Revolutionary Era Discussion Question 1
Revolutionary zeal swept through Europe in your era. People risked their lives and security in an effort to fight for their rights as citizens. Explain how artists in your era participated in furthering revolutionary causes.
I, myself, participated in many revolutionary causes using my music. I didn't personaly participate in revolutionary causes but my music refleced many of those causes. I had created several patriotic pieces. I started writing scores to honor Napoleon’s victory at the battle of Marengo and the fall of the Bastille. And Oui...Napolean admired my music compositions. That was one of my greatest honors. Because of the political unrest it caused me to have to change the color of my overall tone of music augmenting or diminishing chord tones to fit the fall and victory of many battles that were the outcome of the French Revolution.revolutionary leaders took music seriously too. So to sum up my answer, my music was a big contribution during the revolutionary time period for all people.
ReplyDeleteLike Mr.Mehul I have also written patriotic pieces. I did not participate in any of the revolution but I believe my pieces did get known because of it. Napolean and I were good friends and he thoroughly enjoyed music. As Mr.Mehul said I to believe that music was a great part of the revolution. You did not have to be in the battle to effect it. Actions do speak louder than words but words do make a change.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to you Mr. Billings, I was only very friendly and personal terms with Napolean. He did certainly adore the music that we provided for him, Didn't he? (Laughs)
DeleteThat is a very interesting point that you made M. Billings. Actions do speak louder than words, but words make change. That is very true. Music can do the same thing!
ReplyDeleteWell unlike Mr. Mehul and Mr. Billings, I am not a musician but an actress. However we are all similar in that I too did not participate in the revolution. It was definitely around me, being in a big city like London allows you to be very aware of your surroundings. But I do like to believe the tension from the revolutions did indeed influence my work. I was a comedic actress, therefor I tried to use comedy to relieve tensions. I wanted people to leave the tension, and fighting, and chaos, and sit down in the theatre. While they were sitting in the theatre, I wanted them to laugh and enjoy themselves. I believe that's how I participated in the revolutions, by being a relief.
ReplyDeleteYes I do agree with both Mr. Billings and with Mr. Mehul. I think the different kinds of music helped in furthering the revolutionary cause. I am an actress so I know little about music, but I think the different plays written and performed also helped. Music was very helpful but also the acting.
ReplyDeleteI think that we all played a big part in the revolution. As artists we get to express our ideas through are art. We let our art speak for us. Many of my novels suggest my political views. You see, the theaters in London were not equipped to have such kind of work be done so I couldn't express my political ideas in my plays.
ReplyDeleteI agree. That is the reason I got thrown in jail. It wasn't because I was a bad person. It was because the government didn't like the ideas presented in one of the plays I did. But yes, I do believe that our art speaks for us.
DeleteMuch like Hannah and Anne I was an actress while these revolutions were going on and that always seemed to come out in the plays that were being written and made popular in my time. I was a comedic actress and I was tring to take away the worry of the english people by making them forget about everything that was going on and make them laugh before they would have to go back to reality.
ReplyDeleteOh Ms. Cilve! Just as you did, my choreographies were always meant for the people to scape from the real world for a little while. That is one of the reasons why I made my choreographies so exotic, unreal and emphasizing the beauty and power of nature.
DeleteLike Madame Inchbald, I do indeed belive that all artists played a huge roll in the revolution. Whether you be an actress, where what is going on around you is expressed with words in a creative way, or whether you are a musician where you can create emotions and feelings about what is going on around you and intelligently create beautiful music! We all were important during this time. We all made differences with our beloved artistc talent!
ReplyDeleteLike Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs.Clive, and Mrs.Lange I am an actor. I too did not participate in the revolution, but you would have had to be living under a rock if you lived in London and didn't know about ti. As a comedic actor my job is to take people's minds off of their troubles in life. During very hard times I have to make sure that I hit every punchline and made sure that each person in the audience laughed at least once. The theatre is an escape from reality and as actors we have to ensure that their time in the theatre is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI am a dancer and just like most of you I didnt participate directly in the revolutionary activities. In some of the ballets i danced in, i may have portrayed certain peoples experiences that they went through during the time. I agree with you all about artist expressing themselves through their arts. However I was in Italy when most of the big action took place so i'm not sure what big things that were happening where i was.
ReplyDeleteMs. Inchbald your earlier comment truly spoke to me. We have quite the collection of artists ranging from actors and actresses to musicians to dancers. But we used our art to do our part in the revolution. The musicians created patriotic music to inspire people, the dancers used beauty in movement to create an escape. The actors (especially the comedic actors) took people from their day to day lives and took them to a new world (hopefully one that would make them smile). But no matter how we contributed to the revolution, as artists, we all created something that made an impact.
ReplyDeleteI must say that it is truly incredible how many different ways artists can help further a revolution. While I may not know much about other art forms other than my own I can say that I am in awe of the way all of you worked to further the cause that the people around you were fighting for.
ReplyDeleteAhh, Signora Grisi, the Italians are feisty at this time but their revolutionary era will come a bit later (check out Italy in 1848). None the less, revolutionary spirit can be a scary thing. Change never comes easy even when it is desired by people in a society. How can the arts help transition culture to reflect the changes that are taking place politically?
ReplyDeleteI believe arts has always been very influential. Art is another way of communication and expression, and a lot of times (like ours) it reflects the political changes because is made by people. Artists that feel with their own hearts and see with their own eyes what is happening in society, and they express it through the way they best know ART!
