To live for art: the history of decadence

The mysterious and charming word "decadence" is known not only from the well-known line from Agatha Christie's song "Opium for Anybody." At different times, humanity denoted this word a long string of cultural phenomena: from the era in art to individual social trends that absorbed the elements of decadence. To live with a break, with a tear, along the sharp edge of a sharpened razor, over a cracked friable glass - these are the characteristic features of decadence, still causing a secret or overt interest.

The history of that decadence, as we know it today, began not so long ago, but is rich in colorful examples, personalities and descriptions. The eighteenth and nineteenth century is the epoch of grandiose changes and it is during this period that the history of "desperate aesthetes", the destruction of generally accepted borders, the history of decadence begins.

For the first time the term "decadence" was used as a designation of cultural phenomena in the Roman Empire, derived from the Latin decadentia and the French décadence, which means a decline, a fall. Now decadence is identified with the Gothic subculture, but this definition is not entirely true. In the late nineteenth century, many writers who combined in their work some elements of symbolism, aesthetics and romanticism, found inspiration in the works of Edgar Allan Po-author of the above-mentioned directions, as well as the so-called. "Gothic novel." The philosophy of decadence combines the creative approach to reality, the eternal search for beauty in decline: death, despair, sinful sensuality. The culture of decadents is characterized by freedom of individuality, renunciation of generally accepted moral norms and stereotypes, freedom of thought and way of life, and also in non-acceptance of the idea of the afterlife as such. Thus, modern Gothic only absorbed the features of decadence, but these concepts are not identical.

The rapid development of the very idea of decadence began after the publication of the philosophical and historical treatise "Reflections on the causes of the greatness and fall of the Romans." In it, Charles-Louis de Montesquieu, a well-known French philosopher and writer, reflects on the freedom and active participation of the people in the life of the state, as a guarantee of the development of society. On the example of the Roman Empire, Montesquieu argues that only in an independent state where personal freedom of citizens is preserved, prosperity may reign, in other cases society is doomed to decline and degeneracy. Later, these terms - decline and degeneracy - came into use as literary critics. However, the authors of that time were not ashamed of their "decadent spirit". On the contrary, they were proud of him.

So decadence did not become a dirty term, but turned into a symbol of rebellion and creative protest. As a social phenomenon, it blossoms in the late nineteenth century - it was during this period that the essay "Decadent movement in literature" by Arthur Simons, the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, caused considerable controversy in England, and the living embodiment of aristocratic decadence becomes Robert de Montesquiou, A French writer and a fiery aesthetic who made dandyism and art the style of his life. During this same period, the idea of aestheticism, a free form prevailing over the content, life for the sake of beauty, grace and sensuality, is cultivated, while decadent writers emphasize that real art does not have to be approached as a form of morality. In fact, any moral organization adopted in society is rejected and considered obsolete.

From now on, decadence goes beyond art and becomes an independent trend, mood and philosophy. It not only recognizes the features of symbolism, romanticism, individualism, but also aestheticism, dandyism, aristocracy. Around the same time, decadence served as a starting point for modernism. Oscar Wilde, a great influence on the philosophy of decadence and aestheticism, was famous not only for his refined stories and a restrainedly ironic perception of the world, but also wrote a comprehensive preface to the reissue of his novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". In it, he detailed and accurately expresses the basic ideas of aesthetics, which he was devoted to all his life: the author is allowed to depict anything in his works, and vice, immorality, just like virtue, purity is only the basis of his creativity. As Wilde emphasized, there is no concept of immorality in art, there is only a talented or mediocre manner of execution.

In addition to Wilde, the era of decline shone with such ambiguous personalities as Ernest Dawson, Charles Baudelaire, Zinaida Gippius, Maria Corelli, and others. The decadence symbols that are recognizable and still associated with the dark defect are manifested: absinthe, cylinder, strict costumes, accentuated elegance, Barely noticeable and supposedly casual negligence, lengthy talk about art and life in one day. Decadence is not peculiar to hysteria, but theatrical pretentiousness, mannerism, passionate desperation, sensual expression, a combination of cold aristocratism and flaming emotions are also one of the characteristic features of decadence.

Echoes of ancient decadence are heard today: in music, his aesthetics were used by Obermaneken, the Cabaret of the mad Pierrot, Agatha Christie, Dead Can Dance, Marilyn Manson. In the works of the latter, the influence of dandyism in general and decadence in particular is particularly evident on the album The Golden Age Of Grotesque.

In modern decadence a lot of retro glamor and Gothic, but the dedication of the old decadent art has already forgotten. To date, this is just one form of masquerade, which also unites "decay": pessimistic moods, desperate wringing of hands and fake blood on the wrists of suicides. Romanticization of darkness and death is still of interest, but the era of grandiose accomplishments is already behind, and with it the tendency to bring art to life and to make art your life has disappeared.