banalismo

Banalismo is a term used in Italian and other Romance-language discourse to denote an approach in art, literature, and cultural criticism that foregrounds banality—the everyday, the ordinary, and the trivial aspects of life. In contrast to sensational or heroic representation, banalismo treats commonplace phenomena with attention and deliberation, often producing a quiet, observant effect.

Used variably, banalismo is not a single, codified movement but a descriptive label for works that depict ordinary scenes, mundane objects, or colloquial language, sometimes with irony and sometimes with solemnity. It has appeared in discussions of postwar and contemporary culture, in reaction to mass media, consumer society, and the saturation of daily life.

Typical characteristics include a focus on familiar settings, restrained aesthetics, deadpan narration or description, and a deliberate avoidance of spectacle. The aim is often to reveal underlying social norms, power relations, or the texture of daily experience that standard narratives neglect.

Reception of banalismo is mixed. Proponents argue that it democratizes representation and exposes truth in the commonplace, while critics worry that it can become merely trivial or stylistically inert if not underpinned by critical intent.

See also: banality, realism, everyday life in art, mundane aesthetics.