Aries
Radical expressionism
Neptune entered 1862.
In the year 1862, Victor Hugo published "Les Misérables", and in Russia Dostoyevsky could not be stopped, in spite of a fake death sentence and severe punishment in Siberia. With words mysteriously enlightened, he presented his findings about mankind and its spirit.
Neptune returns 2026.


Taurus
Traditional realism
Neptune entered 1875.
Impressionism sought to catch the moment, thereby revealing more about reality. Bizet made opera realistic in his "Carmen", opening - and closing - in 1875, while Zola stretched it to naturalism, getting many followers worldwide. There was a soiled modern world to be exposed.
Neptune returns 2039.


Gemini
Experimental symbolism
Neptune entered 1888.
Art used primarily to com­mu­nicate, to exchange thoughts and ask questions rather than answer them. Oscar Wilde ex­celled at it. Rodin Made "The Thinker" in 1888, but other artist, such as van Gogh and Gauguin, were less traditional and found their very own expressions.
Neptune returns 2052.


Cancer
Radical romanticism
Neptune entered 1902.
In 1901 Picasso began his blue period, paintings radical in form, yet full of melancholy. Jack London's "Call of the Wild" was published in 1903. Mahler, celebrated these years, wrote music of forceful compassion. This period expressed grand sentiments with renewed force.
Neptune returns 2066.


Leo
Traditional expressionism
Neptune entered 1915.
The importance of individual expression, without rules, was awakened by dadaism in 1916. The pompous was the­re, though masked with ordi­nary objects, as it was in Griffith's film "Birth of the Nation" in 1915, and later another giant was born in the movies: Valentino.
Neptune returns 2079.


Virgo
Experimental realism
Neptune entered 1929.
Art searched for the inner workings of reality. Freud was nourishment to Salvador Dalí, and literature also dealt with man's hidden aspects. In 1929 came D H Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover". Cine­mas were captured by dramas with Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.
Neptune returns 2093.


Libra
Radical symbolism
Neptune entered 1943.
Harmony and a good order dominated all art forms. Saint-Exupéry's "Petit Prince" was published in 1943, also Sart­re's "L'Etre et le Néant". Mon­drian died in 1944, but his abstract art searching for ultimate equilibrium had many followers. Jazz became popular.
Neptune returns 2107.


Scorpio
Traditional romanticism
Neptune entered 1956.
This was a period of populistic sentiment, but also of focus on inner turmoil and tension. Tol­kien's "Lord of the Rings" was published in 1955, so was Nabokov's "Lolita". The art belonged to Andy Warhol, and to the comic strips, music was Elvis, then Beatles.
Neptune returns 2120.


Sagittarius
Experimental expressionism
Neptune entered 1970.
Political activism demanded the art scene as its outlet, bor­ders were broken. Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" from 1940 was published, so was "Slaughterhouse Five" by Vonnegut. Space was a movie theme. On stage Bowie, followed by punk.
Previous entry 1806.


Capricorn
Radical realism
Neptune entered 1984.
Constructive ambitions lead to installations as the prominent art form - reality, but still odd. Stephen King revealed the hor­rors of small towns, be­coming thrillers also on cinema. Michael Jackson, then Madonna, made music on a colossal stage, yet grab­bing even private parts.
Previous entry 1820.


Aquarius
Traditional symbolism
Neptune entered 1998.
Titanic sinks anew, as an ar­chetype on civilization and love killed by it, but still not dead. Art will turn towards the old motifs and penetrate them anew, music will search for sophistication and to mean more than some weeks on the charts, literature makes mythology of contemporary themes.
Previous entry 1834.


Pisces
Experimental romanticism
Neptune enters 2012.
With no certain and lasting truths found in the previous pe­riod, art will let go of its forms for a quest in the wil­derness. Literature will deal with human alienation and frustration, religious themes will reappear - also in music and the movies. Idols will shine, but not last for long.
Previous entry 1848.

© Stefan Stenudd, 2006.