-perception dropped because the only lifestyle they knew was suddenly taken away from them and they were taught that it was substandard. Therefore, the indigenous inhabitants of the colonies, the Africans, had to adapt to a new, “superlative” culture and view it as more sophisticated than theirs.

    Read More

  • Postmodern Theatre Vs Modern Theatre

    2357 Words  | 10 Pages

    1. Introduction Writing about a living phenomenon is a complicated effort especially when realizing it is a dynamic, changeable and heterogeneous structure. This happens when we try to study contemporary practices today, in postmodern era, which is definitely a special expression of specific moment. If Modernism, among others, tried to enforce authority, postmodernism brought anarchy. Many things found today in postmodernism can be traced back, transformed of course, in the main modern flows; dadaism, futurism, surrealism.

    Read More

  • The Young Martyr Analysis

    865 Words  | 4 Pages

    The French Revolution began to abolish privileged, high class society as people rose up against the authority and monarchy in France. As a result of this political upheaval almost all of Europe was shaken by social changes, revolutions, and wars (“French Revolution”). Artists and artwork began to reflect this new sense of change and nationalism with a movement called Neoclassicism. Neoclassicism is characterized by strong drawing, rationality, and better moral ideology. Artists began to no longer show their brush strokes and paint more about nationalism and patriotism in society.

    Read More

  • American Artist In The 1900's

    278 Words  | 2 Pages

    Art took on dramatic changes in Europe and America, actually throughout the world in the 1900's. Throughout the process, American Artist started to become key players in the art world. There was a new rebellious attitude, resulting in wide-scale and far-reaching changes in artistic life, art, politics, and science. The rejection of the styles of the past; changing from the Realism to the next stage, which was referred to as the Modern Art. Arguably the most denoting aspect of the theme of modernism is the rejection of tradition.

    Read More

More about Gauguin's Primitivism And Visual Art

Open Document