Figurativism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. The use or practice of expression through figures of speech or symbolic representation; an artistic or rhetorical style emphasizing metaphorical or non-literal meanings; a philosophical or interpretive approach valuing abstract or imaginative depiction
  2. A mode of communication focused on non-literal language involving metaphors and allegories; a creative strategy in art or literature highlighting symbolic rather than direct representations; a theoretical perspective prioritizing imaginative or emblematic understanding over literal interpretation
  3. The tendency to convey ideas via metaphorical or symbolic language rather than straightforward statements; an aesthetic principle in which meaning is expressed through imaginative or abstract imagery; an interpretative framework emphasizing figurative or emblematic thought processes and concepts

Etymology: "Figurativism" is formed from "figurative" plus the suffix "-ism," which in English marks a doctrine, practice, or artistic movement. "Figurative" comes from Latin "figurativus," from "figurare," "to shape or form," itself from "figura," "shape, form." That root is also behind "figure" in its sense of a human form or a numerical symbol, so the idea of a shaped thing and the idea of a symbolic substitute have always been closely linked. The suffix "-ism" arrived in English through Greek "-ismos," used to form nouns of action, state, or doctrine, and it attached freely to adjectives to name systems of belief or style. English has long used this pattern for artistic movements, as in "realism" and "impressionism," so "figurativism" fits a familiar mould. Its meaning is clear from its parts: a commitment to working through figures, images, and non-literal meaning rather than plain statement. The term is a modern formation rather than an old word with a long record. Dictionaries record it chiefly in discussions of art and criticism, where it is set against "abstractionism" and similar movements, so its exact use depends on context.

Synonyms: figurative art, symbolism, allegory, metaphor, representation

Antonyms: literalism, realism, naturalism, nonfigurative art