Difference between revisions of "Decadence"
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
Middle French, from Medieval Latin decadentia, from Late Latin decadent-, decadens, present participle of decadere to fall, sink | Middle French, from Medieval Latin decadentia, from Late Latin decadent-, decadens, present participle of decadere to fall, sink | ||
| − | *Date: [ | + | *Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1530] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1 : the [[process]] of becoming decadent : the [[quality]] or state of being decadent | *1 : the [[process]] of becoming decadent : the [[quality]] or state of being decadent | ||
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'''Decadence''' can refer to a [[personal]] [[trait]], or to the [[state]] of a [[society]] (or segment of it). Used to describe a person's [[lifestyle]]. Concise Oxford Dictionary: "a [[luxurious]] [[self]]-indulgence". Oscar Wilde gave a curious definition: "Classicism is the subordination of the [[parts]] to the [[whole]]; decadence is the subordination of the whole to the parts." | '''Decadence''' can refer to a [[personal]] [[trait]], or to the [[state]] of a [[society]] (or segment of it). Used to describe a person's [[lifestyle]]. Concise Oxford Dictionary: "a [[luxurious]] [[self]]-indulgence". Oscar Wilde gave a curious definition: "Classicism is the subordination of the [[parts]] to the [[whole]]; decadence is the subordination of the whole to the parts." | ||
| − | In [[literature]], the [ | + | In [[literature]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decadent_movement Decadent movement]—late nineteenth century [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_de_si%C3%A8cle fin de siècle] [[writers]] who were [[associated]] with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts) Symbolism] or the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetic_movement Aesthetic movement]—was first given its [[name]] by hostile critics, and then the [[name]] was triumphantly adopted by some [[writers]] themselves. These "decadents" relished artifice over the earlier Romantics' [[naive]] view of [[nature]].. Some of these [[writers]] were [[influenced]] by the [[tradition]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_novel Gothic novel] and by the [[poetry]] and [[fiction]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe Edgar Allan Poe]. |
| − | In a [[social]] [[context]], the word 'decadent' is often used to describe corrosive decline due to a [[perceived]] [[erosion]] of [[moral]] [[traditions]] (A [[society]] that discards unnecessary and outmoded [[values]] would not be considered decadent, although [[perceptions]] of "unnecessary and outmoded" significantly vary). Due to [[arguments]] over the [[nature]] of [[morality]], whether a [[society]] is decadent or not is a matter of [[debate]].[ | + | In a [[social]] [[context]], the word 'decadent' is often used to describe corrosive decline due to a [[perceived]] [[erosion]] of [[moral]] [[traditions]] (A [[society]] that discards unnecessary and outmoded [[values]] would not be considered decadent, although [[perceptions]] of "unnecessary and outmoded" significantly vary). Due to [[arguments]] over the [[nature]] of [[morality]], whether a [[society]] is decadent or not is a matter of [[debate]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decadence] |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*'''''[[Degeneration]]''''' | *'''''[[Degeneration]]''''' | ||
Latest revision as of 23:43, 12 December 2020
Etymology
Middle French, from Medieval Latin decadentia, from Late Latin decadent-, decadens, present participle of decadere to fall, sink
- Date: 1530
Definitions
- 1 : the process of becoming decadent : the quality or state of being decadent
- 2 : a period of decline
Description
Decadence can refer to a personal trait, or to the state of a society (or segment of it). Used to describe a person's lifestyle. Concise Oxford Dictionary: "a luxurious self-indulgence". Oscar Wilde gave a curious definition: "Classicism is the subordination of the parts to the whole; decadence is the subordination of the whole to the parts."
In literature, the Decadent movement—late nineteenth century fin de siècle writers who were associated with Symbolism or the Aesthetic movement—was first given its name by hostile critics, and then the name was triumphantly adopted by some writers themselves. These "decadents" relished artifice over the earlier Romantics' naive view of nature.. Some of these writers were influenced by the tradition of the Gothic novel and by the poetry and fiction of Edgar Allan Poe.
In a social context, the word 'decadent' is often used to describe corrosive decline due to a perceived erosion of moral traditions (A society that discards unnecessary and outmoded values would not be considered decadent, although perceptions of "unnecessary and outmoded" significantly vary). Due to arguments over the nature of morality, whether a society is decadent or not is a matter of debate.[1]
