Background of Study INTRODUCTION

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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Aestheticism is a school and also concept which counts on the beauty as the highest degree. It is derived from the word aesthetics as the main philosophy emphasizes on beauty and also the –ism as the school. This concept becomes a main philosophy of art and literature which is appeared in nineteenth century of Aesthetics Movement. Mandelssohn 2007 states that Aestheticism will be used to refer to the literary and artistic movement that flourished in Britain in around 1870 and 1900 and t hat advanced art for art’s sake. The statement means that aestheticism as the literary movement is attempted to improve the quality of art by promoting the slogan art for art’s sake as the fundamental slogan. By that slogan aestheticism illuminates art to focus on its own sake instead of considering to other tendencies outside the art. The art for art’s sake serves a privilege for an art. Aestheticism appeared in Victorian era of England. According to History of English Literature 2000 Victorian era is an era of modernism which is characterized by the growth of wealth and power, the change in industry and social, and by scientific discovery. The existence of science and knowledge prove a progression in any aspects in Victorian era. There are many sectors which are influenced by the development of science such as social, economy, politic and also art. The science creates a change and improvisation in society. One of aspects of improvisation is also showed in art as the product of creativity and intelligence. Thus, the aestheticism appeared to reform an art in the modern of Victorian era. Aestheticism creates a new version of art culture in England. Art gains its autonomy and freedom to influence all aspects of life. The aestheticism belongs to the renewal of art that is refered to the previous predecessors which are the Romanticism and Greek. Evangelista 2009 reveals that the aestheticism comes as a culture that looks to the Greek past in order to create a new artistic norm for its times and also to produce the innovative of art works . Aestheticism based on 2 the citation is appeared as an advanced culture of Greek that create an innovation in art. The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of the Victorian fictions which serves the description of aestheticism. This novel is written by an Irish author and also aesthete named Oscar Wilde. He creates this novel as the respond of social phenomenon of aestheticism in his Victorian society. In this novel, the philosophy of aesthetics are revealed by every characters such as Dorian Gray, Lord Henry, Basil Hallward and also Sybil Vane. The aestheticism also participates in some series of events within the novel. Dorian Gray, by his marvelous face, influences other characters to worship and praise him. He belongs to several crimes in order to perpetuate his temporal beauty by murdering his own friend and also the suicide cases. He experiences many things in order to create a pleasure in his beautiful youth. The other character are Basil and also Sybil who are being mad by the beautiful face of Dorian. Basil worships Dorian even he creates a painting as beautiful as Dorian. Likewise Sybil who loves Dorian and lead her for committing a suicide when her love is rejected by Dorian. Besides, Lord Henry belongs to a provocative character in this novel who influences Dorian by his aesthetics doctrin. He becomes a teacher for Dorian who asserts him to keep his beauty and youth since it cannot exist eternally. He suggests Dorian to experience many things and also live artistically in order to achieve pleasure. The goal of Wilde in producing this novel is to respond the Victorian morality and also the aestheticism in his society He explores the philosophical concept of aestheticism to assert himself as an aesthetics figure and also an envoy of aestheticism. The aestheticism in this novel is supported by the yellow book as a bible of decadence since it tells how to live in artistics world by searching the highest pleasure. It illustrates the image of how to fulfill an obsession and desire in life artistically. The aestheticism becomes an interesting topic to be discussed in this research since it is represented explicitly through several facts within the novel which counts on beauty. Most of the characters express the aestheticism whether 3 to create a pleasure or causes any miserables. Wherease the prospect of this novel is only to explore the aestheticism without considering to any interests. The aestheticism within this novel emphasizes an art and beauty which is used to reveal some facts about aestheticism, art for art’s sake and Victorian morality. This anal ysis applies Goldmann’s theory of genetic structuralism to reconstruct the world view and also the politics of aestheticism within this novel.

1.2 The Problem to Discuss