theme

A theme is the underlying message, idea, or commentary that a work expresses about life, society, or human nature. It is more abstract than the subject or plot and often emerges through character, conflict, and imagery. Themes can be universal, such as love, mortality, or power, or specific to a culture or era. A theme is not a simple summary of events but a general statement about the world that the work invites the audience to consider.

In literature, film, and theater, themes are developed through plot, character arcs, symbols, and motifs. They may be explicit in a stated moral or implied through subtext and scene composition. A clear distinction is often made between theme and motif: motifs are recurring elements that support the theme, while the theme is the broader idea.

In music, the term can refer to a central melodic idea that recurs and evolves, or to a broader conceptual subject that informs a composition, such as a folk theme in a variation form or a programmatic theme representing a narrative or mood.

In the visual arts and other media, themes reflect broader concerns such as identity, conflict, or the natural world, conveyed through imagery, composition, and technique. Thematic analysis looks for patterns, symbols, and decisions that reveal the intended message.

In design and computing, a theme is a cohesive set of visual attributes—colors, typography, icons, and layout—applied across an interface or document to create a consistent look and feel. Theming supports branding, accessibility, and user customization.

The term derives from Greek thema, meaning proposition or subject, and has been used across disciplines to discuss the central ideas that shape a work.