social realism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low in everyday conversation, but Medium in academic, artistic, and literary contexts.Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “social realism” mean?
An artistic and literary movement that portrays the everyday realities of social life, especially of the working class, often with a critical or political perspective.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An artistic and literary movement that portrays the everyday realities of social life, especially of the working class, often with a critical or political perspective.
Refers to any realistic depiction of social conditions in various media, emphasizing authenticity and social commentary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Generally similar, but in the UK, it is strongly associated with post-war British cinema and literature, while in the US, it may be linked to American Realism in art and the Ashcan School.
Connotations
In both, it connotes a focus on the grim realities of life, but in the UK, it might have a stronger historical tie to working-class culture.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “social realism” in a Sentence
social realism + verb (e.g., depicts, explores)preposition + social realism (e.g., in social realism, of social realism)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “social realism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Artists often depict social realism in their works.
American English
- Critics analyze social realism in contemporary cinema.
adverb
British English
- He paints social-realistically, focusing on urban life.
American English
- The story is social-realistically told, with attention to detail.
adjective
British English
- The film has a social-realist aesthetic.
American English
- Her novel is known for its social-realist themes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in discussions of corporate social responsibility art projects.
Academic
Common in art history, literature studies, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Infrequent; mostly in educated conversations about art or politics.
Technical
Used in art criticism and sociological analyses of media.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “social realism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “social realism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “social realism”
- Using 'social realism' interchangeably with 'realism' without the social aspect.
- Misspelling as 'social realism' with incorrect spacing or hyphenation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Realism is a broader movement depicting life accurately, while social realism specifically focuses on social conditions and often has a political message.
No, socialist realism is a style mandated by socialist states, often glorifying the working class, whereas social realism is more critical and diverse.
It has roots in 19th-century European art and literature, but became prominent in the 20th century, especially in Britain and America.
Yes, it appears in contemporary film, television, and literature that address current social issues realistically.
An artistic and literary movement that portrays the everyday realities of social life, especially of the working class, often with a critical or political perspective.
Social realism is usually formal, academic in register.
Social realism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊʃəl ˈrɪəlɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈriːəlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think SOCIety's REAL ISM: it's about the real issues in society.
Conceptual Metaphor
Art as a window into society's soul.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key feature of social realism?