Anarchie und Ästhetik

Anarchy is an iridescent term that challenges both positive and negative opinions: The absence of rule, power and law is perceived by some as liberating and auspicious, by others as threatening and destructive. In the 19th century, the concept of anarchy developed into a serious socio-political alternative and has never completely disappeared since. This raises the question of the extent to which anarchist ideas are reflected in literature and art and, in turn, the importance of the arts for the dissemination of anarchist concepts. Irrespective of socio-political implications, art can also be understood as a per se anarchic field. This book illuminates the relationship between anarchy and aesthetics in exemplary, complementary individual studies. The chronological arc spans from the 1870s to the present, with the focus on 19th and 20th century France.