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| Aestheticism or Aestheticization of Politics |
Aestheticism or aestheticization of Politics was composed by Walter Benjamin as an element to Fascist regimes. In this approach, life is recognized
as artistic related to Politics.
The aestheticization of politics was connected to the Italian Futurist movement and was affirmed as its main reason for the involvement in the Fascist regime of Italy.
For Benjamin, the politicization of aesthetics was treated conceptually as the extreme opposite of the aestheticization of politics.
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), was born in Berlin on July 15, 1892. He was an exceptional symbol in 20th century thinking,he considered himself a "Man of Letters" and a classical critic more than a philosopher.
Walter Benjamin played a big role in Aestheticism, his presence always a privacy, and the materials left behind are fractional, leaving scholars, translators and historians in a big argument about the essence of his ideas and work . Documents have been lost, and his short and confused life was full of personal and political conflicts , leaving much a big open debate about his life.
Walter Benjamin had a lot of notable ideas,one of them in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" of the Aestheticism of politics. This approach is considered by Walter Benjamin as the concept of "aura" and its loss. The loss of the aure, the onetimness of the work of art which relates to it, is defined by Benjamin is a part of a material process of technological and accordingly artistic change which is not defined to art by itself . Art only devices this change which decrease the evidence of authenticity and the change into mass consumerism of aesthetics. The new design of art, photography and cinema, brought a new type of collective reception.For Walter Benjamin's eyes you are how you see your art, and you are something completely different when you stand in front of original art than a picture of it or through a technological way.
Fascism and capitalism took advantage of this activity of art to their own demands by using its sense.Through the circumstances of acceptance formed by the aura. Capitalism uses the aura to find the person as self supporting , self reliant and able,while fascism uses it to completely delete the person . Both capitalism and fascism process what Walter Benjamin calls aestheticization of politics.
The Marxist counterbalance to the aestheticization of politics with respect to Walter Benjamin should be the politicization of the aesthetic. The politicization of the aesthetic is conducted in two manners: by determining combating the manners art is accomplished and by distinguishing its revolutionary future . "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" is a trial to bring political character to aesthetics. The structure of culture for Walter Benjamin is the structure of society. While in fascism the art comes from the leader.
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