Hobsbawm 9-13

In chapter 9 Hobsbawm takes a look at the direction that art took during this age of empire. He describes different aspects the art world took on and some of the causes for these new directions. In particular he discussed the avant garde art scene. He also discusses different forms of bourgeoisie entertainment that began to show up because of the influx of people into cities. These included such places as taverns and brothels. Chapter 10 describes the path that science took right after the first world war. He discusses shifts in mathematics, physics, and other subjects. He describes the new instability felt within the physics community because of what would become the shift from Newtonian thinking to the new Einsteinian theory of relativity. He also describes some of the darker sides of science by going into the history of eugenics and the principles behind it. The next chapter describes some of the advances in reason that were made throughout society as a whole. He cites the decline in religiousness in bourgeoisie society as an example of this new advance in reason that was beginning to show. In chapter 12 Hobsbawm says that for many areas the years from 1880-1914 were a time that was either building to or already in revolution. He describes what led to revolution in many ancient societies at this time. From Russia to China to the Ottoman empire, Hobsbawm goes over what led to the downfall of the once mighty empires. In the final chapter of the book he describes how the move into war affected a society that had been accustomed to some deal of peace. He goes into the lives of soldiers and civilians and the affect the war would have on them. Hobsbawm then lays out many of the different reasons for the cause of the first world war. He says that one of the things that led to war was the creating of alliances and factions within Europe at the time. Inevitably when one member of the faction would be brought into conflict, all members of the faction would be brought into the conflict.

I found it interesting that one of the things that made a lot of these new advances in science available were the innovations that were happening in the industrial economy. Hobsbawm says that with the availability of electiricity, good vacuum pumps, and more precise instruments advances were made in science that could never have been imagined. It is always interesting to me to see throughout history how different parts of society with push each other to advance. Advances in industrial economy bring about advances in science which will bring out advances in contless other things. I also was glad to see Hobsbawm describe how art was affected during this time. It is always interesting to see how the major events in history affect the art of the time and the events of this time certainly did affect the art. It makes me think about how the events of our own times have affected the art that is now being created.

Chris N