Notes Toward a New Romanticism: Or why it's 1800 all over again

4 hours ago

The author argues that the current oppressive technocracy may lead to a backlash reminiscent of the Romanticist movement of the early 1800s, which rebelled against rationalist and algorithmic dominance.
Historical parallels are drawn between the Industrial Revolution era, where artists like Wordsworth and Beethoven celebrated human emotion over technology, and today's potential revolt against STEM and algorithmic thinking.
The author shares research notes on Romanticism from 1800-1804, highlighting key events such as Haydn's 'The Creation', Wordsworth's 'Lyrical Ballads', and Beethoven's innovative works, which emphasized populism, emotion, and art over science.
The piece suggests that music could be a pathway for modern resistance against rationalism, questioning what a contemporary equivalent to Beethoven's rebellion might sound like, and hints at a possible cultural shift towards valuing non-technological aspects of life.

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