| Turn Of The Century |
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BASIC CONNOTATIONS The expression ''fin de siècle'' generally refers to the last years of the 19th Century . It has Connotation s of Decadence which are seen as typical for the last years of a prosperous period ('' La Belle Époque '' at the end of the 19th century), and of anticipative excitement about — and/or despair facing — impending change which is generally expected when a Century or time period draws to a close. In Russia, the term '' Silver Age '' is somewhat more popular. That the expression is in French , probably comes from the fact that ''fin de siècle'' is particularly associated to certain late 19th century French-speaking circles in Paris and Brussels , exemplified by Artist s like Stéphane Mallarmé , movements like Symbolism , and works of art like Oscar Wilde 's '' Salomé '' (originally written in French , and Premiere d in Paris ) — which connects the idea of ''fin de siècle'' also to the Aesthetic Movement . Also, Edvard Munch spent some of his time in Paris around the turn-of-the-century, which was his most Melancholy period. BROADER SENSE In a broader sense the expression ''fin de siècle'' is used to characterise anything that has an Ominous mixture of opulence and/or decadence, combined with a shared prospect of unavoidable radical change. Note that it is not necessarily change itself that is implied in the expression ''fin de siècle'' (but rather its Anticipation ), e.g. for the historical 19th Century ''fin de siècle'' the radical changes in the cultural and social order would only occur more than a decade after the new century had started ( World War I ), while by the end of the 19th Century the '' Belle Epoque '' was not even at its height (nor had the Edwardian era, almost seamlessly following the Victorian Era , even started). A more recent example of ''fin de siècle'' can be found in the could also be seen to have a definite ''fin de siècle'' touch (allegedly anticipating an Era without dictators). Even Hitler probably could never have pushed his compatriots thus far in accomplishing his Thousand Year Reich fantasies without the support of ''fin de siècle''-like philosophies (see Millennialism And Nazism ), and the ''fin de siècle'' atmosphere of the Interbellum . Many other 20th Century phenomena, e.g. Goth and New Age , could be interpreted as building on at least some ''fin de siècle'' ideas. REFERENCES
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