dilettantes
Superficial art lovers
Dilettantes is the plural of dilettante—a person who engages in an art, science, or other pursuit superficially rather than seriously.
The word carries a note of condescension: dilettantes dabble where professionals commit.
The field was full of dilettantes who'd read one book and thought themselves experts.
Originally the term was neutral, describing lovers of the arts, but now it implies amateurism or lack of rigor.
One who skims surfaces
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
- tinkererHobbyist who adjusts mechanisms
nonprofessional · Sunday painter · weekend warrior · casual · enthusiast · generalist · jack-of-all-trades · sampler
Those falsely claiming something
- poseursAffected pretenders
- fraudsDeceptive acts or impostors
- charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
- wannabesAspirants lacking credentials
fakers · phonies · lightweights · social climbers · snobs · name-droppers · show-offs · fashionistas
Superficial pursuit of arts
- shallownessLack of depth
- dabblingShallow, casual involvement
- smatteringSmall scattered amount
- amateurishnessLack of skilled refinement
flitting · skimming · gloss · pretense · veneer · posturing · affectation · name-dropping
Regular supporter or customer
- connoisseurExpert in matters of taste
- aestheteLover of the beautiful
- collectorOne who gathers items
- appreciatorOne who values something
culture vulture · gallery-goer · art lover · Renaissance man · polymath · cultured · refined · tasteful
dabbler
One who skims surfaces
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
tinkerer · nonprofessional · Sunday painter · weekend warrior · casual · enthusiast · generalist · jack-of-all-trades · sampler · experimenter
pretenders
Those falsely claiming something
- poseursAffected pretenders
- fraudsDeceptive acts or impostors
- charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
wannabes · fakers · phonies · lightweights · social climbers · snobs · name-droppers · show-offs · fashionistas · triflers
dilettantism
Superficial pursuit of arts
- shallownessLack of depth
- dabblingShallow, casual involvement
- smatteringSmall scattered amount
amateurishness · flitting · skimming · gloss · pretense · veneer · posturing · affectation · name-dropping · buzzwords
patron
Regular supporter or customer
- connoisseurExpert in matters of taste
- aestheteLover of the beautiful
- collectorOne who gathers items
appreciator · culture vulture · gallery-goer · art lover · Renaissance man · polymath · cultured · refined · tasteful · educated
- high societygossip, socialites, socialite, aristocrats, aristocrat
- non-expertsamateurs, beginners, novices, laypeople, non-experts
- cafe societysocialites, glitterati, bon vivants, jet setters, debutantes
- nonexpertslaymen, laypeople, laypersons, laywomen, laity
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- intelligentsiaintellectuals, professors, intelligentsia, academics, philosophers
dilettantesexperts
Highly skilled practitioners
masters · professionals · specialists · virtuosos · authorities
dilettantesdevotees
Passionate adherents
true believers · diehards · obsessives · aficionados · professionals