Romanticera

Romanticera is a term used in contemporary cultural discourse to describe a proposed movement that fuses Romantic-era sensibilities—emphasis on emotion, individual conscience, nature, and imagination—with the conditions of the 21st century, including digital media and global connectivity. In some analyses, Romanticera refers to a set of practices and aesthetics rather than a formal doctrine.

Etymology and scope: The word combines romantic and era, drawing on the historical Romantic movement of the late 18th to mid-19th centuries, while positioning its principles within a new epoch defined by rapid technological change and social media. The term is used variably, sometimes as a critical lens, sometimes as self-description by artists or writers.

Origins and development: Romanticera appears in online essays, literary criticism, and speculative fiction since the 2010s. It is not a stable, widely adopted label; its meaning shifts with its users. Proponents describe it as a response to perceived emotional desensitization in a hyperconnected world, urging renewed attention to intimate life, moral imagination, and nature.

Concepts and practices: Core ideas include emphasis on authenticity and emotional intelligibility, reverence for nature or the sublime, and art that foregrounds personal relationships as ethical or political acts. It may manifest in novels, poetry, music, visual art, and experiential installations that prioritize contemplative pace, tactile aesthetics, and empathetic storytelling. Critics sometimes frame Romanticera as a critique of technocratic rationality and commodified romance.

Reception and status: Given its informal and variable usage, Romanticera lacks scholarly consensus and formal principles. It is best understood as a flexible frame for discussing certain modern artistic tendencies rather than a defined tradition. Related concepts include Romanticism, digital humanities perspectives on affect, and contemporary neoromantic movements.