2005-12-30
Romanticism
The dark days at the end of the year, a time to light candles. Candles. It’s so romantic. One would not expect that I, a man of science and technology, would light candles, but for people like me there are new candles, electric ones.
Alright, I’ll be honest about it. I didn’t find it myself. Someone else handed me this oddity, thought it would interest me. And indeed, it is a very interesting thing. Not from the perspective of the technology and absolutely not from a scientific point of view. But, philosophically it is an interesting object. The question is: can an electric candle be romantic?
These plastic electric candles make one thing clear: we lost contact with nature. Hey, wait a minute. When started the age of Romanticism? Wasn’t this in the middle of the Industrial Revolution? Romanticism had its break through when engines were becoming part of our life. We were gaining control over nature. Romanticism was possible, because we were getting less dependent on nature and nature was not dangerous anymore. Before there was electric light a candle was a necessary item. So it couldn’t be romantic; it was common. If you don’t have a warm house, it is not romantic to sit outside next to a fire. It is just like the blues. Singing the blues is really great if there is somebody at home waiting for you.
I’ve just been to a nice exposition on Romanticism: Masters of the Romantic Period, Dutch painting 1800-1850. Looking at those pictures one thing struck me. There is a passion for nature and man is above nature. Nature is chaos, wild. Nature is beautiful, but only just now, because we are gaining control over it. Even in storm and rain there is still a brilliant light and peacefulness. Look at the people on Romantic paintings. The people are not really affected by the cruelty of nature. They are mostly satisfied. Why? I think it is because they can choose between rough nature and comfort at home.
Another interesting point about the Age of Romanticism is that the first organisations for the protection of nature were founded in this age. So, Romanticism became possible due to technology and control over nature. I would say Romanticism is to choose (temporarily) for less control: no engines, no clocks, just let things happen.
Back to the electric candle. It is not romantic, because it has a power switch giving very simple control over its functioning. Finally, the thing I don’t like about this electric candle is the lack of power. You can’t play with it, melt something or burn something. That’s what a scientist likes.
Alright, I’ll be honest about it. I didn’t find it myself. Someone else handed me this oddity, thought it would interest me. And indeed, it is a very interesting thing. Not from the perspective of the technology and absolutely not from a scientific point of view. But, philosophically it is an interesting object. The question is: can an electric candle be romantic?
These plastic electric candles make one thing clear: we lost contact with nature. Hey, wait a minute. When started the age of Romanticism? Wasn’t this in the middle of the Industrial Revolution? Romanticism had its break through when engines were becoming part of our life. We were gaining control over nature. Romanticism was possible, because we were getting less dependent on nature and nature was not dangerous anymore. Before there was electric light a candle was a necessary item. So it couldn’t be romantic; it was common. If you don’t have a warm house, it is not romantic to sit outside next to a fire. It is just like the blues. Singing the blues is really great if there is somebody at home waiting for you.
I’ve just been to a nice exposition on Romanticism: Masters of the Romantic Period, Dutch painting 1800-1850. Looking at those pictures one thing struck me. There is a passion for nature and man is above nature. Nature is chaos, wild. Nature is beautiful, but only just now, because we are gaining control over it. Even in storm and rain there is still a brilliant light and peacefulness. Look at the people on Romantic paintings. The people are not really affected by the cruelty of nature. They are mostly satisfied. Why? I think it is because they can choose between rough nature and comfort at home.
Another interesting point about the Age of Romanticism is that the first organisations for the protection of nature were founded in this age. So, Romanticism became possible due to technology and control over nature. I would say Romanticism is to choose (temporarily) for less control: no engines, no clocks, just let things happen.
Back to the electric candle. It is not romantic, because it has a power switch giving very simple control over its functioning. Finally, the thing I don’t like about this electric candle is the lack of power. You can’t play with it, melt something or burn something. That’s what a scientist likes.
# posted by Sander @ 22:57 
