Innovation of the Masses

The Victorian Period, which lasted from 1837-1901, was characterized by innovation and change. Under the reign of Queen Victoria, this “paradoxical age saw great expansion of wealth, power, and culture” (Victorian England). However, “an age that began with a confidence and optimism leading to economic boom and prosperity eventually gave way to uncertainty and doubt regarding Britain's place in the world” (Victorian England).

An example of the cultural change of the time period would be the new renovations in architecture, and the Crystal Palace was a perfect illustration of this. It was a “famous exhibition hall designed by Sir Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London” (Crystal Palace). In addition, “because of its great size and its innovative use of glass and iron in prefabricated units, it is considered a milestone in the development of modern architecture” (Crystal Palace). The Crystal Palace held many cultural contests and exhibits such as art, music, and theatre. Furthermore, Enderby Jackson, “one of the most talented musical entrepreneurs of the mid-Victorian period, claimed to have invented the brass band contest”, and “one of his major achievements was the establishment of contests held at the Crystal Palace” (Herbert 1). The Crystal Palace changed the viewing of any form of entertainment forever because “the new venue was a centre for entertainment at a national level rather than a merely local level (Herbert 1). This milestone was key in the Victorian Age due to the fact that it let people share and express their cultural ideas to the masses.

Another change in the Victorian Period was in science and technology. The Victorians “invented the modern idea of invention -- the notion that one can create solutions to problems, that man can create new means of bettering himself and his environment” (Victorian England). These changes ranged “from advances in medical, scientific and technological knowledge to changes in population growth and location” (Victorian England). Most of these changes were influenced directly by the First Industrial Revolution, and when “the Industrial Revolution gathered steam, it accelerated the migration of the population from country to city” (Victorian England).  The result of this movement was “the development of horrifying slums and cramped row housing in the overcrowded cities” (Victorian England). However, the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850 helped turn the situation around “when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships and railways” (Victorian Period). Overall, this era proved to be one of great cultural change, which led to economic prosperity and cultural innovations for the future.

 

Works Cited

"CRYSTAL PALACE." (n.d.): Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. EBSCO. Web. 26 Apr. 2011

Herbert, Trevor."Music for the multitude: accounts of brass bands entering Enderby Jackson's Crystal Palace contests in the 1860s." Early Music 38.4 (2010): 571-584. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.

"Victorian England: An Introduction." English. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. 

        <http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm>.

Picture Source

"Palace Transept The Transept at the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace, the glass and iron building designed by Joseph Paxton, at Hyde Park, London. Original Artwork: From Dickinsons' Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -- Image Date: 01/01/1851 -- Image Date: 01/01/1851." (1851): Image Collection. EBSCO. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

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