The Epic Side of Modern Life in Baudelaire’s Poetry

Baudelaire’s Perspective on the Epic Side of Modern Life

Baudelaire was so much concerned about the problem of modernity, arguing that the modern poetry should embrace the ‘heroism of modern life.’ He argued people to discover the epic side of modern life because everybody’s life has an epic side with myriads of gestures that we admire daily.[1]

The Beauty of Modern Life

Besides, there are various kinds of conduct that draw our attention, wonderful words, and good actions that reflect that manifest peoples’ strengths. The epic side of the modern life should however not be interpreted in a manner suggesting that centuries before, people have not enjoyed life. The truth is that all centuries have had their unique forms of beauty although it might not appeal in our context. Individuals possess unique forms of beauty despite the modern times being attacked by artists claiming that the modern free has interfered by political heroism. From Gustave Coubert’s Young Ladies on the Banks of the Seine 1856, there is the emphasis on the need to underscore the dynamic nature of the contemporary world with various artists reproducing the piece of art to meet the needs of the modern world.[2] Borrowing from ‘Shallabala Capital and Labor from Punch Magazine 1843’ looks at the effect that the love of labor has had on dignity.[3] The use of machines is considered as taking away the beauty associated with the good feeling of engaging in work. The use of machine has therefore degraded the element of heroism, but it should be noted that there is another beauty associated with these discoveries.

Our New Emotions and the Changing Society

Charles Baudelaire also mentioned the aspect of ‘our new emotions’. The phrase is used to refer to the new perceptions we have about life and its beauty. In grasping the idea of the epic side of the modern life, our emotions are said to have been shaped by an intrinsic aspect that determines how we feel about the modern world. Our new emotions about life shaped the art of Anna Blunded The Song of the Shirt. [4]

Women’s Reforms and New Emotions in the English Community

Women in the English community are pushing for reforms in the political, education and economic spheres in order to satisfy the needs of their new emotions that vary with the dynamic nature of the society. In order to match up with the new emotions, a need, therefore, emerged to question the position that women occupied sparking social and political debates pushing for radical changes. The changes in our emotions and the manner that we perceive the world around that can be conflictual at time is reflected in Courbet’s art of Woman with a Parrot 1866. [5]The piece of art was criticized for failing to march up with the appealing standards of the new emotions. Courbet had many people complain about the blatant sexuality in the painting of a woman’s legs partially splayed. To shift the unnecessary attention, the parrot’s wings that display a striking plumage is used to make the art appealing to the new emotions of the audience that departs from the explicit scene. Charles Baudelaire was therefore right when he brought the idea of the epic side of the modern life that constantly transform to match the emotional needs of the targeted group. If a piece of art sparks controversy or unwanted emotions, it fails to reflect the beauty of the era hence calling for a re-make.

Bibliography

“Bridgeman Images”. Bridgeman Images, 2018.  http://www.bridgemanimages.com/fr/asset/527862//capital-and-labour-cartoon-from    punch-london-1843-in-response-to-richard-horne-s-report-of-child-employment-in-coal mines-labourers-are-obliged-to-go-on-all-fours-like-dogs-the-labouring-poor-are-locked       away-in-misery-toiling-to-produce-the-wealth-that-enabled-upper-classes-to-live-in-luxury.

Ltd, White. ”The Song Of The Shirt | An Introduction To 19Th Century Art”. 19Thcenturyart  Facos.Com, 2018. http://19thcenturyart-facos.com/artwork/song-shirt.

Willette, Jeanne. ”Charles Baudelaire, Author Of Modernism | Art History            Unstuffed”. Arthistoryunstuffed.Com, 2018. http://arthistoryunstuffed.com/baudelaire      modernism/.

”Woman With A Parrot, 1866 - Gustave Courbet”. Www.Wikiart.Org, 2018.            https://www.wikiart.org/en/gustave-courbet/woman-with-a-parrot-1866.

”The Young Ladies On The Banks Of The Seine, 1856”. Gustave Courbet, 2018.            http://www.gustave-courbet.com/the-young-ladies-on-the-banks-of-the-seine.jsp.

[1] Jeanne Willette, ”Charles Baudelaire, Author Of Modernism | Art History            Unstuffed”, Arthistoryunstuffed.Com, 2018, http://arthistoryunstuffed.com/baudelaire      modernism/.

[2] ”The Young Ladies On The Banks Of The Seine, 1856”, Gustave Courbet, 2018,            http://www.gustave-courbet.com/the-young-ladies-on-the-banks-of-the-seine.jsp.

[3] ”Bridgeman Images”, Bridgeman Images, 2018.

[4] White Ltd, “The Song Of The Shirt | An Introduction To 19Th Century Art”, 19Thcenturyart  Facos.Com, 2018, http://19thcenturyart-facos.com/artwork/song-shirt.

[5] ”Woman With A Parrot, 1866 - Gustave Courbet”, Www.Wikiart.Org, 2018,            https://www.wikiart.org/en/gustave-courbet/woman-with-a-parrot-1866.