In many Wikipedia articles and threads on this subreddit about various nationalistic movements from the 19th century (like Italian unification nationalism, Czechoslovak nationalism, Serbian nationalism, etc...) it is noted that the "intellegentsia" played a crucial role in propelling nationalistic movements forward, by writing "patriotic/nationalistic literature".
For example, poets would write "patriotic poetry", writers would write "nationalistic novels", and philosophs and artists would somehow do their part too.
And most importantly: how "did it work"?
I find it hard to believe that a bunch of smart people just decided to join up together and "create nationalism" like it is a business plan for the establishment for a new business.
Also, the intellegentsia existed outside the nationalistic framework, too, right? It did not solely exist to "create nationalism", right?
What did the works of culture they created to support nationalism look like? What would a patriotic piece of poetry or a nationalistic novel look like? Like, what makes it different from a non-patriotic or non-nationalistic piece of poetry or novel? What about drawn art or philosophical texts? What about other things that were created in pursuing this goal?
How did these works of culture help propel the movement forward? I find it hard to believe that reading a novel would suddenly enflame my desire for a United States of Europe (I already do but that is besides the point), especially if I am illiterate or at least not literate in my country's language, like most people in oppressed countries in the 19th century were.
Well let's look at such an example. In 1808-09 Finland was conquered by the Russian Empire. An oft quoted saying from the time, I'm paraphrasing from memory, "we are no longer Swedish, we shall not become Russians, let us therefore become Finns."
Before this Finland only existed in vague terms. It was inhabited by Swedes (many who would alter be ethnically considered separately as Finns, this distinction did not yet exist), some who spoke Swedish, most who spoke Finnish and some Russian. Most were Lutheran except the minority Russian Orthodox mostly overlapping with the Russian speakers. Since the Swedish state wasn't monolingual or -ethnic, and had never been, it's administration dealt in most languages needed at the immediate local level. Though at the higher levels Swedish would dominate until you hit the Royal court who spoke whatever was fashionable at the time, the century leading up to this that was French. There was an administration for Finland to deal with the Finnish languages and the realities over governing a poorly developed region with lacklustre communications so e.g. in the 17th century a royal high court and university were established in the then capital Åbo/Turku. Also helped by the region being earlier partitioned as a royal duchy elevated in name if little else to a grand duchy.
What am trying to describe here that there existed a vague notion of a "Finland" in 1808-09 but what it was to be wasn't decided yet. Most of those who did this deciding then would 200 years later have been considered be the wrong people.
And yes, they did kind of all decide to create patriotism. A lot of it comes from outside pressure, the Romanticism movement is fuelled by the insecurities of the former European Empire hegemony collapsing in the wake of the Napoleonic wars.
It would emphasis promoting a natural and cultural, linguistic unity. So e.g. you would plumb the depths of what you considered your intrinsic national mythos. In Scandinavia this was vikings. In Finland eventually the Kalevala mythos. Painters would paint magnificent views of the countryside. Cliffs, mountains, castles, rivers what have you. Basically, "look at how much damn cool stuff we have, be proud!" Or real and imaginary works/actions in history. Famous battles, myths, things like the tragic heroic death of kings. "This is how awesome we are! Don't you dare mess with us! Be proud damit!". Poets would describe the nature, or myths or historical events in new or retold texts. "Listen to how bloody cool we are! Be moved by it. Be proud I told you! Proud! No, more than that! Are you even trying?!?". Obviously all of these would influence each other. You painted the feelings of listening to a heroic poem of how someone did something heroic. The poet wrote a poem after being moved by your heroic painting. Then someone writes a musical score on that poem about heroic sacrifice and the grandeur of your nations nature. And bam you got a the Finnish national anthem.
Well, it has to be a good book! Like I say above, everyone inspired everyone else. I won't lie, when I cracked the spine of grandmother's copy of the "Tales of Ensign Stål" which she probably got from the government in 1939 in the depths of the Winter War, and read it it stirs my heart. Heck does now just remembering it. Tales of tragic doomed heroism! War! Death! Famine! A really really stupid soldier named Sven Dufva. It consequently never names the man who may or may not have betrayed the entire nation. Imagine and epic cycle describing the American Revolutionary War but never ever naming Benedict Arnold. That, my friends is how you diss someone. It's got everything. I can even still recite the death of Dufva, (I'm, wildly paraphrasing here, it's been 30 years since I read it and am going for feeling not accuracy in translation)
...that bullet knew it's final destiny!
Not a headshot for poor Sven Dufva, no, unburdened by heavy thoughts was he,
and weak was his forehead like to be.Nay! His heart the bullet found instead! And good and true a place of rest,
the surest one around.That place of honour did it strike, the part of him it was said t'was the best.
Laid him low as he stood alone, surrounded by the enemy.
I'm likely butchering the passages seven ways til Sunday, yet just thinking about it and translating it is moving me.
This suit of poems was first published in 1848. And form something of a national epic for Finland. Also, note, it was written in Swedish. The national anthem is taken from here.
Then you have people go around and spread the message. You hold exhibitions of patriotic art. Students travel to distant parts and recite the poems, stage plays, play music. Also the drink a lot and sings these songs together. Preferably out of earshot of the foreign authorities. You print a lot of the texts and distribute them. Use them in schools or informal home education.
A lot of other stuff gets added, Elias Lönnroth goes around Karelia to collect old folksongs and tales about the pre-Christian myths of Finland which then forms another leg of nationbuilding.
Slowly piece by piece you create a shared picture of past, present and future for a people who didn't sued to be now are a nation.
The "Tales" creates the foundation of a people as separate from the other people it thought it was part of. Through the defeat and disaster we conclude that we are no longer a whole but twos separate parts. But we are still "us", this "us" we present here.
I'd suggest looking at the wikipedia page of The Tales of Ensign Stål because it shows how these different outlets, poems, art etc tie together. In the gallery listing below.
My previous answer here may provide some insight as to how the European intelligentsia spurred the nationalist movement in the Philippines.