The move towards the aestheticisation of contemporary art

The initial concept for this contribution is the growing aestheticisation o f everyday life. This process particularly concerns the urban setting, whic h in contemporary Western societies is becoming hyper-aesthetic and at the same time an aestheticising scenario. However, critics bring attention to t he fact that the overabundance of aesthetic irritants leads to an indiffere nce and suppression of other aspects of life. A perceptible part of contemp orary art is ascribed to aestheticising processes and affirmative aesthetic s is subordinate to conforming to the environment. This concerns primarily what is (quite awkwardly) termed public art. Yet artistic moves are appeari ng that are critical towards the aestheticisation of everyday life. Wolfgan g Welsch labels them non-aestheticising. They again confirm Adorno's commen t that "gerade den asthetisch avancierten Nerven ist das selbstgerecht Asth etische undertraglich geworden." These measures demand special attention of aestheticians especially at a time when they are attempting to develop fur ther the critical potential of their field.