arthouse
Highbrow film venue
Arthouse describes films, theaters, or other media that prioritize artistic vision over commercial appeal.
An arthouse film typically features unconventional narrative structure, ambiguous themes, or experimental techniques.
An arthouse cinema screens such films, often foreign or independent productions unlikely to reach mainstream multiplexes.
The term can suggest pretension: too arthouse for general audiences.
Director with total control
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- mise-en-scèneVisual elements within frame
- subtitlesOn-screen dialogue text
- criterionStandard for judgment
repertory · screening · projection · celluloid · 35mm · restoration · retrospective · premiere
Distorting reality for emotion
- neorealismArt emphasizing contemporary actuality
- postmodernistSkeptic of universal truths
Testing new methods
- surrealistCreator of dreamlike art
- abstractCondensed version of text
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- montageAssembled sequence of images
collage · dissonance · juxtaposition · psychedelic · fragmented · deconstructed · impressionistic · elliptical
Aesthetic of reduction
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- paletteSurface for mixing pigments
- textureSurface tactile quality
- contrastNotable difference between things
symmetry · asymmetry · chiaroscuro · tableau · framing · naturalistic · muted · desaturated
Passionate movie enthusiast
- aficionadoKnowledgeable, passionate follower
- connoisseurExpert in matters of taste
- devoteeZealous admirer or follower
- repertoryCollection of prepared works
rediscovered · underseen · obscure · rarities · canon · essential · influential · seminal
auteur
Director with total control
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- mise-en-scèneVisual elements within frame
- subtitlesOn-screen dialogue text
criterion · repertory · screening · projection · celluloid · 35mm · restoration · retrospective · premiere · matinee
expressionism
Distorting reality for emotion
- neorealismArt emphasizing contemporary actuality
- postmodernistSkeptic of universal truths
experimental
Testing new methods
- surrealistCreator of dreamlike art
- abstractCondensed version of text
- nonlinearNot in sequence
montage · collage · dissonance · juxtaposition · psychedelic · fragmented · deconstructed · impressionistic · elliptical · stream-of-consciousness
minimalism
Aesthetic of reduction
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- paletteSurface for mixing pigments
- textureSurface tactile quality
contrast · symmetry · asymmetry · chiaroscuro · tableau · framing · naturalistic · muted · desaturated · grainy
cinephile
Passionate movie enthusiast
- aficionadoKnowledgeable, passionate follower
- connoisseurExpert in matters of taste
- devoteeZealous admirer or follower
repertory · rediscovered · underseen · obscure · rarities · canon · essential · influential · seminal · watershed
- film genreshorror, comedy, drama, action, romance
- HollywoodHollywood, Tinseltown, Hollywood Sign, silver screen, movie stars
- showbizHollywood, Bollywood, Tinseltown, backstage, behind the scenes
- cinemasmovie theater, cinema, movie house, picture house, multiplex
- film termsfilm, auteur, genre, celluloid, mise-en-scene
- media genresadventure, comedy, action, documentary, horror
arthousemainstream
Dominant cultural current
commercial · blockbuster · popcorn movie · mass-market · Hollywood
arthousegenre film
Movie within recognizable category
by-the-numbers · conventional · cookie-cutter · derivative · schlock
- arthouse filmUnconventional, artistic movie
- arthouse cinemaVenue for experimental films