superrealism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Academic, Artistic/Literary, Technical
Quick answer
What does “superrealism” mean?
An artistic style or movement seeking to depict subjects with extreme, often photographic, detail and precision, going beyond mere realism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An artistic style or movement seeking to depict subjects with extreme, often photographic, detail and precision, going beyond mere realism.
The term can also be used more broadly to denote an extreme or heightened form of realism in any field, such as literature or philosophy, where reality is depicted with intense, sometimes overwhelming, fidelity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British academic art discourse, but the difference is marginal.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language; its usage is confined to specialized artistic and academic contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “superrealism” in a Sentence
superrealism of [something]superrealism in [art/literature]move towards superrealismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “superrealism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Verb form does not exist)
American English
- (Verb form does not exist)
adverb
British English
- superrealistically
- The scene was rendered superrealistically.
American English
- superrealistically
- He paints superrealistically, spending months on a single piece.
adjective
British English
- superrealist
- The exhibition featured several superrealist sculptures.
American English
- superrealist
- Her superrealist approach to painting is meticulous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Frequent in art history papers discussing 20th-century movements and their critique of representation.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might be encountered in museum descriptions or highbrow art reviews.
Technical
Core term in art theory and criticism for classifying a specific genre of visual art.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “superrealism”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “superrealism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “superrealism”
- Confusing it with 'surrealism' (a completely different movement).
- Using it as a general synonym for 'very realistic' in non-art contexts.
- Misspelling as 'super-realism' (though the hyphenated form is occasionally seen).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In common usage, they are often synonyms. Some theorists use 'superrealism' as an umbrella term encompassing 'hyperrealism' and 'photorealism', where hyperrealism may add narrative or emotional layers beyond mere replication.
Yes, it emerged prominently in the late 1960s and 1970s as a reaction against abstract expressionism, leveraging new technologies like photography and projection.
Yes, though less commonly. It can describe a literary style that employs exhaustive, minute detail in description, akin to the 'nouveau roman' or certain works of documentary fiction.
It is descriptive. Critics may use it positively to praise technical mastery, or negatively to imply a lack of creativity, soul, or conceptual depth, accusing it of being mere copying.
An artistic style or movement seeking to depict subjects with extreme, often photographic, detail and precision, going beyond mere realism.
Superrealism is usually academic, artistic/literary, technical in register.
Superrealism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsuːpəˈrɪəlɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsupərˈriəˌlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not applicable - term is technical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SUPER REALism' – it's realism taken to a super-powered, extreme level of detail.
Conceptual Metaphor
ART IS A MIRROR (a highly polished, flawless one).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most closely associated with superrealism?