Anti-romanticism is a term that refers to a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the Romantic movement. The Romantic movement emphasized emotion, individualism, and imagination, while anti-romanticism rejected these values and focused on reason, realism, and objectivity. In this article, we will explore the meaning and definition of anti-romanticism and its origins.
Definitions
Anti-romanticism is a literary and artistic movement that opposes the Romantic movement that emerged in the late 18th century. It emphasizes reason, realism, and objectivity over emotion, individualism, and imagination. Anti-romanticism is characterized by a rejection of Romanticism’s focus on the individual and the subjective experience, and a preference for objective observation and analysis.
Origin
The origins of anti-romanticism can be traced back to the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, science, and progress. The Enlightenment thinkers rejected the emotional excesses of Romanticism and sought to establish a more rational and objective approach to art and literature. The anti-romantic movement gained momentum in the late 18th century, with the publication of works such as Samuel Johnson’s “The Vanity of Human Wishes” and Edward Young’s “Night Thoughts.”
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, anti-romanticism is “a movement or tendency in art, literature, or music characterized by a rejection of romanticism and an emphasis on reason, realism, and objectivity.” Merriam-Webster defines anti-romanticism as “a movement in art, literature, and music that rejects romanticism and emphasizes reason, realism, and objectivity.” The Cambridge Dictionary describes anti-romanticism as “a movement in art and literature that rejected the romantic movement and emphasized reason, realism, and objectivity.”
Associations
Anti-romanticism is associated with a number of literary and artistic movements, including realism, naturalism, and modernism. Realism and naturalism emphasized the objective observation of the world and rejected the idealism and subjectivity of Romanticism. Modernism, which emerged in the early 20th century, rejected traditional forms and conventions and sought to create new, experimental forms of expression.
Synonyms
Synonyms of anti-romanticism include rationalism, realism, objectivism, and naturalism.
Antonyms
Antonyms of anti-romanticism include romanticism, idealism, subjectivism, and sentimentality.
The same root words
The root words of anti-romanticism are “anti,” which means against, and “romanticism,” which refers to the Romantic movement.
Example Sentences
- The anti-romanticism movement rejected the emotional excesses of Romanticism and sought to establish a more rational and objective approach to art and literature.
- Realism and naturalism were both influenced by anti-romanticism and emphasized objective observation and analysis.
- The modernist movement rejected traditional forms and conventions and was influenced by anti-romanticism’s emphasis on experimentation and innovation.