West University of Timișoara

Intellectual History of America

2023

AESTHETICS
And ‘the Aesthetic movement in its American cultural context’

Szaniszlo Anne-Marie

American Studies MA, year I

Contents

General Understanding.............................................................................................................3

American History.......................................................................................................................3

In Pursuit of Beauty and the ‘Aesthetic movement in its American cultural context’........5

Today’s understanding of the term...........................................................................................7

Conclusions.................................................................................................................................8

Works Cited....................................................................................................................................9
General Understanding

The term aesthetic is generally understood as a movement that had originally been brought
through emphasising art in all of its forms, including paintings, films, media, publications,
literature, war, and history, as well as furniture and home décor. The mid-18th century, with the
blooming of the explorations into beauty, taste, and the sublime, is most suited to current
depictions of this movement.

The topic of aesthetics has shown to be both universal and specific, making it "notoriously
difficult" to put into words (Castronovo). Additionally, the American quest for a unique identity
was shaped throughout the Revolutionary period, this idealisation permeating the arts as well,
with a rising desire to forge an original American style. Therefore, neoclassicism, which
emphasised simplicity and classical values, became more and more popular.

American History

Nevertheless, the concept of aestheticism and the history of America are closely related since
they represent the country's political, social, and cultural evolution over time. This era
highlighted the value of beauty and art for the enjoyment of creativity, rejecting the idea that art
should have a moral or political purpose, putting an emphasis on the pursuit of pleasure, an
appreciation of beauty, and the development of a refined sensibility.

Aestheticism had significant impacts on books, artistic endeavours, and lifestyle in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in American history, such as literature, visual arts, and
the worship of beauty. Aesthetic ideas influenced writers such as Oscar Wilde, although Irish,
which had a huge effect on American literature and society as a leading character in the Aesthetic
Movement. His writings, including "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and aesthetic essays, impacted
American authors and philosophers. Dorian Gray, the protagonist, sells his soul to guarantee that
his 'picture' aged while he remains young and charming, representing the implications of a life
devoted only to aesthetic pursuits.
Wilde lived a showy and dandyish lifestyle, emphasizing aesthetics in his appearance and
surroundings, even though his art and beliefs questioned established standards, promoting
individualism, beauty, and the pursuit of pleasure. While Wilde's life ended tragically, his legacy
as a key player in the Aesthetic Movement is still researched and valued for its impact on
literature, art, and the larger cultural environment.

Figure 1 The Picture of Dorian Gray ~ Oscar Wilde

In Pursuit of Beauty and the ‘Aesthetic movement in its American cultural
context’

Figure 2. drawing made by my great grandma (cca. 1980) on transfer paper - digitalized

As the chapter title implies, The Pursuit of Beauty effectively illustrates the aesthetic movement
in its American creative context. According to Stein (23), the aesthetic time frame was viewed as
a "period of extraordinarily rich cultural exertion" in the United States, and any piece produced
during this time period is the result of highly valued societal high standards ranging from
products designed for wealthy consumers to extensively manufactured goods. This publication
has been selected because it provides an in-depth examination of how aesthetic influence has
affected specific fields of art and thought and how relevant it is now.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (24), for example, concluded that in order to comprehend the
nature of the aesthetic movement's appeal within the American context, it is necessary to
establish the date and place of creation of an aesthetic art object. The challenge and response
may be seen as an aesthetic representation of the artist's perspective as well as how directors and
consumers view the final product if these ideas are taken into account as elements that integrate
the process of creating and changing culture.

The aesthetic movement, which "adapted the cultural language of natural forms to new purposes"
(Stein 23), was an early component of the evolution of aestheticism and had an important
influence on the visual sector, arguing that art should be valued for its pure beauty rather than for
expressing an ethical or societal message. Because a large portion of the aesthetic movement was
created and perpetuated by alliances that questioned a deeply individualistic vision of creative
identity (Stein 23), it also deposited 'art' as a dismissal of consumerism.

