Style versus Ideology : Towards a Conceptualisation of Fascist Aesthetics
Journal
Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions
ISSN
1469-0764
ISSN-Digital
1743-9647
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2005-06-16
Author(s)
Abstract
Scholars of fascism have mostly come up with generic definitions and tried to define their topic by sketching out more or less elaborated lists of characteristics. This paper tries to come to terms with fascism not so much as an ideological but rather as an aesthetic phenomenon which has to be considered in its social functions. Fascism wanted to put life on stage - Hitler and Mussolini referred to themselves as "artists" who designed the state as a ‘gesamtkunstwerk'. Fascist aesthetics was eclectic in its stylistic preferences: It could deploy futuristic, expressionistic or neoclassicistic devices; using a formalized language of symbols, it did not depict but rather created reality. Fascist aesthetics reinstated art in its premodern social function. Art was not segregated from the public sphere and exiled to museums and exhibitions, but social life itself had to assume the fascist design which also included behavioral patterns.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Publisher place
Abingdon
Volume
6
Number
1
Start page
127
End page
140
Pages
14
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
36264
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
2005_Schmid_Ideology.pdf
Size
173.86 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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