Symbolism - what is it? Meaning and interpretation

The flow of symbolism was one of the most striking and notable trends of modernism, which had a strong influence on the development of art, poetry, music and literature. Feature was that instead of the artistic image began to use a certain symbol, which pointed to the variability of life and the search for absolute truth.

Features

Symbolism. What is meant by this term? The peculiarity of this trend was that it was not art itself, literature or music that changed, but the attitude to these categories changed. Symbolists were experimenters, they were looking for something new, universal and universal. For this, certain signs, symbols, riddles, secrets, hints and innuendos were used.

The main role in the direction is played by the imagination of man. It creates analogies or definite links between an object or phenomenon and its image. Symbolism, acmeism, futurism and other directions of this period had a great development on the subsequent culture, literature, music and art.

The emergence of the term

The direction of symbolism appeared in the 60-70s of the 19th century in France. From there it spread to other countries. His aesthetic principles were laid out by the poet Jean Moranos in his article "Symbolism."

What was the author's suggestion? Moraens argued that the symbol is the opposite of teaching, rhetoric and lengthy descriptions. The idea should be presented in a special sensory form, which can be achieved by imagination. To do this, the author should use a special style, which includes secrets, complex word formations, illusions and inconsistency.

Symptoms

Mysteriousness and mystery are not all that symbolism possesses. What is this direction really? This can be seen with the help of its characteristic features:

• Desire to create an ideal picture of the world.
• Transmission of the most subtle and inconspicuous motives of the soul.
• High imagery, lightness and musicality.
• Applying hints and open finals.
• A high indicator of the use of sound and rhythmic means of literature and poetry.
• Filling of words with various signs.
• Aestheticization of death.
• Orientation to the elite reader.

An important characteristic was also that the word became a certain cipher, a secret that a person could unravel through his imagination and soul.

Manifestations of the Current in Literature, Poetry and Art

Symbolism, acmeism and other directions had a strong influence on literature, art and poetry. They filled them with a new meaning and allowed them to look at the man in a different way.

As for art, in this period it is characteristic to use female images, represented in the form of animals, trees or natural phenomena. This allows you to create complex associations and allegories. Truth is hidden from human eyes, but it can be seen with the help of the senses and the connection of the role of the subconscious.

Literary symbolism has a very deep and rich history. The works of the authors of this period create numerous illusions, secret signs and symbols, which are genuinely intertwined in prose. Examples of this are the works of John Steinbeck, William Golding and other authors.

Poetry has become the largest and all-encompassing reservoir for symbolism. This is due to the fact that the poems have fewer descriptions, and therefore become an ideal soil for the connection of phenomena and their symbols, as well as for the use of illusions, metaphors and secrets.

Differences between symbolism and other currents

In the late 19 - early 20 th century there are many trends in modernism, which have similar features, but are unique and original currents. It is important to pay attention to the following:

• Acmeism. Appeared from symbolism, but opposed him. The direction foresaw the materiality, simplicity of the images and the high accuracy of the word.
• Futurism. The basis was the rejection of a variety of cultural stereotypes and their destruction. An important place is occupied by the technique and processes of urbanization, in which poets saw the future of the world.
• Kubofuturizm. Characterized by a rejection of the ideals of the past and orientation to the future. For the poetry, epatage and occasionalisms are used.
• Ego-Futurism. This direction is characterized by the use of new foreign words, the cultivation of pure feelings and sensations, the demonstration of self-love.
• Imagism. For this flow, the basis is the creation of a certain image. The main expressive tool that was used for this is a metaphor, as well as whole metaphorical groups and chains. This direction is characterized by the use of anarchic ideas and stage.

Symbolism, acmeism, futurism and other trends of the early 20th century had a strong influence on music, art, poetry, literature and culture in general.

Features of Russian Symbolism

The Russian variant of the current initially had the same features and characteristics as the western one, but in time it showed its features. Aesthetization of life and panestheticism is the basis that Russian symbolism possessed. What is this? By this is meant the desire to replace the existing logic and morality with a variety of innovative forms.

Russian symbolists are inspired by the historical epochs of romanticism, antiquity and the Renaissance. Art begins to be perceived as the guardian of everything beautiful and pure. Especially important is the connection of culture with the people, the state, and the soil. This distinguished the symbolism of Russia from the current in other countries.

silver Age

This term is understood as a figurative period in Russian poetry, which appeared in the early 20th century. This period is associated with such names as Nikolai Gumilev, Alexander Blok, Vladimir Mayakovsky and other outstanding personalities.

Symbolism of the Silver Age was heterogeneous, and it can be divided into two stages:

• Older. Poets of this time perceived symbolism as the creation of feelings and artistic values. Aesthetics plays an important role here. This group includes Bryusov, Balmont, Merezhkovsky, Sologub, and others.
• Jr. Symbolism begins to be perceived as a philosophical and religious phenomenon. This period is represented by the names of Blok, Bely, Ivanov, and others.

Symbolism is a bright trend of modernism, which had a strong influence on music, poetry, literature and art. A characteristic feature of the current was the use of images of mystery, understatement, which can be revealed with the help of imagination and feelings. Symbolism had much in common with other directions of the early 20th century, but it was unique and unique.

Special attention should be paid to this current in Russia, where it used Western ideas, but offered its own distinctive features and characteristics. This includes the relationship with the people and the state and the appeal to other historical epochs.