Rudolf Steiner and the Spirit of Art: Romanticism, Modernism and the Foundations of Eurythmy
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Date
2011-06
Authors
Yingling-Simon, Kirstin Ellen
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Abstract
Waldorf education was founded by Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy of anthroposophy
in the early 20th century. Through emphasis on the interconnectedness of Spirit and its
relationship to man as explored by thinkers of German Romanticism, Anthroposophy
encourages us to find universal enlightenment through spiritual interaction with the arts.
The unifying power of art through its mediums is addressed by Steiner and contemporaries
such as W. Kandinsky, A. Schoenberg, and P. Mondrian.
The development of the philosophy of Anthroposophy, and sub-sequentially
Waldorf education, argues for the interaction between art forms that culminates in a
universally expressed embodied spirit. Concepts like ‘the music in art’ and the ‘voice of
color’ specifically influence Waldorf arts education theory, particularly in the Waldorf
specific ‘dance art’ form of Eurhythmy. This capstone seeks to highlight the philosophical
framework behind Eurhythmy, and trace the arc of influences that Steiner embodied while
crafting his theory of this art form.
Description
42 p. : col. ill. A Master’s Capstone
Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the
Master’s Degree in Arts Management,
Arts and Administration Program,
School of Architecture and Allied Arts,
University of Oregon,
June 2011
Keywords
Waldorf education, Anthroposophy, Philosophy of Eurythmy, Steiner, Rudolf, 1861-1925