In the American setting, the aesthetic movement was more prevalent since it was based on the
premise that "art would enhance and improve the lives of everyone" (Stein 26). Nonetheless, its
greatest accomplishment in the United States appears to be from a philosophical perspective and
its ability to symbolise all changes and factors, not only in a practical sense but also through the
creation of artwork that was widely distributed in order to attract consumers to both the broad
concepts and the particular ones.

Women were conceptualised as being bonded to natural and ethereal traits, as they were aware of
essential functions within their domain as well as within the surroundings of the places they
understood as home. What I found noteworthy is that the aesthetic movement facilitated these
shifts and opportunities for women because they were among the leaders, makers, and users of
aesthetic items, owing in large part to the fact that this movement was largely focused towards
the home realm.

"The aesthetic movement did not reflect these changes. It shaped them" (Stein 26). Starting with
this premise, one has the opportunity to understand what the aesthetic movement accomplished
and the impact it had on the lives of Americans at the time.
Today’s understanding of the term

With the advancement of technology and the internet, new types of cultural bids have emerged.
Virtual reality and digital art are two examples of how aesthetics are shifting in reaction to
technical advancements. Indeed, there might be wide differences in the aesthetic preferences of
various cultures, customs, and people, but they can also be identified by specific patterns that
change throughout time, with certain factors holding onto previous trends (Saito). For example,
minimalism, sustainability, and digital aesthetics may all become important design factors in the
future. Minimalism, as a root of the artistic industry, is described as a style known to follow
clean lines with limited colour choices and an emphasis on availability that has been popular in
several design sectors, such as graphic and interior design and building design. Within the
broader parameters of visual appeal, minimalism is a specific aesthetic approach that is
characterised by its utility, simplicity,
Transparency is valued in minimalist design, which and the application of a small number
breaks down a design to its most basic elements. of elements to create a neat, polished
Clarity may be increased by minimalism, which appearance, which also has an impact
encourages viewers to pay closer attention to the main on fashion, interior design,
components of the design rather than becoming architecture, art, and even life
sidetracked by unimportant, frequently external decisions.
features.

Practicality and aim are often emphasised in minimalist

design. This idea is evident in modern industrial design
and architecture, where elements are selected for both
their aesthetic appeal and practical functionality.

It is noted that aesthetics has been centred on what is

known as a relatively safe setting, which includes
comfortable surroundings and tangible items, and that
aesthetics is notorious for redefining the everyday
elements of life in society that place art and beauty as
providers of social realities that do not need to be
reinvented.
Figure 3 my reinterpretation of Klimt's

The Kiss

Conclusions

American history has greatly influenced the visual landscape, influencing how artists express
themselves as well as how the general public views and engages with new artistic creations. In
addition, the relationship between actual events and artistic endeavours fosters a complex web
that illustrates the country's artistic and economic development over time.
 At last, while minimalism is a subset of the
The subjective character of beauty is also a
pursuit of beauty, aesthetics as a whole
fundamental conclusion in aesthetics,
encompasses a wide range of styles, tastes, and
viewed as what individuals perceive
societal influences, as well as individual
as lovely or visually pleasant and how it
preferences and the specific aims of a design.
differs widely from one another.
Figure 4 black and white portrayal of a statue
Thus, this subjectivity underlines the
diversity of human experiences and cultural
origins, influencing individual tastes and
Works Cited
personal interpretations of art. (Saito)

Furthermore, aesthetics weaves together a

vast tapestry of ideas, discussions, and
observations on the nature of beauty and
creative expression, its inquiry including
various disciplines and continues to inspire
people to seek meaning, discover joy, and
connect with the fundamental parts of the
human experience via aesthetic
appreciation.
Saito also notes that aesthetics nowadays
"needs to be anchored in a firm theoretical
foundation."
Catstronovo, Russ. “Aesthetics.” Keywords for
American Cultural Studies, New York
University Press, 2007.
Saito, Yuriko. “Aesthetics of the Everyday
(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).”
Stanford.edu, 2015, [URL]
plato.stanford.edu/entries/aesthetics-of-
everyday/ .
Stein, Roger B. “Artifact as Ideology: The

Aesthetic Movement in Its American

Cultural Context.” In Pursuit of Beauty. Americans and the Aesthetic Movement, The

Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.