The Evolution of Aesthetic Theories: From Enlightenment to Postmodernism

Abstract

The evolution of aesthetic theories from the Enlightenment to Postmodernism reflects profound shifts in the understanding of beauty, art, and cultural values. During the Enlightenment, aesthetic theory emphasized rationality, universality, and the idea of objective beauty, influenced by classical ideals. Romanticism challenged these notions, celebrating emotion, subjectivity, and the sublime. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw further transformations with the advent of Modernism, which embraced abstraction, the breakdown of traditional forms, and the idea of art as a reflection of the human condition. Postmodernism, emerging in the mid-20th century, further deconstructed previous aesthetic frameworks, embracing plurality, irony, and the blurring of high and low culture. This paper traces the development of aesthetic theories across these pivotal periods, highlighting key thinkers, movements, and the socio-political contexts that shaped them. By examining the evolution of aesthetic thought, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how conceptions of beauty and art have been continually redefined in response to changing intellectual and cultural landscapes.