American Literature and Arts
by Ryan Taylor, Nick Rizzo, and Brian Boyle
Transcendentalism
A movement that sought to explore the relationship between humans and nature through emotions rather than through reason.
Individualism
The unique importance of each individual.
Civil Disobedience
The idea that people should disobey unjust laws if their consciences demanded it.
Literature in America
Important People:
''Civilation might provide wealth, but nature refletcted highter values that came from God." - Emerson
Thoreau said, ''Most of the luxuries
and many of the so called comforts of life
are not only not indispensible, but positive hindrances
to the elevation of mankind.''
Louisa May Alcott: presented
a gentler view of New England life;
published ''Little Women."
Poets of Democracy:
They helped create
a new national voice.
Important Poets
Walt Whitman: wrote Leaves of Grass, 1855.
After 1820, artists created unique American style featuring landscapes and every day Americans.
Painting in America
Hudson River Valley: a group of painters that painted the Hudson River Valley and started the Hudson River Valley School.
Thomas Cole and other members reflected the values of Romanticism, and reproduced the beauty and power of nature
Other Members:
Bingham- created timeless pictures of life
Catlin- captured the ways and dignity of Native Americans
Songs
After a time, varieties of songs
had emerged. Some were work
songs, chants, and they also sang when
laying railroad ties and hauled barges.
Most popular songwriter was Stphen Foster.
He wrote "Camptown Races," and "Old Folks at
Home."
THE END
Arts and Music in America
Herman Melville: he wrote the novel ''Moby Dick.''
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: wrote Paul Revere's Ride, and the song of Hiawatha.
Henry David Thoreau: took up Emerson's challenge;
spent two years living in the woods, meditating; urged
people to live simply.
Ralph Waldo Emerson: leading transcendentalist who in his speeches and essays asked the people of the value of material goods.
Nathaniel Hawthorne: wrote
novel ''Scarlet Letter,'' in 1850