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high-concept

high-concept

3 7.4
A film or book with a simple main idea that is easy to explain
  • adjective
  • /haɪ ˈkɒnˌsɛpt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : de alto concepto
  • Many successful movies are built around a high-concept idea that is easy to communicate.
  • high-concept drama
  • high-concept show
  • high-concept idea

In fact, most of the movies that win the Oscars are not high concept.

Examples

  • The series' high-concept premise was simple and ingenious: What if some normal American suburban guy married a seemingly all-powerful witch?

    Blog text (29)
  • The pilot was lauded for its visual style, but pulling off the high-concept premise—a show about a family of "monsters"—was always considered a risky proposition.

    Blog text (2)
  • So what I was taught, and I think what most people are taught is a high concept is bigger, bigger is better.

  • So you can follow with with that, with that high concept, you can follow any character in that world.

  • In other words, I am almost exclusively interested in commercial high concepts.

    Blog text (19)
  • Some high-concept shows are good in the beginning and then lose momentum.

    Blog text (13)
  • High-concept ideas reflect deep understanding.

    Academic text (2008)
  • My personal gripe was the Writer's Strike, which brought the number of high-concept projects down.

    Blog text (9)
  • Some TV execs are starting to wonder if high-concept shows (especially sci-fi series that rely on complex mythology) should last for only one or two seasons.

    Blog text (13)
  • The film's high-concept premise captivated audiences with its originality and clarity.

Antonyms

80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

How Clear

high-concept
  • Jargon
3 7.4
simple
1.0
complex
648 5.6
obscure
28 8.2

Surface Forms

high-concept positive

Morphology

high-concept = high + concept (semi-transparent) = high + concept

The components 'high' and 'concept' are transparent individually, but the compound is industry jargon whose specific meaning ('easily communicated or commercially striking premise') is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

High-concept combines high (meaning 'big' or 'lofty') and concept (meaning 'idea'). The phrase began in films and advertising to name an idea that is easy to explain and has a clear, strong hook, which is why a high-concept story can be summed up in one sentence.