Comparing Going Dutch and Worlds of Wonder

1466 Words3 Pages

Although there are many contrasts to the works, a close examination reveals similarities. Jardine and Hall discuss continuous communication across space as a way of transmitting culture and ideas. In both books, a body of water, the narrow sea and the Atlantic oceans represents the space that provides the media for transference. As culture impacts art and vice versa, both scholars focus on a particular art form or multiple art forms contributing to a mutual marriage. This cultural relationship is strengthened by ongoing exchange. Both works also discuss economic interest as a catalyst of exchange. Jardine uses art dealers and opportunistic collectors as drivers of the exchange. For Hall’s part, a collaboration of writers, printers, and booksellers take on this role. Personal profit proves to be an incentive for ongoing exchange. Furthermore, on both sides of each scholar’s particular space, the cross cultural exchange succeeded local changes particular to each locale. This paper discusses these local catalysts in the following paragraphs that discuss each work’s uniqueness. These paragraphs will also reveal the specific evidence that establishes the aforementioned similarities between the two books. The summary of the similarities are clear – interaction between peoples separated by a space, as far as Jardine and Hall are concerned, creates a familiarity between the two peoples resulting in changes on both sides that favor continuation of the relationship.

For Lisa Jardine’s part, she examines an exchange of art, music, science, architecture, interior and exterior design. By the time of the Glorious Revolution in 1688, England had adopted many Dutch and continental forms. Dutch art rose popularity in England in the years precedi...

... middle of paper ...

...re that impacted personal relationships, the appearance of civilization, and mutual technological advancements. The new landscape could not have been possible without the elite drivers and succeeding middling accompaniment. For Hall, middle class settlers fleeing religious persecution transmitted their faith and need or learning and information to a new space thousands of miles away dwarfing Jardine's comparable narrow space between England and Holland. The ongoing relationship between England and her northernmost colony in the seventeenth century led to a profitable exchange of ideas that contributed to English literature, the emerging American literature, and drastic reformation of Puritan ideals. These work show that this type of communication across short and long distances, and between ethnically and politically differing peoples contribute to mutual benefits.

Open Document