semirealism

Semirealism is a term used in art criticism and theory to describe a stylistic approach that lies between realism and more stylized forms. Because it has no single, widely agreed definition, its usage varies across disciplines. In visual arts, semirealism denotes images that aim for convincing depiction of the visible world but permit deliberate deviations in proportion, texture, or color to serve expressive or symbolic purposes. The result is work that reads as plausible in everyday terms while retaining a degree of interpretive or painterly stylization.

In cinema and animation, semirealism often refers to a mode that foregrounds naturalistic lighting, spatial logic, and material detail, yet embeds fantastical or speculative elements or departures from strict realism at a controlled level. In literature, semirealism can describe narratives rooted in real-world settings and social realism that incorporate occasional fantastical or metafictional elements without breaking plausibility.

The origins of the term are diffuse; some critics have used it to categorize work that seems halfway between strict realism and fantasy, while others treat it as a descriptive facet of broader realism-related debates rather than a formal movement. Commonly cited characteristics include attention to texture and surface detail, careful composition and perspective, a balance between objectivity and interpretive framing, and a restrained use of nonrealistic elements.

Semirealism is often discussed in relation to realism, hyperrealism, magical realism, and surrealism. It tends to be described as a provisional or hybrid category rather than a fixed school, with meaning varying by cultural and disciplinary context.