Toward the end of the nineteenth century, a new phenomenon arose in European art and literature. It became known as decadence. What it is? Translated from French (or even from medieval Latin), this word means "sunset", "decline". Initially, it was used by historians to describe the situation that developed in the culture of late Rome in the era of antiquity.
But then the artists themselves adopted the term, after which it acquired a slightly different meaning. Decadence began to be considered something special, opposing philistinism and respectable burghers. In Russian art and literary criticism, a different term is often used. It's "decadence".
In the visual arts, supporters and adherents of the new phenomenon often opposed the formalization of such a popular and generally accepted style as academicism. The representatives of decadence, in fact, were modernists and longed for new forms, which, in their opinion, were more in line with the complex and often contradictory nature of modern culture. In addition, writers and poets who wrote in this style strove for unlimited self-expression. They were interested not so much in the fate of society as in questions of personal existence, or rather, itslimbs. No wonder we often associate decadence with death.
The meaning of the word has, of course, changed, and in today's culture it means a kind of rapture in ugliness, sadness and fear. In a word, what is dear to the so-called Goths. But in those days, poets, artists and writers did not just aspire to be “death lovers.”
They also tried to open this rather taboo subject by the "philistines".
And so we say to ourselves: decadence… what is it? Where did this phenomenon come from and what does it mean? We are trying not just to put a label on him, but to understand why these people are often called immoral. After all, these are the great creators - Verlaine, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Theophile Gauthier … Perhaps because many of them believed that the moral norms of their contemporary society were also outdated and turned into formal categories. And, perhaps, these norms required expansion. It is commonly believed that decadent poets like Oscar Wilde were fascinated by evil. But this writer and esthete actually suffered for his homosexual inclinations. And today, many human rights activists advocate that such people should have the opportunity for self-realization.
Decadence… What is it? This is exactly what the famous 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche asked himself. And he answered this as follows: these are the times when culture dies, becomes its opposite, and a person weakens and loses the will to live and to power. He was echoed by Spengler. The culture of modern Europe tends tosunset and loses all its main positions. However, the 20th century has shown us that this ambiguous phenomenon was only a harbinger of change. Perhaps its adherents felt the approach of a severe crisis, world wars and upheavals. After all, our morality has actually changed. And now the word "decadence" is back in fashion. What does this mean for modern man? For some, this is a passion for the art of the 19th century, for someone - the rapture of death, and for someone - just an album of the Agatha Christie group. We live in a time of pluralism. The choice is ours.
