Realistisk

Realistisk is an adjective used in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish to mean realistic. It describes something that corresponds to reality or is based on facts rather than fiction. The word is formed from the root real- plus the common Scandinavian adjective suffix -isk. Etymologically it derives from the Latin realis, via the French réaliste, and entered the Scandinavian languages as part of broader European usage.

In everyday language, realistisk can describe plans or expectations that are feasible or sensible, and it can denote a tone or approach that aims for factual, plausible representation. In culture and art, the term is used to characterize portrayals that avoid romanticizing fantasy and instead emphasize truthful or ordinary detail.

In literature, theatre and film, realistisk signals an alignment with realism—the artistic and critical tradition that prioritizes ordinary life, social conditions, and objective depiction. In the Nordic context, realism influenced 19th-century authors and dramatists, including figures such as Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, who are associated with works that reflect social realities rather than idealized narratives. Visual arts and cinema may also employ realistisk to describe works that focus on everyday subjects with naturalistic precision.

Philosophically, realism refers to the belief in a reality independent of perception or language. The adjective realistisk can be used in Scandinavian languages to describe realist positions, interpretations, or approaches, though its everyday use is more common in discussions of art, literature, and practical representation.

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