formalism
Structure over substance
Formalism is strict adherence to prescribed forms, rules, or conventions, often at the expense of content or substance.
In art and literature, formalism emphasizes technique, structure, and style over meaning or social context: The critic's formalism focused entirely on the poem's meter.
In law and philosophy, it describes rigid application of rules without regard for intent or circumstances.
The term often carries a faint reproach—suggesting someone cares more about how things look than what they mean.
Self-evident starting principle
- theoremDemonstrated logical conclusion
- proofDemonstration of truth
- rigorStrict, thorough precision
- deductionConclusion from premises
consistency · completeness · symbolic logic · syntax · derivation · decidability · algorithm · computation
Text-autonomous literary analysis
- close readingDetailed textual analysis
- defamiliarizationMaking common things seem strange
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
- stylisticsStudy of expressive language
ambiguity · tension · irony · paradox · meter · sound patterns
Refined, graceful quality
- refinementElegance of manner
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
harmony · craftsmanship · polish · decorum · style · beauty · taste · sophistication
Prescribed conduct rules
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
structure · rigor · taxonomy · guidelines · rubric · standardization · convention · codified
Condensed version of text
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- nonrepresentationalNot depicting reality
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
precision · purity · Kandinsky · Mondrian · constructivism · suprematism · Bauhaus · Greenberg
Supremacy of established laws
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- originalismInterpreting by founding-era meaning
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
due process · judicial restraint · codification · adjudication · doctrine · letter of the law · legal reasoning
Morality based on obligations
- KantGerman Enlightenment thinker
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- dutyRequired moral task
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
moral law · obligation · principle · rights-based · impartiality · maxim · moral absolutes · normative
axiom
Self-evident starting principle
deduction · consistency · completeness · symbolic logic · syntax · derivation · decidability · algorithm · computation · notation
New Criticism
Text-autonomous literary analysis
- close readingDetailed textual analysis
- defamiliarizationMaking common things seem strange
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
stylistics · ambiguity · tension · irony · paradox · meter · sound patterns
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
- refinementElegance of manner
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- proportionComparative relation of parts
balance · harmony · craftsmanship · polish · decorum · style · beauty · taste · sophistication · classical
protocol
Prescribed conduct rules
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
systematic · structure · rigor · taxonomy · guidelines · rubric · standardization · convention · codified · prescribed
abstract
Condensed version of text
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- nonrepresentationalNot depicting reality
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
composition · precision · purity · Kandinsky · Mondrian · constructivism · suprematism · Bauhaus · Greenberg · flatness
rule of law
Supremacy of established laws
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- originalismInterpreting by founding-era meaning
procedure · due process · judicial restraint · codification · adjudication · doctrine · letter of the law · legal reasoning
deontology
Morality based on obligations
- KantGerman Enlightenment thinker
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- dutyRequired moral task
rules · moral law · obligation · principle · rights-based · impartiality · maxim · moral absolutes · normative · practical reason
- art stylesimpressionism, surrealism, cubism, realism, pop art
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape
- linguisticslinguistics, phoneme, phonemes, morpheme, morphemes
- literary analysisliterary analysis, character analysis, book review, plot, critical analysis
formalismfunctionalism
Theory emphasizing purposes and roles
contextualism · spirit of the law · pragmatism · empiricism · realism
formalismexpressionism
Distorting reality for emotion
romanticism · emotionalism · social realism · functionalism · naturalism
formalisminformality
Relaxed, unofficial tone
casualness · unceremoniousness · spontaneity · naturalness · familiarity
- legal formalitiesRequired procedural steps for validity
- mere formality
formality, formalities, informality, formalist, formalization, formalistic, formalisms