realism

/'riəlizm/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
realism

A painter practices realism by carefully depicting a bowl of fruit on a table.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A philosophical doctrine: The belief that abstract concepts or physical objects exist independently of human perception or thought.
    • An artistic and literary movement: A style, especially prominent in 19th-century France, that aims to represent subjects truthfully, focusing on detailed, factual, and unembellished depiction of everyday life.
    • A practical attitude: The acceptance of facts and reality as they are, favoring practicality and literal truth over ideals or fantasies.
Examples of Usage
  • Philosophical doctrine:
    • The philosopher argued for realism, asserting that the external world exists whether we perceive it or not.
    • In the debate, her position was one of moral realism, believing ethical truths are objective.
  • Artistic movement:
    • The novel is a masterpiece of realism, portraying the harsh lives of peasants without romanticism.
    • Courbet's paintings are celebrated for their gritty realism.
  • Practical attitude:
    • His realism about the company's financial troubles led to necessary but difficult decisions.
    • We need a dose of realism in our planning; our goals must be achievable.
Advanced Usage
  • "Magic realism": A literary or artistic genre where magical elements are woven into a realistic environment.
    • The author is famous for her use of magic realism to explore historical truths.
  • "Social realism": An artistic movement focused on depicting the everyday conditions of the working class and poor, often as social commentary.
    • The film is a powerful example of social realism from the 1930s.
Variants and Related Words
  • Realist (noun): A person who accepts and deals with situations as they really are, or an adherent of realism in philosophy or the arts.
    • She is a realist who doesn't believe in easy solutions.
  • Realistic (adjective): Having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected; representing things in a way that is accurate and true to life.
    • Her career goals are realistic and well-planned.
    • The special effects were incredibly realistic.
Synonyms
  • Pragmatism: A practical approach to problems and affairs.
  • Naturalism (in art/literature): A style that emphasizes detailed, scientific observation of life, often a more extreme form of realism.
  • Actuality: The state of existing in fact; reality.
Antonyms
  • Idealism: The practice of forming or pursuing ideals, especially unrealistically. In philosophy, the doctrine that ideas or the mind constitute fundamental reality.
  • Romanticism (in art/literature): An artistic movement emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual, often in contrast to realism.
  • Fantasy: The faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things.
Related Phrases
  • "A sense of realism": An awareness or acknowledgment of the true nature of a situation.
    • The new budget introduced a much-needed sense of realism to the project.
  • "Gritty realism": A harsh, uncompromisingly realistic portrayal, especially of difficult subjects.
    • The documentary showed the gritty realism of life in the urban slums.
realism

A painter practices realism by carefully depicting a bowl of fruit on a table.

Noun
  1. (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names
  2. an artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual description
  3. (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical objects continue to exist when not perceived
  4. the state of being actual or real
    • the reality of his situation slowly dawned on him
  5. the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth