Decadence

Decadence was the name given, first by hostile critics, and then triumphantly adopted by some writers themselves, to a number of late nineteenth century fin de siècle writers associated with Symbolism or the Aesthetic movement.

Related Topics:
Nineteenth century - Fin de siècle - Symbolism - Aesthetic movement

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The idea of decadence refers to the supposed decline of a society because of moral weakness. The favourite example of this is ancient Rome, where, the story has it, a great empire was laid low by wicked emperors like Nero. The more dissolute emperors (Nero, Caligula, etc) ruled hundreds of years before the end of the empire.

Related Topics:
Ancient Rome - Nero - Caligula - The end of the empire

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The concept of decadence dates from the eighteenth century, especially from Montesquieu. It was taken up by critics as a term of abuse after Désiré Nisard used it against Victor Hugo and Romanticism in general. A later generation of Romantics, such as Theophile Gautier and Charles Baudelaire took the word as a badge of pride, as a sign of their rejection of what they saw as banal "progress." In the 1880s a group of French writers referred to themselves as decadents. The classic novel from this group is Joris-Karl Huysmans' Against Nature. As a literary movement decadence is now regarded as a transition between Romanticism and Modernism.

Related Topics:
Eighteenth century - Montesquieu - Désiré Nisard - Victor Hugo - Romanticism - Theophile Gautier - Charles Baudelaire - Progress - 1880s - French writers - Novel - Joris-Karl Huysmans - Against Nature - Modernism

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In modern use, decadence is often defined as a decline in or loss of excellence, obstructing the pursuit of ideals. It is typified by the elevation of cleverness, education, and intellectual pretension over experience, and is often considered materialistic.

Related Topics:
Ideal - Education - Pretension - Experience - Materialistic

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