Which was when fear of global warming, overpopulation, ex Warsaw Pact nukes being grabbed by terrorist organisations, and other 'end of the world' ish fears (millernian fears, perhaps?) arose throughout the world. One fear exits, another arrives.
I also find it difficult to agree with the forum's marxists going on about anti-proletarian culture in the elites of society. For example, many Romantics were also political radicals (at least, in the late 18th-early 19th centuries many were)-far from being anti worker. Lord Byron supported the Luddites-a working class movement-who acted not, I think, because they decided that they wanted to stay poor and opressed forever, but due to concerns on their part about Cheap Labour from Those Dark Satanic Mills putting them out of a job. And besides, I don't know about you, but many people do find trees and fields prettier to look at than a smoke-belching factory. (Although modern steampunks may beg to differ!)
On the other hand, I do agree that there were many, many ideas of 'progress' in the 19th century. Everything from eugenics, to empire building, to communism, were all discussed. You also see even the Downtrodden Masses getting some of their progress fulfilled, with (for example) the British Labour party being formed in the early 20th. On the other hand, there was plenty of invasion literature and suchlike to suggest that optimism was far from universal.
This incoherent ramble of a post has gone on for long enough.
I also find it difficult to agree with the forum's marxists going on about anti-proletarian culture in the elites of society. For example, many Romantics were also political radicals (at least, in the late 18th-early 19th centuries many were)-far from being anti worker. Lord Byron supported the Luddites-a working class movement-who acted not, I think, because they decided that they wanted to stay poor and opressed forever, but due to concerns on their part about Cheap Labour from Those Dark Satanic Mills putting them out of a job. And besides, I don't know about you, but many people do find trees and fields prettier to look at than a smoke-belching factory. (Although modern steampunks may beg to differ!)
On the other hand, I do agree that there were many, many ideas of 'progress' in the 19th century. Everything from eugenics, to empire building, to communism, were all discussed. You also see even the Downtrodden Masses getting some of their progress fulfilled, with (for example) the British Labour party being formed in the early 20th. On the other hand, there was plenty of invasion literature and suchlike to suggest that optimism was far from universal.
This incoherent ramble of a post has gone on for long enough.