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Glite Dictionary
miserabilism

miserabilism

1 9.9
An art and writing style that shows life as sad and without hope
  • noun
  • /ˌmɪzəˈrɪbɪlɪzəm/
  • Jargon
: miserabilismo
  • Some critics argue that miserabilism provided an artistic voice for the existential anxieties of the 1950s.

Examples

  • The novel is a prime example of miserabilism.

  • The painter's works were seen as classic examples of miserabilism, reflecting the despair of postwar France.

  • The novel's tone of unrelenting bleakness aligns it with the principles of miserabilism.

  • Many artists embraced miserabilism during the 20th century.

  • The novel's use of dark imagery and hopeless characters exemplifies the theme of miserabilism in contemporary literature.

  • Artists associated with miserabilism often portray scenes of desolation to evoke feelings of despair.

  • Many films from the 1960s reflect miserabilism with their somber themes and bleak outlooks on life.

Surface Forms

miserabilism singular
miserabilisms plural

Morphology

miserabilism = miserable (semi-transparent) = miserable + ism

Formed from 'miserable' + '-ism'; the components are clear but the use as a specialised artistic/literary movement term is somewhat technical and not fully predictable to an average learner.

Etymology

Miserabilism comes from the French misérabilisme and from the English word miserable meaning 'very unhappy', with the ending -ism meaning 'a movement'. So miserabilism names an art or literary movement that focuses on misery and deep sadness.