ornamentalism
[/ɔːr.nə.men.təl.ɪz.əm/]
nounpl: ornamentalisms
ornamentalismo
1. A philosophical and political doctrine that emphasizes decoration, beauty, and aesthetic appeal as primary values in art, architecture, and design, often at the expense of functionality or substance.
The architect's ornamentalism resulted in a building that was visually stunning but impractical to use.
O ornamentalismo do arquiteto resultou em um edifício visualmente deslumbrante, mas impraticável de usar.
2. The practice or principle of making something overly decorative or embellished; excessive ornamentation.
The furniture designer criticized the ornamentalism of Victorian style as wasteful.
O designer de móveis criticou o ornamentalismo do estilo vitoriano como sendo desperdiçador.
3. In historical and postcolonial studies, a form of imperial ideology that justified colonialism through claims of bringing civilization and aesthetic refinement to colonized peoples.
Scholars examine how ornamentalism served as a justification for European imperial expansion.
Estudiosos examinam como o ornamentalismo serviu como justificativa para a expansão imperial europeia.
The term gained particular prominence in postcolonial studies through historians like David Cannadine, who used 'ornamentalism' to describe how the British Empire justified imperialism through claims of civilization and aesthetic refinement. In Brazilian and Portuguese contexts, the word is primarily used in academic discussions of art history, architecture, and colonial history, with increasing use in postcolonial theory.
Related Idioms & Phrases
form over function - emphasizing appearance over practicality
all dressed up - excessively decorated or ornate
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