Why does everything feel so joyless? Welcome to the age of decadence without pleasure | Michèle Mendelssohn and Charlie Tyson
Summary
The article explores why people today often feel empty despite having many ways to entertain themselves. It compares modern society to historical periods of decadence, where wealth and excess coexisted with cultural decline but also creative breakthroughs.Key Facts
- People have many options for enjoyment today, such as shopping, exotic food, online content, gambling, or chatting with AI.
- Despite these options, many feel bored or emotionally empty, described as an "age of decadence without pleasure."
- The idea of decadence dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times, marked by wealth and excess leading to cultural decline.
- Historical examples include Roman emperors like Elagabalus and Nero known for extreme indulgence and cruelty.
- Both conservatives and some leftist thinkers today view modern Western societies as experiencing stagnation or decline similar to past decadent cultures.
- In contrast, some see decadence as inspiring unique artistic creations, such as in the late 19th century when artists challenged mainstream values.
- The decadents rejected ideas of usefulness and profit, valuing pleasure for its own sake and pushing social and artistic boundaries.
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