Ode to Joy: Romanticism as Rebellion.

As we saw in classes, Romanticism was an artistic movement originated on the late 1700s, whose purpose was to oppose and rebel against the neo-classical notions of beauty in arts in general

Among many Romantic artists, there were different poets, painters and philosophers. Musicians where also part of this movement. One of them, and probably the msot important one, was the german genius of music, Ludwig van Beethoven who is very well known by his celebrated song, "Ode to Joy".

Before I continue with this entry, I ask you to watch this video analysis from the movie "The Pervert's Guide to Ideology" by Slovenian philosopher, Slavoj Žižek:

Now, according to Zizek, "Ode to Joy" would be one of the most outstanding critics against ideology or the imposed cultural spectrum. Let's remember our previous classes where we were describing Neo-Classical period: every view of beauty was related to logical thinking, also with sublime and sort of artificial features. At that time, fashion was made by long dresses, big wigs, etc. 

Now let's take a look to what Beethoven did: He made this breathtaking piece of art called "Ode to Joy", and as Zizek states, we all relate this Ninth Symphony with peace around the world, everybody are happy, "Mao Tse-Tung hugging with White supremacists, and so on". That part of the symphony was perfect for the aristocracy and/or burgeuoisiee 1700's to select it as a symbol of "the Big C"   culture, and use it as a useful tool for propaganda and maintain the status-quo, just as the examples you've seen on the video.

The truth is that Ludwig van was a really sad and solitary person since he suffered a lot in his childhood by his father's  brutal punishments. The message here is a paradox: How a solitary and deppresive person, with so many childhood traumas, could create this masterpiece dedicated to brotherhood and joy? Because, and as many Romantic artists, Beethoven was inspired by the beauty you only see once. There will be no utopia, peace will never be eternal. Is just an instant, a fragile moment were you can see perfection, but, and as a critic to the Neo-classical standars, you can't keep that perfection forever. Beauty is something that is not eternal. Beauty is something that you have to look by yourself, as Alex did in "A Clockwrok Orange" while he was walking through the music store. 

To conclude, we can say why Beethoven is a Romantic genius, since he undermined neo-classical fascination of eternal beauty from within.

For you to think:

Can you think of other ways in which Romantic artists played a role of rebels against the imposed "culture"?

Can you find a contrast between Ludwig van's vision of "peace and equality" with Whitman's philosophy of Democracy?

References:

• A brief guide to Romanticism. Retrieved September 5, 2014 from http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/brief-guide-romanticism
• Fiennes, S. (2012). The Pervert's Guide to Ideology. United Kingdom: P Guide Productions.
• Ludwig van Beethoven. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 12:00, Sep 06, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/ludwig-van-beethoven-9204862.