By KEVIN KAUMANS
When we think of aesthetics, we tend to think about it in terms of social media or decoration. Think about it: How many teenagers on “Instagram” or “TikTok” do we see showing off their latest “aesthetic”? We have the minimalist aesthetic, a lifestyle where a person survives with the bare minimum of essentials. Then we have the cyberpunk aesthetic, which has vibrant colors and punk-style clothing.
But what about aesthetics in literature? Has anyone ever heard of aestheticism? “Art for art’s sake.”, as Théophile Gautier puts it. It is where you write descriptive and beautiful detail for the sake of writing, regardless of whether it adds anything to the overarching story or not. Edgar Poe was a big fan of this idea, which explains how a lot of his stories go into great detail when explaining a building or a character’s looks.
You could almost compare this somewhat to the naturalists, authors whose stories often take place within the beauty of nature and involve the protagonist retreating away from urbanization and consumerism. A common example of this type of writing would be Jack London, whose stories usually take place in the Alaskan Wilderness. The main difference between this and aestheticism is that the latter focuses on the beauty of everything, rather than just nature.
It is a very beautiful style of writing. Especially when the author is someone who possesses an abundance of creative talent. It is also a good writing exercise to help clear one’s head. Simply grab a piece of paper and start describing the area around you.