Romanticism of showing art

Chalk Cliffs on Rügen (1818), Caspar David Friedrich

"Romanticism in art, as in literature, followed the pendulum swing away from the optimistic Enlightenment idea of human dominion over nature and the credo that Reason would ultimately reign supreme." (http://traumwerk.stanford.edu/philolog/2006/04/goya_friedrich_and_romanticism_1.html)

Romanticism better the vast wildernesses of an ordinary and changeable nature with its unlimited forests, high clouds and loud waterfalls from icy giant peaks.

Frankenstein Vs. Romanticism

Romanticism & frankenstein

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The Emotions in Frankenstein is an accurate way of expressing Romanticism.
It usually happens when Victor Frankenstein’s interacts with human life and nature.
some examples of Romanticism and Frankenstein unite:
1)When he becomes interested by the “secrets of life”.
2)When he creates a need to attain the power God has of creating new life.
3)When he cuts himself off from the world and eventually commits himself entirely to an animalistic obsession.

Shelley reflects the idea of Romanticism by connecting nature and mankind.
“Storms come to complement feelings of wrath and terror; the sun breaks through during the peaceful interludes”
“When the sun had recovered its warmth, and the earth again began to look green, . . . I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure . . . and I even raised my humid eyes with thankfulness towards the blessed sun which bestowed such joy upon me”
At the start when they are being trapped by ice and surrounded by fog.
Brings things to life on a rainy night in November.

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/MrRyanSIS/romanticism-frankenstein

Science and how it connects with Frankenstein

As we can see in the book, Victor Frankenstein has vast knowledge in science, and in the field of anatomy. He is able to construct the creature using various body parts that he collected. He knew how muscle and arteries worked. Victor Frankenstein professor also mention about the scientist who discovered blood circulation and scientist who used microscopes to make miracle happens. His professor quotes “They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe” During the 18th century William Harvey figured out how blood circulate throughout the body. The book mention the scientist that made major contribution in the field of science and is able to show various medical improvements that were made during this time. We can see that Victor Frankenstein interested in science motivates him to come up with new experiment and making new discoveries. Scientist during the 18th century also wanted to make new scientific discoveries, so that science can expand even more.

"The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire"

The British Empire and the English Slave Trade 

The dominion of the British Empire took place during the 16th and the late 17th century. This was one of the most largest empires recorded in history. The area that was conquered was made up of 20% of the worlds terrain during that time. The Empire was composed of various countries such as Barbados, Australia, Ghana, Guyana, India and many more. 

Slaves of the British Empire mostly consisted of Africans imported from various areas of Africa. During this time, the British sought to establish sugarcane plantations on the location of their colonized Caribbean Islands. Most of the slaves they had kidnapped, were brought to the Caribbean during the Royal African Company (1672); basically a monopoly for the English slave trade. There were no blacks located in the Caribbean before this time; but but 1680 the rate of Africans residing in the Caribbean reached 70,000. Unfortunately, slaves were used as a kind of currency; traded for the purchase sugar and other foreign goods. Of course these trades only benefited the slave traders..

-- Deborah A.

(Source)

Improvements in Medical Practice during the 17th and 18th century

There were major improvement towards medical practice during the 17th and 18th centuries. Important medical researchers such as William Harvey, and Anton van Leeu made amazing discoveries. William Harvey figured out how blood circulated throughout the body. Anton Van leeuwenhoek made use of the microscope and made discoveries on red blood  cells, bacteria and protozoa. One of the medical researcher who invented vaccination was Edward Jenner after discovering the relationship between cowpox and smallpox.Thomas Sydenham made improvements in clinical practice by developing treatment procedure which included careful, detailed observation and medical records. Another major medical discoveries was vitamins. Digitalis was another new drug that was developed. There were two science field created during this time Pathologic Anatomy and Histology. The person who created the field of histology was Marie Francois Bichat.  Giovanni B Margagni was the founder of Pathologic Anatomy. (Source:Oracle Thinkquest)

Natural Philosophy

Natural philosophy refers to the study of nature and the physical universe. It is also said to be the origins of modernity. It focused on studying and observing all aspects of nature and the function and the structure of natural objects. Some of the well-known natural philosophers and natural scientists are Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Galileo Galilei, Robert Boyle and John Herschel. There is no doubt that natural philosophy contributed to the advancement of modern science and technology.

Here are some quotes from the natural philosophers and scientists.

To the natural philosopher there is no natural object unimportant or trifling… a soap bubble… an apple… a pebble… A mind that has once imbibed a taste for scientific enquiry has within itself an inexhaustible source of pure and exciting contemplations. Where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceived neither novelty nor beauty, he walks in the midst of wonders.  
John Herschel, A Preliminary Discourse io the Study of Natural Philosophy

Someone asked me – what’s the use of a balloon? I replied – what’s the use of a newborn baby?

Benjamin Franklin, during the launch of the first ‘true’ hydrogen balloon by Dr Alexandre Charles

(Source: Benjamin Franklin )

We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.  

Isaac Newton, Principia: The system of the world

 (Source: Natural Philosopher)

(Overall sources: Natural Philosophy)



The Age of the Enlightenment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vkx7hNXE3Y
The idea of the Enlightenment is the idea of the searching a reason, the idea of thinking about ourselves, the abuse of religious idea, and the challenge against authorities. Many Enlightenment thinkers spoke about their new ideas. As an example, the key Enlightenment thikers are Issac Newton, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Jean-Jacque Rousseau. Their ideas gives impact to people in the era. People followed these idea occured a lot of the big events in the world history; such as Imperialism, Industrial Revolution, the Declaration of the Independence, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and French Revolution.