DelawareScene: Sublime and Dramatic | The Romantic Movement in Philosophy @ Lewes Public Library

Sublime and Dramatic | The Romantic Movement in Philosophy

From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, European artists, composers, authors, poets, and philosophers responded strongly to the rational thought of the Enlightenment by exploring and celebrating the sublime and dramatic in nature, metaphysics, and human emotion. The Spoken Word Society presents a four-week series of programs exploring this movement through performances, lectures and discussions.

Join local scholar Dr. Michael Redmond for “Storm, Stress, and the Soul: The Romantic Rebellion,” an exploration of how the Romantics figures like Hamann, Wordsworth, and Coleridge rose up against the cool confidence of the Enlightenment’s faith in reason, science, and mastery of nature. Together we’ll trace how nature shifted from whirlwind and mystery, to clockwork machine, to something alive, numinous, and a source of wisdom and wonder—and how this transformation still shapes our views of authenticity, spirituality, and the environment today. Along the way, we’ll meet some fascinating characters, hear vivid literary and philosophical passages, and end by asking a personal question: in your own life, are you more a child of the Enlightenment or of Romanticism—and what might it mean to live well between the two?

Dr. Michael D. Redmond is a distinguished higher education leader and former president of Bergen Community College, bringing four decades of experience in academic leadership, governance, and institutional innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies from Drew University, and an M.A. in Philosophy from Rutgers, complemented by graduate work in computer science and mathematics.

NOTE: this session is available to attend in-person or through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER and indicate which you prefer. Each individual attending must register.

Free History & Culture Lectures & Workshops Southern Delaware