European History as Told Through Diaghilevs Rite of Spring...

Many often associate the 19th Century with old-fashioned ideas and customs, whereas the 20th Century is seen as the ‘modern era’. So where in between these two extremes can historians label a turning point as the end of one era, and the start of another? Modris Eksteins offers his view in Rites of Spring, where he uses the Russian ballet of the same name as a metaphor for the changing society during the World War I era. Eksteins views Germany as being the most modern nation in Europe, despite the outcome of the war, and sees its characteristics in the ballet, with Serge Diaghilev as the ringmaster behind it all. Diaghilev brings the ideas and talent of the blossoming Russia to Paris in 1913 with the premiere of Le Sacre du printempes. Even†¦show more content†¦Germany also rushed into war as a way to prove them as a capable new entity on the European map. It glorified war to its youth as being a speedy rite of passage for young men where they would be able to ge t shipped off to war so as to gain manhood, and return to their families in a matter of a few weeks. However this was incredibly unrealistic in every sense once the war started heating up; many would be gone for long periods of time and possibly not return at all. Going to war was glorified to such an extreme extent in Germany and was the cause for the greatest loss of life in history in what is now called the ‘Lost Generation’. While Germany thought its antagonistic actions in war were justified in supporting their modern views and ideas, old-fashioned Britain felt their behavior was warranted in that they were trying to defend the old regime that had dominated Western Europe for centuries. Another changing aspect of culture in the early 20th Century is the morals and values of the people. There became an increasing value in individualism and doing things for oneself rather than glory. One example of this was when Charles Lindbergh successfully landed in Paris after fl ying across the Atlantic Ocean by himself. He was considered a hero amongst the people because he achieved his goal for himself rather than for his country or God. This idea was evident even more after the publication of Erich Maria Ramarque’s All Quiet on