Welcome to DECADOCS!

DECADOCS is a research and training programme which aims to renegociate common assumptions about decadence that equate it with decay and decline. A more nuanced view of decadence predicated on sustainability, transnationalism, and sensoriality, envisages it as a valuable tool to enrich our understanding of contemporary artistic, media, entertainment, and sociocultural practices. Perceived as ubiquitous in 2025, decadence is linked to a rich and still evolving set of meanings and associations cutting across European societies since the nineteenth century. Its persistent link with crises and their recurrence has a continuing valence today and helps to explain the renewed interest in uncovering its illuminating potential.