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The Collaborative International Dictionary
AEstheticism

AEstheticism \[AE]s*thet"i*cism\, n. The doctrine of [ae]sthetics; [ae]sthetic principles; devotion to the beautiful in nature and art.
--Lowell.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
aestheticism

1855, from aesthetic + -ism.

Wiktionary
aestheticism

n. A doctrine which holds aesthetics or beauty as the highest ideal or most basic standard.

Wikipedia
Aestheticism

Aestheticism (also the Aesthetic Movement) is an intellectual and art movement supporting the emphasis of aesthetic values more than social-political themes for literature, fine art, music and other arts. This meant that Art from this particular movement focused more on being beautiful rather than having a deeper meaning - 'Art for Art's sake'. It was particularly prominent in Europe during the 19th century, supported by notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, but contemporary critics are also associated with the movement, such as Harold Bloom, who has recently argued against projecting social and political ideology onto literary works, which he believes has been a growing problem in humanities departments over the last century.

In the 19th century, it was related to other movements such as symbolism or decadence represented in France, or decadentismo represented in Italy, and may be considered the British version of the same style.

Usage examples of "aestheticism".

Of course, this sort of campy aestheticism has been a common strategy of survival for gay men for quite a long time: at least since the invention of hetero- and homosexuality in the later 19th century.

The Philosophy of Tea is not mere aestheticism in the ordinary acceptance of the term, for it expresses conjointly with ethics and religion our whole point of view about man and nature.

The roji was intended to break connection with the outside world, and produce a fresh sensation conducive to the full enjoyment of aestheticism in the tea-room itself.

There was a curious application of English aestheticism to the rude arrangements and homemade furniture of the Australian bush.

There was in it an odd blending of aestheticism and eccentricity, and Mrs.

She seemed a true incarnation of the spirit of these Australian wilds, which, had they been invested with European romance, would have left his sensuous aestheticism nothing to desire.

Its aestheticism, exclusivity, and promise of realizing through arcane practices the buddha nature in this life were irresistible to the courtiers.

A compromise, that--like many other things in his life and works--between individuality and the accepted view of things, aestheticism and fashion, the critical sense and authority.

It will be interesting to note in what ritualistic harbor the aestheticism of our day will finally moor.

It is when it calls itself aristocracy or aestheticism or a superiority to the bourgeoisie that its inherent weakness has in justice to be pointed out.

He never threw off from himself that disproportionate accumulation of aestheticism which is the burden of the amateur.

Suppose that any cool and cynical art-critic, any art-critic fully impressed with the conviction that artists were greatest when they were most purely artistic, suppose that a man who professed ably a humane aestheticism, as did Mr.

It revived the souls of scents he was accustomed to, and with them, subtly mingled, the whole live fabric of aestheticism, woven in fresh air and laid in lavender.

Call it aestheticism, squeamishness, namby-pamby sentimentalism, what you will it is stronger than oneself!

It had all been so healthy and naturally violent, so different from the effete aestheticism of today.