DeleteWell Madam Pritchard and Madam Clive we have something in common! As you have said you ladies are actress' and I am a play-write. But, none the less we both are involved with theater. I believe artists made a big impact all together on our society during the revolution. Without us, our people would be depressed and never take break from reality and sorrow. I believe we are what keeps people sane sometimes, and in the theater, we are always there when they need us! Although some of my plays mentioned the events that were going on (like the revolution), Most are comedic and cheerful. I felt for some reason like in order for my plays to be popular, I had to write from all genres not just comedy. If i just wrote comedy the people that like that sad, dramatic genre wouldn't enjoy my work which is why i had some dramas and historical plays in the mix.
ReplyDeleteWell,
ReplyDeleteI keep making the same mistake. Well I must say this table is very inspiring. I am John Brougham, and actor and playwright. Ned I think that taking people's mind off the revolution IS participating in it. You relieve all the stress that one might have, you could make a man that is angry over the revolution happy and that might change the choices that he makes the next. Your comedic acting might have made people look at things differently, and act differently.
Well said Mr. Brougham. I totally agree.
DeleteThank you Mr. Brougham. Now that you have brought this up I agree with you
DeleteNot only Ned, all of you that think comedic acting did not contribute to the revolution I personally think it did.
ReplyDeleteAs a play-write I can write plays that include the important people in our lives, (maybe Napolean) in my plays. In my plays I can have the things that are going on now that weren't before the revolution started to clearly show a change... That would show the type of changes that are taking place both politically and socially in our lives today.
ReplyDeletePierre, May I ask What kind of plays did you write? I mean during this time. Also, did the revolutions influence your work?
ReplyDeleteI believe the arts can change culture to reflecting politics by opening the eyes of our dear politicians! Art is a great way to involve all different sorts of people, rich, poor, religious and all sorts. The arts are changing everyday just like the way we rule are country is changing.
ReplyDeleteAs we can all agree the arts did effect the revolution in its own way. And as Ms.Grisi said the arts do change everyday but its because of the things going on behind the music and behind the art.
ReplyDeleteWell Mr. Brougham I have quite a variety in the types of plays I write but the most common genre for me is comedy. I love comedy because, well, why would you not like something that makes you happy! Am I right? Other plays that you would sometimes see written by me are dramas and historical plays. Just in case for some wild reason, someone doesn't like comedy, they can enjoy my work too!
ReplyDeleteSo you see, Mr.Pierre here is a perfect example of any arts contributing to the revolution. Comedies, they relieve stress. Dramas, they might make people think, we do not have it as bad as this, and that might change their decisions. Historical, help because they might empower people to fight harder or come up with a plan.
ReplyDeleteNow mr. Pierre, may I ask, who did you write your plays for? Like the British, Americans, and so on. And what class?
ReplyDeleteMy plays were meant for the French since I am a native. But anyone who can speak or understand French, be my guest! The audience needs to know what the actors/actresses are saying to understand the play. But you see John, if I may address you that way, my plays aren't based on the social/political situations that are going on around us for the sole purpose of letting my audience be able to sit back and relax a little. Sometimes, you just need to take a load off, ya know. I know I do! (laughs)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr.Brougham. I believe that all of us have contributed to the Revolution. People turn to the arts as a "shoulder to cry on" if you will. No matter if it's going to the opera,going to see a play, going to a ballet, or going to hear the symphony, when people go we give them releif from whatever is going on in the world.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very interesting thought. I totally agree with your idea of arts being a shoulder to cry on. I would have never thought of that metaphor.
DeleteI love that our arts provide a shoulder to cry home! Thats a wonderful thought. We all have those days when people dont always understand us and art gives us something to take our mind of our daily issues. It also speaks to our heart, mind, and soul. Art is a beautiful thing!
ReplyDeleteMs. Andreadis I would like to respond to your second inquiry. Well, the style of art progresses as times change. As women were allowed on stage, plays were, of course, performed differently because women could truly embody the role of a woman. So the arts can be used to ease people into the changes that occur politically. If people are used to observing the arts, be it music, or dance, or acting, than in a time of confusion knowing their arts are still there is comforting. So a playwright may write a play to reflect the political situation and the audience will process it better because they respond to the arts better than perhaps the news paper. Or perhaps a piece of music could be written to reflect the tensions of the political situation by using minor keys, and then switch to comforting harmonies to show that things will be better. And then that could be a comfort to the people.
ReplyDeleteReplying to Ms. Andreadis' question, i think the arts change with the world. When things happen, the way people think changes and then their art changes. If there are bad things going on, the art could make people feel better or maybe reflect the emotions that people are feeling. Like Mr. Marivaux's plays. I think it is great that you wrote comedies. Great comedic relief!
ReplyDeleteArt has been contributed to this era in many ways. It has changed the way thing were over time and the arts have changed also. I agree with you Ms.Lange the arts can make people feel better, suck as Mr.Marivaux's comic relief.
ReplyDeleteIt is very true that revolutionary zeal swept through Europe. Even though I was originally from Italy, I lived around many different European countries at this time and I assure you you could breath revolution everywhere. When I was only seventeen I lived in France (1794) when the French Revolution (1789–1799) was at its boiling point. Years later I met my wife, we had two children, and we lived in germany for many years. That was until we had to scape from the Napoleonic wars (I think I have never mentioned this in my blog but now you know) and go back to France that I do not know if it was in better conditions. The whole point of telling you this is to show you that my life was almost shaped by what was happening with the Revolution as many of you were also. To answer the question I did not participate in the revolution by firing or by executing anyone. I participated in the revolution through my art. In the "revolution of the arts" if you will. By rejecting the old ways to dance as the revolutionaries rejected the old ways to rule.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that mostly everybody has come to an agreement on certain things! There's nothing better with great food and a great discussion! As Mr.Taglioni said, all of us were included in the "revolution of the arts". And to answer your second question Ms. Andreadis, arts help transition political change by including it in different things. Sometimes shows are like the news, just more entertaining. We include reality in the arts and in my case i poke fun of the serious topics.
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