The evolution of artistic and literary movements in 19th-century European society, particularly in France, saw a transition from Neoclassicism and Romanticism to Realism. Neoclassicism, which emerged in the late 18th century, sought inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome and emphasized rationality and idealized heroism and virtue. Romanticism, which followed in the early 19th century, reacted against the Neoclassical restraint with its emphasis on emotion and individualism. Romantic artists and writers celebrated both nature and intense emotional experiences, such as Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix (13.1). However, as the century progressed, Realism emerged as a response to Romanticism's idealism and sought to portray life as it was. 

The role of photography during the Civil War was interesting to read about since it was one of the first major conflicts to be extensively documented thanks to the developments in photography. Photographers such as Timothy O'Sullivan captured the brutal realities of war with startling clarity which brought the true horrors of battlefields and the human cost of conflict directly to the public (13.2.5). Similarly, the emergence of Marxism in the 19th century had a profound influence on Realist thought, particularly in its critiques of societal structures and its focus on class struggles (13.2.1). Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels provided a framework for a better and more broad understanding of the socioeconomic conditions of the time.

In the 1850s and 1860s, French artists and writers, particularly associated with the Realist movement, attacked bourgeois values through their works. Charles Baudelaire's poetry, like Les Fleurs du Mal,  explored themes of urban alienation and challenged conventional morality (13.3.1). Edouard Manet's paintings, such as Olympia and Dejeuner sur l'herbe, depicted modern life with raw and unflinching realism that challenged traditional artistic norms and shocking bourgeois sensibilities. Their art captured the complexities of modernity and reflected the social upheaval in 19th-century Paris (13.3.2). The Haussmannization of Paris refers to the urban planning efforts to modernize the city and involve the demolition of old neighborhoods, and the construction of wide boulevards, parks, and public spaces. The nationalist operas of composers like Verdi and Wagner were received differently in Paris, with Verdi's operas being generally embraced, whereas Wagner stirred more mixed reactions (13.3.3). 

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. It was a pivotal moment for African American literature, art, music, and intellectualism. The movement itself was caused by the Great Migration, a mass migration of African Americans from the Deep South to the Northern states (14.5). The drive behind the Renaissance was their desire for social and cultural empowerment in the face of systemic racism and segregation. With the influx of people brought about like minded people with a diverse range of talents, ideas, and experiences which all fueled artistic and intellectual innovations. I knew very surface level facts about the Harlem Renaissaince and what has always fascinated me was the sheer creativity and resilience of the people involved in the movement. These people, despite facing immense social and economic barriers, managed to create vibrant art, literature music, and social movements which are still relevant and hold a great deal of influence today.

Alain Locke played a pivotal role in the movement as a philosopher, writer, and patron of the arts. Locke's anthology, "The New Negro" served as a manifesto for the movement and showcased the diversity and complexity of African American culture (14.5.1). Langston Hughes, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance, captured the essence of the movement through his peotry and writings. His work often explored themes of racial identity, heritage, and the African American experience, which all resonated deeply with both the aspriations and the struggles of the time. Many were drawn to Paris because there they had experienced, "total acceptance by people with white skin," something which was unheard of in the States (14.5.2). But due to the work of many, Harlem became a place where similar to Paris, all could be accepted. Jazz music played a central role in both the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance and jazz music in general in the 1920s. The improvisational nature of jazz and its fusion of African and European music reflected the energy, creativity, and resilience of the African American experience of this time period. 

Surrealism sought to disrupt the conventional understanding of reality by delving into the uncosious mind. The movement was heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories on dreams and the subconscious (14.6). Surrealist artists embraced and experimented with distortion, juxtapositions, and odd combinations to create hallucinatory and dreamlike works which challenged the conventional. The aim of surrealism was to liberate the unconscious mind and reveal the hidden truths and desires buried within the human psyche. The movement blurred the lines between dream and reality which sought to disrupt the conventional way of thinking and provoke its viewers to question their perceptions of the world (14.6.1).

Stream-of-consiousness writing emerged as a literary revolution and reflectedthe fragmated and nonlinear natures of human thought processing (14.6.2). It was influenced heavily bet the developments in psychology and the aftermath of WWI and writers like James Joyce sought to capture the flux of consiousness through inner monologue. The novels abandoned the traditional narrative structures and invited the readers into the intimate lives of the characters while tasking them to decipher the layers of meaning within the text.