The Contrast Green
The City Streets
The Antique Dawn
February 13, 2007
Shattered my winter dreams
Dim consciousness that I had done something wrong yesterday suddenly woke me up from my shattering winter dreams. After sometime, when I came back into my body, I realized that it is power-cut that disturbed my sleep and not my consciousness is the culprit. Indeed, my winter dreams are over now and it is summer here. To have power-cuts in summer in India London
February 11, 2007
Romanticism
I am back with the last article in the series. Romanticism. Gothic and romantic novels' time period collide with each other towards the end of the romanticism era. During this period novel writing in English flourished. William Wordsworth played a major role in the growth of the English romanticism. Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719) is sometimes referred as the first novel in English language. It was written during this era.
Aestheticism was the by-product of romanticism and neo-classicism. Towards the end of this era especially English writers contributed a lot for its growth. It belongs to the anti-Victorian reaction and was criticised harshly by famous personalities of that time. It took place in the late Victorian period from around 1850 to 1900. Sadly it is considered to have ended with the trial of Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde and Algernon Charles Swinburne, both influenced by the French Symbolists and Artists were the major contributors. At that juncture of time, last few decades of nineteenth century, Oscar Wilde also started a school and taught aestheticism in London. The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and was very much criticised by Critics of that era. They noticed that there existed so many things common between Wilde's life and his book, at the time of his trial his book was used as evidence against Wilde. His sexuality was the talk of the town in London. In his own words "the danger was half the excitement". Oscar was certainly influenced by the aesthetic theories of John Ruskin and Walter Pater while at Oxford, and he adopted the pose of an effete young man. Rebours was imitated by Oscar Wilde in his book The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian reads an untitled book, which has a profound effect on his view. At his trial Wilde said that his aim in life had been self-realisation through pleasure rather than suffering. After that during post-modern era romantics was rather out-of-date. He was the last major contributor in English romantics writing. Fantasy, The Grotesque, Melodrama and Realism thereafter followed.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
Aestheticism was the by-product of romanticism and neo-classicism. Towards the end of this era especially English writers contributed a lot for its growth. It belongs to the anti-Victorian reaction and was criticised harshly by famous personalities of that time. It took place in the late Victorian period from around 1850 to 1900. Sadly it is considered to have ended with the trial of Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde and Algernon Charles Swinburne, both influenced by the French Symbolists and Artists were the major contributors. At that juncture of time, last few decades of nineteenth century, Oscar Wilde also started a school and taught aestheticism in London. The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and was very much criticised by Critics of that era. They noticed that there existed so many things common between Wilde's life and his book, at the time of his trial his book was used as evidence against Wilde. His sexuality was the talk of the town in London. In his own words "the danger was half the excitement". Oscar was certainly influenced by the aesthetic theories of John Ruskin and Walter Pater while at Oxford, and he adopted the pose of an effete young man. Rebours was imitated by Oscar Wilde in his book The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian reads an untitled book, which has a profound effect on his view. At his trial Wilde said that his aim in life had been self-realisation through pleasure rather than suffering. After that during post-modern era romantics was rather out-of-date. He was the last major contributor in English romantics writing. Fantasy, The Grotesque, Melodrama and Realism thereafter followed.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
February 09, 2007
Romanticism and Neoclassicism
Two contrasting styles, in both arts and literature, Romanticism and Neoclassicism were developed during 1750 to 1900. Neoclassicism in literature was primarily concerned with classic models and culture and civilization while Romanticism dealt with emotions and dreams and opposed Enlightenment.
The Scottish poet James Macpherson ignited and influenced the early development of Romanticism with success of his Ossian cycle of poems published during the earlier part of this era. During the later part of the nineteenth century this two movements together gave birth to the new movement - Neoromanticism in music. In the early 20th century neo-romanticism gradually evolved into expressionism and realism. Anton Antonovich Delvig a Russian poet and journalist and a close friend of Alexander Pushkin is considered as the father of Russian neoclassicism. During the later part of this era, romanticism out ruled neoclassicism. Movement of romanticism was against the idea of Enlightenment. The term neo-romanticism is related with the movement of romanticism in Britain after 1880. This ended two great movements of romanticism and neoclassicism.
