anti-classicism
|an-ti-clas-sic-ism|
/ˌæntiˈklæsɪsɪzəm/
opposition to classical rules
Etymology
'anti-classicism' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against') combined with 'classicism' (from French 'classique' and Latin 'classicus'), where 'classicus' meant 'of the highest class or pertaining to a class'.
'anti-classicism' was formed in English by combining 'anti-' + 'classicism' as aesthetic debates around 'classical' versus 'romantic' or 'modern' forms developed in the 18th–20th centuries; the compound became used to label opposition to classical norms.
Initially, it meant 'opposition to the norms and ideals of classical art and literature'; over time the term has largely retained this core sense but has also broadened to cover general resistance to 'classical' forms or conventions in various fields.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to classicism in art, literature, music, or criticism; a stance rejecting the principles, forms, or ideals associated with classical models.
Anti-classicism in some 20th-century art movements manifested as a rejection of classical restraint and proportion.
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Noun 2
a movement, tendency, or critical approach characterized by deliberate avoidance of classical conventions and an embrace of alternative or modern forms.
Scholars described the period as marked by anti-classicism, with writers experimenting beyond established classical genres.
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Last updated: 2025/10/21 00:09