Decadence facts for kids
Decadence (say it: DEK-a-dence) is a word used to describe a time or a group of people who are seen as behaving in ways that some consider wrong or overly focused on pleasure. It's like a society "falling" from a better state. The word for someone showing decadence is 'decadent'. It has nothing to do with a "decade," which means ten years.
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What "Decadence" Means
The word "decadence" comes from old Latin words. "De" means "from," and "cadere" means "to fall." So, "decadence" literally means "to fall from a higher or better way of being."
Decadence in Society
Decadence often describes a time when a society that was once seen as good starts to change. Many people might begin to act in ways that others find surprising or not ideal. This can make the society feel like it's not working as well as it used to. Of course, what one person thinks is "good" or "bad" can be different from another's view.
Decadence in Art and Culture
The late 1800s and early 1900s are sometimes called the fin de siècle (pronounced: fan duh see-EK-luh), which means "end of the century." This period is often seen as an example of a "decadent" time in books and art.
Decadent Artists and Writers
In France, some writers were happy to be called "decadent." These included Paul Verlaine, Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, and Stéphane Mallarmé. French Symbolist artists like Gustave Moreau also saw themselves as "decadent." In England, famous "decadent" artists included the writer Oscar Wilde and visual artists like Aubrey Beardsley. These "decadents" believed in living a life focused on enjoying beauty and art as much as possible.
Decadence in Music and Film
In the early 1970s, glam rock musicians, such as David Bowie, sometimes called themselves "decadent." David Bowie's 1973 album Diamond Dogs explores the idea of decadence. Glam rock artists and their fans showed this idea by wearing things like platform shoes. The popular 1976 film Rocky Horror Picture Show also showed "decadence" in a funny way.
Later, the goth subculture, which started in the early 1980s with fans of the band Bauhaus, often saw themselves as "decadent." They might wear things like fishnet stockings to show this style.
Colors of Decadence
The color lavender is often used to represent decadence. In the 1890s, the color mauve was also linked to decadence. Because of this, the 1890s were sometimes called the mauve decade.
See also
In Spanish: Decadencia (concepto) para niños
