Exploring the Influence of Baroque Art and Architecture on the Works of John Donne in Contemporary Culture

Abstract

This paper explores the relation of Baroque art and architecture through the works of John Donne and its relevance to modern culture. By analyzing the hallmark emotional intensity, dramatic contrasts, and spatial complexity that denote the Baroque aesthetic, this study lays open deep parallels with Donne's metaphysical poetry—especially in his exploration of themes related to love, death, faith, and divine transcendence. The paper achieves this by tracing cases in modern film, literature, and architecture, showing how Donne's Baroque sensibilities help fire some contemporary cultural productions, ranging from cinematic treatments of existential themes to the grand architectural designs evoking the spatial dynamics of the Baroque. This work contributes to the wider knowledge of how Baroque art and Donne's poetic legacy stimulated modern creative expressions and underlined the relevance of the 17th-century determinant influence in shaping spiritual and philosophical concerns today.