classicise
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive): To make something classic or classical in style, form, or character. This involves imposing or adopting the principles, restraint, and order associated with classical art, literature, or culture from ancient Greece and Rome.
Usage
The verb "classicise" describes the deliberate act of revising, designing, or interpreting something to align with classical ideals. It is often used in the context of art, architecture, literature, and music.
Examples
- The architect sought to classicise the modern façade by adding symmetrical columns and a pediment.
- Later editors attempted to classicise the medieval text, smoothing out its irregular rhythms.
- His later paintings classicise the earlier, more chaotic themes into balanced, harmonious compositions.
Advanced Usage
- In Academic/Critical Discourse: The term can carry a critical nuance, suggesting the imposition of classical norms might strip an original work of its unique or native character.
- Critics argue that the 18th-century translation unnecessarily classicises the vibrant, raw energy of the original folk tales.
Variants and Related Words
- Classicize: The preferred spelling in American English.
- Classical (adj): Of or relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world or its principles.
- Classicist (n): A person who advocates or is an expert in the study of classical antiquity.
- Classicism (n): The following of classical principles and style in art and literature.
Synonyms
- Classicize (variant spelling)
- Neoclassicize: To make something conform to neoclassical style (a more specific, later revival of classicism).
- Formalize: To make something formal or regular (in a general sense, not specifically classical).
Antonyms
- Modernize: To adapt to modern needs or habits.
- Romanticize: To make something seem more idealized or emotional than it is, often opposed to classical restraint.
Verb
- make classic or classical