formalistic

for·mal·ism  (fôrm-lzm)

n.

1. Rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms, as in religion or art.

2. An instance of rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms.

3. A method of aesthetic analysis that emphasizes structural elements and artistic techniques rather than content, especially in literary works.

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formal·ist adj. & n.

formal·istic adj.

formal·isti·cal·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

formalistic - concerned with or characterized by rigorous adherence to recognized forms (especially in religion or art); "highly formalized plays like `Waiting for Godot'" formalised, formalized artistic creation, artistic production, art - the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully" faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality"