Degeneration

Max Nordau's examination of the fin de siècle period critiques the rise of what he deems "degenerate art" and its societal implications. He explores the intersection of rapid urbanization and its impact on human experience, proposing that a growing disdain for traditional values leads to a cultural decadence. Divided into five books, Nordau analyzes how this phenomenon first emerged in France, highlighting the societal tendency to mimic artistic trends. His work serves as a profound reflection on the moral disintegration and aesthetic shifts of the late 19th century.