Urban Landscapes and Modernity
This page focuses on the shift from natural to urban landscapes in art and literature, particularly during the 19th century and beyond.
The document explores several key themes:
- The impact of rural exodus and urban development on artistic representation
- The emergence of the city as a subject for Realist and Impressionist painters
- The ambivalent feelings towards urban transformation, as expressed by poets like Baudelaire
Quote: Baudelaire's works, such as "Tableaux Parisiens" in Les Fleurs du Mal, express the ambiguous sentiments of the city as both attractive and anxiety-inducing.
The page introduces the concept of the "flâneur" - an urban wanderer who finds aesthetic pleasure in observing city life.
Vocabulary: Flâneur - a person who enjoys strolling through the city, observing society and finding beauty in urban scenes.
The document also examines how Realist novelists portrayed urban landscapes:
- Balzac's depiction of Paris in Le Père Goriot
- Zola's portrayal of Second Empire Paris in Nana
Finally, the page discusses contemporary urban and suburban spaces:
- The rise of megacities and their representation in literature and visual arts
- The aesthetic of industrial ruins in photography and science fiction cinema
Highlight: Modern cityscapes, with their immense buildings and sprawling infrastructure, have become a source of inspiration for a new aesthetic in various art forms.