Research On The Aesthetic Utopia Of Frankfurt School

Frankfurt School has made great contribution to aesthetic utopia- one of the important forms of utopia. Western scholars has reached an agreement that aesthetic utopia plays an important role in the western Marxism aesthetics. Most scholars give priority to the fantasy and illusion element in aesthetic utopia, ignoring the reality element. As a result, the study of aesthetic utopia is not through and adequate in depth and dimension. With the in-depth study of Frankfurt School, modern scholars begin to take consideration of the reality critics and human nature hidden in aesthetic utopia. The present paper aims at illustrating and exploring the relationship between fantasy and reality in aesthetic utopia from the perspective of Frankfurt school.Originally, the western Marxism scholars applied aesthetic utopia to the late capitalism society for the purpose of solving the historical problem of antinomies. The theory, which reflects ridiculous fantasy and unreasonable illusion in reality, tentatively suggests a possible way to liberate human nature and to imagine a no-alienation society by means of art and aesthetics. In the present study, the researcher has made a tentative attempt on classifying the development of aesthetic utopia theory into four different stages, namely originating stage, developing stage, flourishing stage and innovating stage. The case study will greatly help to illustrate the distinguished features of the four stages. Bloch, the pioneer of aesthetic utopia, proposed and practiced Konkrete Utopia, which can be rooted in the ontology of not-yet-being. He practiced the concept of the spirit of hope in art, creatively comparing art into daydream and treasure. Adorno, the representative of developing stage, proposed constellation, which is rooted in the non-identity consciousness. Based on his theory, art takes the form of constellation of beauty, which consist of collective subjectivity, individual subjectivity and objective world. Marcuse, the representative of flouring stage, proposed modern utopia revolution theory. According to his theory, aesthetics can be an effective means to liberate eros, while art can activate the truth value of imagination which might fight against reality by means of recollection. Habermas, the representative of innovating stage, suggested a comparatively moderate way to illustrate aesthetic utopia. In light of his theory, literature plays the role of communication to create the speech situation with ideal design-what he called “life world”. His theory has laid a new and standard theoretical foundation for aesthetic utopia from the perspective of Frankfurt school. By comparing the respective thoughts and viewpoints of aesthetic utopia, the researcher concludes that aesthetic utopia attempts to exert itself on the reality by means of art despite all the varied forms such as the spirit of hope, constellation of beauty and the speech situation with ideal design. Frankfurt school utilizes modernism art, featured with realistic spirit and political potential, to fully present the current situation of modern society.The paper has made an objective and comprehensive study on aesthetic utopia theory, which includes its origin, development, function, and significance. The researcher aims at illustrating and exploring the relationship between fantasy and reality in aesthetic utopia. The constructive and innovative breakthrough in the orientation of aesthetic utopia will help build systematic, scientific and objective understanding of aesthetic utopia.