Romanticism and Consciousness, Revisited

Brings Romanticism into dialogue with current understandings of consciousness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in Romantic science, theories of mind, and a heightened awareness of the permeability of the Romantic period to the world. This has led to a renewed exploration of the terrain mapped out in the groundbreaking 1970 volume Romanticism and Consciousness. Romanticism and Consciousness, Revisited responds to this call by presenting a fresh perspective on Romantic consciousness. It no longer sees consciousness as the exclusive domain of a solitary self but as a dynamic, social, and interconnected entity with the external world.

The study of Romanticism has always been characterized by a deep fascination with the interplay between imagination, emotion, and the natural world. Romantic thinkers such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Keats sought to capture the essence of human experience through the lens of nature, emphasizing the importance of the individual's connection to the natural world.

In the 1970 volume Romanticism and Consciousness, John Barham Thompson argued that Romantic consciousness was characterized by a sense of self-contradiction and self-division. He suggested that Romantic thinkers were often torn between their desire for individualism and their longing for a sense of community and belonging. This tension between self and other, Thompson argued, was a central feature of Romanticism and contributed to its unique blend of individualism and social critique.

However, in recent years, scholars have begun to challenge Thompson's interpretation of Romantic consciousness. They argue that Romantic consciousness is not necessarily characterized by self-contradiction but rather by a complex and multifaceted understanding of the self. Romantic thinkers, they suggest, were not necessarily torn between individualism and social critique but rather sought to reconcile these two forces in their work.

One example of this shift in approach is the work of Sarah Tomley, who argues that Romantic consciousness is not solely individual but also transactional and social. Tomley suggests that Romantic thinkers were not only interested in the individual's subjective experience but also in the ways in which individuals interacted with each other and the wider world. She argues that Romanticism was a period of intense social change and that Romantic consciousness was shaped by the complex social networks and relationships that characterized this period.

Another example of this shift in approach is the work of Jonathan Bate, who argues that Romantic consciousness is not only shaped by individual experiences but also by cultural and historical contexts. Bate suggests that Romantic thinkers were not only influenced by their own experiences but also by the broader cultural and historical forces that shaped their period. He argues that Romanticism was a period of intense political and social upheaval and that Romantic consciousness was shaped by the tensions and conflicts that characterized this period.

In addition to these new developments in cognitive theory and research, Romantic studies scholars have also been called to revisit and re-map the terrain laid out in the 1970 volume Romanticism and Consciousness. This involves not only a re-examination of the traditional understanding of Romanticism but also a consideration of new approaches and methodologies.

One approach that has been gaining popularity in Romantic studies is the use of digital technologies and new media to explore the relationship between Romanticism and the digital world. Scholars are using digital archives, social media, and other digital tools to analyze the ways in which Romanticism was shaped by and responded to the technological changes of the period. This approach allows scholars to explore the ways in which Romanticism was both influenced by and shaped by the digital world, and to consider the ways in which Romanticism continues to resonate in the digital age.

Another approach that has been gaining popularity in Romantic studies is the use of interdisciplinary approaches to explore the relationship between Romanticism and other fields such as literature, philosophy, and the sciences. Scholars are using interdisciplinary approaches to analyze the ways in which Romanticism influenced and was influenced by other fields, and to consider the ways in which Romanticism continues to shape our understanding of these fields.

In conclusion, the study of Romanticism has been undergoing a significant transformation in recent years. Romantic studies scholars have been called to revisit and re-map the terrain laid out in the 1970 volume Romanticism and Consciousness, and to present a fresh perspective on Romantic consciousness. This shift in approach involves not only a re-examination of the traditional understanding of Romanticism but also a consideration of new approaches and methodologies. By using interdisciplinary approaches and digital technologies, Romantic studies scholars can explore the complex and multifaceted nature of Romantic consciousness and its relationship to the wider world.

Weight: 762g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474485104