Contextualization

Introduction to Romanticism

Romanticism was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. It was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the scientific rationalization of nature. Romanticism championed the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary and the transcendental.

Romanticism is characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of all the past and the nature, preferring the medieval rather than the classical. It also marked a shift from a focus on reason to a focus on imagination, intuition, and inner life.

Relevance of Romanticism

While Romanticism as a movement may have ended, its influence and effects can still be seen and felt in our society today. Romanticism's focus on individualism and the importance of personal experience and emotion can be seen in the way we value and express our own thoughts, feelings, and identity.

In the realm of arts and literature, many of the themes, styles, and techniques that were popular during the Romantic period are still used and admired today. The Romantic emphasis on the beauty of nature, the power of imagination, and the importance of personal expression and experience can be seen in a wide range of works, from paintings and poems to novels and films.

Resources

1. Romanticism in Literature
2. Romanticism in Art
3. Romantic Music
4. Romantic Philosophy
5. The Romantic Era

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Romanticism: Journey into the Sublime"

Objective of the Project

The main objective of this project is to allow students to engage with the themes and key concepts of Romanticism in an interactive and creative way. The project aims to enhance students' understanding of Romanticism as a historical and cultural movement, and its influence on various aspects of society, such as arts, literature, music, and philosophy. The group work will foster collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among the students.

Description of the Project

In this project, each group will create a digital presentation (using tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Prezi) that explores four key areas of Romanticism: Literature, Arts, Music, and Philosophy. The content of the presentation should focus on the characteristics, main figures, and significant works in each area, with an emphasis on how they reflect the themes of Romanticism.

Additionally, each group will prepare a short performance, either a dramatic reading of a selected Romantic poem or a musical performance of a Romantic piece, that they will record and include in their presentation.

Lastly, each group will write a short reflection paper on their experience working on the project, discussing the process, challenges, and what they learned about Romanticism and the importance of collaboration and communication in a group setting.

Necessary Materials

• Internet access for research
• Access to digital presentation tools (Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.)
• Access to a recording device (phone, tablet, computer with a microphone)

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Formation of Groups and Task Distribution (1 hour)

   • Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
   • Assign each group member a specific area of focus: Literature, Arts, Music, Philosophy, and Presentation Design (this member will be in charge of making the presentation visually appealing and easy to understand).

2. Research (2 hours)

   • Each group member should research their assigned area, focusing on key figures, significant works, and how they reflect the themes of Romanticism.
   • Encourage students to use a variety of reliable sources for their research (books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, museum archives, etc.).

3. Content Organization (1 hour)

   • The group should meet and discuss the findings from their research, organizing the content for the presentation.
   • They should also decide on a Romantic poem or piece of music to record for the performance.

4. Presentation Creation and Recording (2 hours)

   • Each group should start creating their digital presentation, making sure to include all the key points from their research.
   • They should also record their chosen performance and add it to the presentation.

5. Review and Practice (1 hour)

   • After completing the presentation, the group should review and practice their delivery, making sure each member knows their part and can speak confidently about their assigned area.

6. Sharing and Feedback (1 hour)

   • Each group will have the opportunity to present their project to the class. After each presentation, the rest of the class will provide constructive feedback.

7. Writing the Reflection Paper (1 hour)

   • Each group should write a reflection paper, detailing their experience working on the project, what they learned about Romanticism, and the importance of collaboration and communication in a group.

Project Deliveries

At the end of the project, each group will deliver:

1. A digital presentation on Romanticism, including a recorded performance.
2. A written reflection paper on the project.

The written reflection paper should follow the format of Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Bibliography. In the introduction, students should provide context for the project and its relevance. The development section should detail the theory behind Romanticism, the activity they carried out, and the methodology they used. The conclusion should summarize the work done and the learnings obtained. Finally, in the bibliography, they should list the sources they relied on for their research.

The total duration of the project is estimated at 10 hours, to be carried out over a period of one week.