What is "literalism"

Literalism \Lit"er*al*ism\ (l[i^]t"[~e]r*al*[i^]z'm), n.

1. That which accords with the letter; a mode of interpreting literally; adherence to the letter.

2. (Fine Arts) The tendency or disposition to represent objects faithfully, without abstraction, conventionalities, or idealization.

n. 1 Literal interpretation or understanding; adherence to the exact letter or precise significance, as in interpreting or translating. 2 (context arts English) The style of art portraying a subject as literally and accurately as possible.

1. n. the doctrine of realistic (literal) portrayal in art or literature

2. a disposition to interpret statements in their literal sense

• Biblical literalism in religious fundamentalism
• Qur'anic literalism
• in translation, the principle of aiming at a literal translation
• Literalism (music), a late-20th century method of composing music using physical representations of elements of musical composition to create everything from classical orchestral pieces to apparently formless moments of noise.