About this video

• Video Title: Cultural Warfare and the American Revolution (Franklin, West and Morse Revisited)
• Channel: Rising Tide Foundation
• Speakers: Matthew Ehret
• Duration: 02:26:53

Overview

This video lecture by Matthew Ehret explores the concept of "cultural warfare" as it pertains to the American Revolution and its lasting impact on American identity and art. Ehret discusses the influence of figures like Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin West, and Samuel Morse, highlighting their contributions to science, art, and political thought. He argues that the American Revolution was not just a political event but also a cultural one, aiming to create a new paradigm based on humanistic principles that contrasted with the imperialistic tendencies of the British Empire. The lecture delves into the philosophical underpinnings of art, science, and their role in shaping society, drawing parallels between historical struggles and contemporary challenges facing the United States.

Key takeaways

• Benjamin Franklin's Global Influence: Franklin was instrumental in fostering scientific and political networks across Europe, influencing the intellectual currents that supported the American Revolution and the development of new economic and political ideas.
• The Battle of Two Americas: The lecture posits that a fundamental conflict has always existed within the United States between a sovereign, anti-imperialistic impulse focused on general welfare and an alignment with imperialistic, British-influenced systems.
• Samuel Morse: Artist and Inventor: Morse is presented not only as the inventor of Morse code and the telegraph but also as a pivotal figure in the American art world. He championed a new school of painting aligned with American republican ideals, challenging the British-influenced artistic establishment.
• Benjamin West and the Ideal of American Art: West, an American painter who rose to prominence in Britain, is portrayed as a precursor to the American Renaissance. His emphasis on history painting and his philosophy of art aimed to create works that reflected republican virtues and natural law, influencing subsequent generations of American artists.
• Cultural Warfare in Art and Science: The lecture argues that art and science have historically been battlegrounds for competing ideologies. The development of a distinct American cultural and intellectual tradition was crucial for the success of the Revolution and remains vital for the nation's future.

Here are the key points made in the video:

• Benjamin Franklin's Role: Franklin was more than a statesman; he was a networker of scientists across Europe, advocating for industrialization and a new political economy. He represented a "better variety" of British tradition, one that was anti-imperial, Neoplatonic, and humanistic.
• The Dual Nature of America: The United States has always contained two opposing impulses: one sovereign and anti-imperial, focused on the general welfare and Declaration of Independence principles, and another aligned with the British Empire's way of organizing society.
• Samuel Morse's Contributions:
  • He was a vital component in the development of the telegraph and Morse code, enabling information transmission at the speed of electricity.
  • His scientific innovations were supported by a network of European scientists and built upon earlier discoveries in electricity by figures like Benjamin Franklin and Alessandro Volta.
  • Morse was also a significant figure in American art, dedicating his early career to painting and establishing institutions that influenced American aesthetics.
• The Paradox of American Culture: The current crisis in the United States stems from the difficulty in reconciling individual liberty (Declaration of Independence) with the principle of the general welfare (welfare of the whole).
• Cultural Warfare as a Battleground: The domain of culture—arts, science, music—is a critical battleground for ideas. This was understood better in past generations than it is today.
• The Influence of Art and Aesthetics: What people admire can shape their inner selves. Empires often rely on specific aesthetic principles to stagnate potential rather than enhance it.
• The American Academy of Fine Arts vs. National Academy of Design:
  • The American Academy of Fine Arts, founded by figures like John Trumbull and Robert Livingston, was seen as an "anti-republican institution" that prioritized authority and financial "stockholders" over artistic merit and freedom.
  • Samuel Morse founded the National Academy of Design to foster a new school of painting aligned with American ideals, emphasizing natural principles over imposed authority.
• Benjamin West's Influence:
  • West, an American painter who trained in England and became president of the Royal Academy, was a key influence on American artists like Morse.
  • He believed in embedding "visual ironies" in art to provoke thought and insight.
  • His history paintings, like "The Death of General Wolfe," broke from tradition by depicting events with contemporary costumes and focused on the moral and philosophical dimensions of historical moments.
  • West's work promoted virtues like honor, courage, and the importance of respecting native cultures, as seen in his painting depicting William Johnson's treaty with the Iroquois.
• The American Renaissance and its Challenges: The establishment of institutions like the National Academy of Design aimed to create a uniquely American Renaissance, fostering art and ideas that supported republican principles, in contrast to the perceived "decay" of European culture.
• Lafayette's Ambiguous Role: While instrumental in the American Revolution, Lafayette's later actions in France, particularly his compromise with a constitutional monarchy rather than a full republic, are presented as a missed opportunity that had lasting negative consequences for European political development.
• The Importance of Ideas in Society: The survival of a republic depends on the continuous rediscovery and appreciation of the core ideas that founded it. Freedom requires citizens capable of engaging in high-level dialogue about ideas.
• The Stifling of Culture and Science: The lecture criticizes the modern tendency in arts and sciences to focus on commercialization, emotional expression divorced from ideas, and the rejection of foundational principles, leading to a decline in transformative cultural and intellectual output.