Decadence is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged at the end of the 19th century. It arose as a reaction to the optimism and rationality characteristic of that time, when people were fascinated by science and technological progress. What is decadence in simple words? It is an attempt by artists and writers to show another side of reality – dark, melancholic, even a bit gloomy. They sought beauty in decay, like leaves falling in autumn, when you realize that it is both an end and a beginning.
Sometimes decadence may seem like something very depressing. But in reality, it captivates people by reminding them that even in decay there is a certain beauty. Just as an artist paints an old, half-destroyed house, showing its history and charm. This is decadence: the ability to see the unobvious attractiveness in what is already losing its shine.
Decadence is still interesting to many because it offers an unconventional view of the world. People always strive for something new and unusual, and decadence allows for contemplation of the complexity and depth of life. It teaches to accept its ambiguity and to appreciate moments that seem insignificant, yet are filled with emotions and meaning.
Key features of decadence:
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Pessimism and a sense of cultural crisis;
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Escape from reality (into mysticism, exoticism, dreams, death);
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Cult of beauty, sometimes sickly or artificial;
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Individualism, isolation of the artist;
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Distrust in progress and science;
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Often – eroticism, decadent hedonism, themes of corruption and decay.
Famous representatives of decadence:
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Oscar Wilde (England)
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Charles Baudelaire (France)
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Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Verlaine
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Mikhail Kotsyubynsky, Olga Kobylianska, Lesya Ukrainka (some works)
In art: Decadence is reflected in:
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literature (symbolism, impressionism);
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painting (for example, Gustav Klimt);
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music (late Richard Wagner, Claude Debussy).
