curiousstrange
Curiousstrange is a neologism used in contemporary criticism to describe a quality in objects, images, or ideas that is simultaneously intriguing and unsettling. The term signals a blend of appeal and discomfort, prompting closer inspection while maintaining a sense of anomaly that resists easy explanation.
Etymology and scope: The word combines curious and strange and is used mainly in informal discourse, online
Examples and applications: In visual art and photography, curiousstrange may describe scenes that resemble everyday life
Criticism and reception: As a loosely defined descriptor, curiousstrange risks vagueness and overuse. Some critics urge
See also: uncanny, uncanny valley, surrealism, liminality, curiosity.