Next time will be back with more on romanticism and literary romanticism and its criticism towards the end of this two era and more.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
The Scottish poet James Macpherson ignited and influenced the early development of Romanticism with success of his Ossian cycle of poems published during the earlier part of this era. During the later part of the nineteenth century this two movements together gave birth to the new movement - Neoromanticism in music. In the early 20th century neo-romanticism gradually evolved into expressionism and realism. Anton Antonovich Delvig a Russian poet and journalist and a close friend of Alexander Pushkin is considered as the father of Russian neoclassicism. During the later part of this era, romanticism out ruled neoclassicism. Movement of romanticism was against the idea of Enlightenment. The term neo-romanticism is related with the movement of romanticism in Britain after 1880. This ended two great movements of romanticism and neoclassicism.
Next time will be back with more on romanticism and literary romanticism and its criticism towards the end of this two era and more.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
Neoclassicism
Time of neoclassicism can be classified into two groups, earlier part of the seventeenth century and later part of the eighteenth century. I am not an expert of English literature but rather studying neoclassicism and romanticism from the critic’s point of view. Neoclassicism in literature is also known as the age of reason because during this period most of the classical and philosophical works of philosophers were translated. It is also known as age of social reform in literature and its concern for social reality. I am also reading translated works of Aristotle these days which help me to better understand criticism of neoclassicism. Giorgio Valla translated Aristotle's Poetics into Latin before the beginning of this era. (Neoclassicism) After that John Dryden (1631-1700) translated most of the classics, becoming known for his aeneid (1697). After him Samuel Johnson (1709-84) also contributed to the growth of neoclassicism by translating classics. During this era Writers turned from coining new words to scientifically regularizing vocabulary and grammar. Complex metaphorical language was clarified and simplified using fewer and more conventional vocabulary. Structures of language become more simple and unified.
Literary criticism during this era was also related with philosophy and its social implications. Matthew Arnold was a major critic during the end of this era. This also gave birth to the new literary criticism--Russian formalism. Scientific study of poetic classic literature became the central theme of neoclassicism during this era. Sharp philosophical wit in writing made this era world's greatest age of comedy and satire.
Next time will be back with more on neoclassicism and romanticism.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
Literary criticism during this era was also related with philosophy and its social implications. Matthew Arnold was a major critic during the end of this era. This also gave birth to the new literary criticism--Russian formalism. Scientific study of poetic classic literature became the central theme of neoclassicism during this era. Sharp philosophical wit in writing made this era world's greatest age of comedy and satire.
Next time will be back with more on neoclassicism and romanticism.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
February 07, 2007
Preface
Resurgence of old style or a classic, but with new perspective, in art or literature is known as neoclassicism. With the first academy of art founded in Florence in Italy in the later half of the sixteenth century began the wave of integration of rather new art with old or classic artistic style. Academies founded during this period motivated the movement and also cleared the path for eighteenth and nineteenth century’s Romanticism. Central theme of Romanticism was to subdue and replace the harsh reality and practicality of life with impractical romantic ideals and attitudes. In nineteenth century clubbed with Romanticism Neoclassicism gave birth to great artists and writers. These two movements cleared the road for great future rebel artists and writers like Vincent Van Gogh and Oscar Wilde. Romanticism valued imagination and emotion over rationality. And in my opinion Oscar Wilde’s writings reflected that in the best possible way. I have studied few paintings of Van Gogh and I think he best represents the pictorial perspectives of what Oscar Wilde said. At the end of the nineteenth century this two movements or artistic styles diluted with new-age artistic styles.
What is art is one very old question and answered the most by different people in different manner. But what is appreciation and criticism of art is even more important and less rose questions. Artist’s purpose of self-expression of his imagination is art. To engulf into the sublime beauty of it is appreciation. And to do what I am doing here (to find fault in artist’s (one’s own) imagination) is criticism.
