Literalism (Noun)
Meaning 1
The doctrine of realistic (literal) portrayal in art or literature.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The painter's use of stark colors and bold brushstrokes reflected her commitment to literalism, capturing the raw emotion of the scene.
- In his literary criticism, the scholar argued that the novelist's literalism detracted from the narrative's emotional impact.
- The photographer's dedication to literalism led her to reject any editing or manipulation of her images.
- The art movement's emphasis on literalism resulted in a proliferation of detailed, realistic depictions of everyday life.
- The director's decision to use realistic special effects and costumes was a deliberate choice in favor of literalism, enhancing the film's sense of authenticity.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A disposition to interpret statements in their literal sense.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Her literalism often led to misunderstandings in social situations, where sarcasm and irony were lost on her.
- The fundamentalist preacher's literalism made him a strict adherent to the original biblical text, without room for interpretation.
- His literalism made it difficult for him to understand the nuances of poetry, which often relied on metaphor and symbolism.
- The teacher's literalism in grading the students' essays led to a strict adherence to the rubric, with no exceptions made for creativity.
- The philosopher's literalism in interpreting the words of ancient thinkers often put him at odds with his more interpretive colleagues.