WELCOME! We will get to know a vitally creative period in Western civilization. There is a widely used and influential representation of the Romantic period which focuses on a celebration of heroes and on poetry of nature. It sees the Romantic era stretching through most of the 19th century in Europe and America. But: Such a perception is misleading. The Romantic impulse in Western civilization has been a decisive and lasting achievement, some of whose influence continues to be felt strongly in our time. Thus an adequate understanding of its major features and their context is necessary in order to grasp its cultural significance. This lecture offers an introductory explanation of the Romantic period, highlighting its major achievements in philosophy, literature, the arts, and socio-economic development—and how these are interconnected. We will discuss short excerpts from some major works in literature and philosophy. NO previous knowledge is required, and students with an interest in cultural history are invited to attend. Students are welcome to ask questions, and to let the lecturer know whenever there is a difficulty in understanding the materials. The students’ own questions about the materials will be an important element in the lecture.
Michael Steppat
Michael Steppat is Professor of Literature in English at the University of Bayreuth (Germany), emeritus, and an international faculty member at SISU. After gaining his Ph.D. and his “Habilitation” he became a Fulbright professor at the University of Texas, then research professor at Arizona State University. As academic Dean of his Faculty for 12 years, Steppat devised an M.A. program in Intercultural Anglophone Studies. He is an elected project director in the national Excellence Strategy. His published books include Honor Face and Violence: Cross-Cultural Representations of Honor Cultures and Face Cultures; Literature and Interculturality (3 volumes); Historical Intersections of Intercultural Studies (2 volumes); Discourses of Exception, Exclusion, Exchange (in American studies).
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