Impressionists who painted outdoor criticised Academic Arts like neoclassicism and romanticism as they preferred to paint or write what they see with their naked eyes. Unlike in academic arts study of anatomy and geometry is not that important in idealism or realist impressionists. Towards the end of the nineteenth century Paris become the world art-hub and home of so many artists. By this time European society was fed up with academic arts and gave a good chance to its legacy Idealism to flourish. The twentieth century movements assembled with new Idealism both in arts and writing had lost much of its charm of romanticism and neoclassicism. Retiring fogs from the face of romanticism revealed rather dry and ugly reality of plain modern art and writing (i.e. blogging) of our times. As far as my knowledge goes and I have read and understood the writers and artists and their works, with few exceptions like saki, since the later half of nineteenth century and earlier part of the last century best reflects the miscarriage of the romanticism's day dreams. We can not give birth to writers and artists like Oscar Wilde again and in his own words that is the fault. (of idealism, I think)
There are legions that need help understanding art, and very few blessed who naturally can understand and appreciate and criticize. Professional art writing is one of the byproduct of modern art and shows us the ugly face of reality. This is one for those who don't understand art but want to know and learn about it from the experts. Fan base of modern art is a comic reality. Professional art writer is one who writes for them. Is this the liberty one can take with modern art or is this the reality of idealism? Only a writer can judge the best or can criticise in the most fascinating manner his own books. Only an artist can understand his own work. No writings can reveal the secrets or can explain anything. After reading few pages of war and peace I conformed my belief. One should practice day dreaming more and more to get closer to self, self-loving and romanticism. No words from the experts can fulfill my heart and can stimulate my higher senses.
Aesthetic sense of my self-love provoked me to write this early in the morning. Listening to the bird’s chirping and feeling the weight of golden rays on my face here I come. Ignite your imagination to criticise me, comment me. Amen.
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P.S.
The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. This photograph of the work is also in the public domain in the United States (see Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 License. All rights reserved with 20 box. 2007
February 06, 2007
EGGS
We never imagined even after drinking beer mixed with whiskey when we were there before a year or so. I am not ready to accept it right now even after reading the news in local daily Gujarat Samachar and more even I not believe it after looking at the picture. They more look like stones than eggs, and why they are there? So old, 650 million year. So called modern man (Homo sapiens) is there for last 5000 years and why no one found anything till now and suddenly they found it there and why there only? And what that white chap is doing there in the picture. He is not an Indian I hope. It is good that we Indians are not interested in any such kind of activity, at least like that white man (shown in the picture- may be an anthropologist or a scientist) who does it to earn money also. Nothing done without pure ‘Academic Interest’ can create anything vital and new. We are lucky as far as this is concerned. I am not against white man or his “race” in general. I neither am interested in playing big brother nor am I a racist.
Human inhabitance in that area never ever revealed anything about that but I think those poor tribes are not interested in such activities. Ignorance is bliss. There is no proper Hindi word for Dinosaur or may be I (and tribes) don’t know the word. When I was a kid I was so fascinated by their size that I was never able to accept it afterwards during my adolescent years that they actually lay EGGS. Yes, I mean how can they? They are so big and their eggs smaller than football. Nature is strange and most difficult thing about it is to understand it. Even to give it a try. But we (I and tribes) don’t care. How all this things can happen in such a beautiful place? I don’t want it to happen again. I pray to god that they don’t find more dinosaur eggs there. Fossils, if found there can worsen the situation. Oh Mother Nature please doesn’t let those scientists ruin the beauty of deep jungles of Madhya-Pradesh. I want to go there again and again in coming years and want to go on Narmada Bhraman also. Oh God please ‘Crack’ all those EGGS found in DHAR.
Phursatgunj !?!
what are they doing with our beloved phursatgunj ? not only phursatgunj but whole of baroda is under their radar. lazy police force of Baroda is super active these days. number of crime incidents are 60% higher than that of yesteryear. what is behind all this?? now at 10 in the evening we almost have a curfew like situation here in phursatgunj... i don't know what is happening around me as rather i am very much confused. i don't know why this changes are happening.and for last 2 days we barely manage to get tea at night near ST station. to get ciggis at night i roam around baroda on my 1890 vintage bike for half an hour daily. life is not as cool as it was in phursatgunj. my god, what is happening here !!! and as if this is not enough it even rains in the night sometimes. seasons are changing here in phursatgunj.
and worst of all they demolished 150 shops located between punjab mill and railway station. now we have a broad road with footpath towards railway station. work is going on at full speed here. and within two days i think it will be over. now i don't have any place to sit at in the night as our Bhurabhai's open-air restaurant is gone. samrat is closed for last two days.
tomorrow will be back with the pictures of demolition and how railway station looks after demolition. god save the phursatgunj.
