urealistiske

Urealistiske is a Norwegian adjective used to describe works or styles that deliberately depart from photographic or naturalistic realism. In art criticism and theory it denotes non-realistic approaches across media, including visual art, literature, film, and design. Urealistiske works may emphasize abstraction, stylization, dreamlike or fantastical elements, or symbolic meaning rather than faithful depiction of the external world.

Origin and usage: The term is formed from the negating prefix u- and realistisk (realistic). It is distinct from surrealistisk, since surrealism refers to a specific historical movement, while urealistiske describes a broader range of non-realistic approaches. The label is descriptive and evaluative, often used to position a work on a realism–non-realism spectrum rather than to assign it to a particular school.

Contexts: In painting and illustration, urealistiske images may feature exaggerated forms, unusual juxtapositions, or dream logic. In literature, urealistiske narratives might foreground myth, magic, or introspection over plausible causality, employing symbolic or allegorical devices. In architecture and design, the term can refer to forms that prioritize concept, metaphor, or visual play over practical realism.

See also: Realism, Surrealism, Fantasy literature, Magical realism, Abstract art.