aestheticism and decadence
started in the 19th century in France with the theory of Gautier
sense of frustation
against middle class's materialism
art is superior and needs to represent self-expression of the artist
"art for art's sake" bohemiens escaped into an aesthtic isolation, they wanted to find beauty and art, also for Keats : art=beauty
Walter Pater published "Marius the Epicurean"
life as a work of art
art= only way to stop time
rejects religious faith
features of decadent artists
sensuous attitude
perversity
excessive attention to the self
evocative use of the language
dandy: a person who proposes a fashionable way of living, a model of what to be ex. Oscar Wilde the yellow book (1894-1897) Bearseley periodicals
Victorian Drama
1700-19th century, several factors can explain this situation
presence of great actors and actresses whose virtuosity often turnes very poor stuff into a great success
middle class didn't appreciate drama as a form of art, actors=vagabonds
rise of the novel
power of theatrical managers, they yook place of literary patrons and decided what plays might appeal to the audience and give financial returns
smaller plays , they helped the appreciation voth tragedy and comedy
improvements made the theatres more confortable and the new methods, more realistic effects
hard-hearted conspiring villains and happy endings with the triumph of true love and the punishment of the vilain
Wilde wrote brilliant comedies, most important characteristics were humourous, witty remarks ro expose the fault and hypocrisy of his age
Shaw wrote about drama as a vehicle for presenting his views on social institutions and human experiences in a provocative way
virtuos heroine in danger( romantic plot)
Ibsen influenced a lot of english works as A Doll's House (1879), cause a scandal, dealing with a failed image, he encouraged writers to write about social problems of his period