February 02, 2007
namaskar mitron
yesterday we had closing so i am relaxed today i think i should write about our beloved friends who are now a days resting in their nests...
welcome back anando good to see that you still carry fire and flair to write goofy stuffs. and of cource you are steady in this blog unlike others. had you shown this sincerity and perseverence in college days , I think untill now you would have became husband of a obedient wife and father of 2-3 notorious kids. but no regrets as baba is not made for the traditional life cycle which our ancestors have imposed on us... he has his own journey. or probably someday he will give us a pleasant shock.
sabu is so wraped up in his new novel war and peace, written by ( leo bhai), and constructing a web site, that he has unintentionally neglected this blog. but he enjoys such chores. for him knowledge is divine and its application sin.
I have learn that kharchoo is in mumbai, but there is no sign of his presence because everthing is quite normal here ...
yes this is official that ranjit is on bride-searching spree. he has now taken vouch that he will ruin a life...sorry he has vouched to begin a new fresh life with a pretty young woman.
i have got a salary hike , may be i can now afford to have some better quality alcohol...
leaving to barge again....
welcome back anando good to see that you still carry fire and flair to write goofy stuffs. and of cource you are steady in this blog unlike others. had you shown this sincerity and perseverence in college days , I think untill now you would have became husband of a obedient wife and father of 2-3 notorious kids. but no regrets as baba is not made for the traditional life cycle which our ancestors have imposed on us... he has his own journey. or probably someday he will give us a pleasant shock.
sabu is so wraped up in his new novel war and peace, written by ( leo bhai), and constructing a web site, that he has unintentionally neglected this blog. but he enjoys such chores. for him knowledge is divine and its application sin.
I have learn that kharchoo is in mumbai, but there is no sign of his presence because everthing is quite normal here ...
yes this is official that ranjit is on bride-searching spree. he has now taken vouch that he will ruin a life...sorry he has vouched to begin a new fresh life with a pretty young woman.
i have got a salary hike , may be i can now afford to have some better quality alcohol...
leaving to barge again....
February 01, 2007
Anando is back
Offff!!! Tiring. Too much work. The busy earnings season is on and there is no time to breathe. It seems lazy friends have forgotten this blog.
Even I don’t feel like writing anything. After spending 3 wonderful weeks in beloved Phursatgunj, it’s back to work. Things are as they were. As usual my visit to PG was a big hit. I had an honour to spend my time with two great beings – Sabu and Kharchu. Though it was a bit costly affair, all good things in life comes with a price.
Sabu and kharchu are master of making their life interesting. Though their techniques are different, the end result is same. It was a sheer joy to spend time with these two greats. Kharchu is now in Mumbai and Sabu is working on some website.
Now, some news on friends in Mumbai. Kumar Gaurav has got a salary hike and RJ is searching a bride. Let’s hope, we will get an opportunity to witness a miracle this year if RJ gets married. Signing off.
Even I don’t feel like writing anything. After spending 3 wonderful weeks in beloved Phursatgunj, it’s back to work. Things are as they were. As usual my visit to PG was a big hit. I had an honour to spend my time with two great beings – Sabu and Kharchu. Though it was a bit costly affair, all good things in life comes with a price.
Sabu and kharchu are master of making their life interesting. Though their techniques are different, the end result is same. It was a sheer joy to spend time with these two greats. Kharchu is now in Mumbai and Sabu is working on some website.
Now, some news on friends in Mumbai. Kumar Gaurav has got a salary hike and RJ is searching a bride. Let’s hope, we will get an opportunity to witness a miracle this year if RJ gets married. Signing off.
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