AESTHETICISM

WHAT IS AESTHETICISM?

• As defined by Dictionary.com; Aestheticism is the acceptance of artistic beauty and taste as a fundamental standard, ethical and other standards being secondary.
• It was a literary movement which adopted the approach to life that emphasised the importance of art above all else, and the pleasure which could be found in beautiful things.
• It was centred around the doctrine that art exists for the sake of it's beauty alone, and it does not need to dictate any other purpose, wether political or social.
• The use of peacock feathers to symbolise decadence, the sunflower and strong, bold colours where all fundamental characteristics of this movement.

First key feature of Aestheticism; the sunflower.
There are many reasons why the sunflower was chosen to represent the movement of aestheticism.
In the Victorian language of flowers, the sunflower represented 'adoration', which is a key principle of aestheticism.
The Grosvenor Gallery was the only gallery who would display the paintings of leading aesthetic artists after the rejection from other superior galleries. The interior of the Grosvenor gallery was dark green and yellow.
The sunflower was also used to represent their movement as the gay pride flag for homosexuals today, where many would celebrate their belief by wearing a sunflower.

Further key features of the movement of aestheticism; the peacock, peacock feathers and the use of bold, strong colours.
Whistler's Peacock room is a perfect example of the use of decadence through the peacock feather and utilisation of bold, strong colours to uphold the values of aestheticism. It was designed by James Mcniell Whistler for the wealthy shipping Tycoon Frederick Leyland.
It featured the large scale frieze of stylised peacocks, gold on turquoise blue which wound around the walls of the dinning room.
This expression of beauty was the main stigma of the Aesthetic movement.

DEVELOPMENT OF AESTHETICISM

• The Development of the Aesthetic movement; In the 1860's, in studios and houses, a radical group of artists and designers emerged. These included personas such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Muris. They were angry young reformers who had explored new ways of living in spite of the 'horrendous design standard', which was showcased in the 1851 Great Exhibition. Over the next two decades, the ideal of aestheticism captivated architects and craftworkers, poets, critics and philosophers who where all dedicated to the cause of 'pure beauty.' "Art for art's sake" was the battle cry of the aesthetics, which was derived from the French poet, Theophile Gautier. In literature, the British decadent writer and Oxford professor Walter Pater began the aesthetic branch. His essays were published during the 1860's where he stated 'Life had to be lived intensely with an ideal of beauty.' They believed art didn't have any didactic purpose, "it only had to be beautiful." Predecessors of the aesthetic movement included John Keats and Percy Shelley. In Britain the best representatives were Oscar Wilde and Algernon Charles Swinburne, who were both influenced by French symbolises, James Mcniell Whilster and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

OSCAR WILDE

• Quotes: "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." "There is only one thing in life worse then being talked about, and that is not being talked about." "My own business always bored me to death; I prefer other people's" "I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability" "Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit."

MAJOR WORKS

• Vera (1880)
• The Dutchess of Padua (1883)
• Salome (1883)
• The Happy Prince and Other Stories (1888)
• The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
• Intentions (1891)
• Lord Authur Savile's Crime and Other Stories (1891)
• A Horse of Pomegranates (1891)
• Lady Windermere's fan (1892)

WRITING STYLE

• Incorporate elements of fantasy and realism into his works
• A high use of imagery with frequent morbid imagery
• Was the master of morbidity; most viewers found it distasteful
• He preferred the usage of dialog over action in scenes
• As seen in the Picture of Dorian Gray, the use of paradox was his favourite stylistic device; critics belittled its effectiveness
• Epitomised the reality of human nature and the darkness within ones soul
• Illuminated upon the darker side to life
• Had a lust for immorality; evident in the cover of Dorian Gray

CRITICISM

• He defied the Victorian era codes for morality and conduct.
• Homosexuality was considered extremely shameful and was punished severely
• Wilde was a prominent figure in upper society, most of the men he associated with where younger and lower in class.
• This added onto the disgust of society as homosexuality was classified as a learned practice. As well as Wilde's flamboyant dress, his lifestyle was shunned.
• This verdict affected societies views upon his literary works; people began to question the content of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Society projected them as containing obscene behaviours, and they shunned the works which they once loved.