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formalism
(redirected from formalistically)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
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.

formal·ist adj. & n.
formal·istic adj.
formal·isti·cal·ly adv.

formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzəm]
n
1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) scrupulous or excessive adherence to outward form at the expense of inner reality or content
2. (Philosophy / Logic)
a.  the mathematical or logical structure of a scientific argument as distinguished from its subject matter
b.  the notation, and its structure, in which information is expressed
3. (Performing Arts / Theatre) Theatre a stylized mode of production
4. (Philosophy) (in Marxist criticism) excessive concern with artistic technique at the expense of social values, etc.
5. (Philosophy) the philosophical theory that a mathematical statement has no meaning but that its symbols, regarded as physical objects, exhibit a structure that has useful applications Compare logicism, intuitionism
formalist  n
formalistic  adj
formalistically  adv

formalism
a critical emphasis upon style, arrangement, and artistic means with limited attention to content, — formalist, n. — formalistic, adj.
See also: Criticism
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.formalism - the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented
doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought - a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
imitation - the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
2.formalism - (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications
philosophy - the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory - a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy
3.formalism - the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms
practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
Translations
formalism [ˈfɔːməlɪzəm] Nformalismo m
formalism [ˈfɔːrməlɪzəm] nformalisme m
formalism
nFormalismus m
formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzm] nformalismo
formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzm] nformalismo


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
He finds a prefiguration of this idea in Andre Malraux's "museum without walls," which could formalistically join the artistic expression of an African bronze miniature to a Romanesque relief by presenting both in identically sized photographs on the page.
In this respect it is as much a context for culture and life as it is a cultural expression in and of itself and hence it cannot be convincingly rendered as fine or figurative art writ large: When architecture is reduced to large sculpture, it is not only formalistically reductive but also an acritical mode of expression that may pass muster as art but is hardly architecture.
``But it also seems (as if) the judge put a premium on people who could express things in terms that this particular judge finds satisfactory, and that may favor more formalistically educated individuals or people more familiar with court jargon.
 
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