social realism

American  

Or Social Realism

noun

1. a style of painting, especially of the 1930s in the U.S., in which the scenes depicted typically convey a message of social or political protest edged with satire.

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social realism British  

noun

1. the use of realist art, literature, etc as a medium for social or political comment

2. another name for socialist realism

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Other Word Forms

• social realist noun

Example Sentences

The author could have trimmed rhetorical flourishes and excessive explication, shaved off a few adjectives and adverbs; yet the power of “Flashlight” derives from its exacting psychological portraits, Choi’s reconnaissance through the tradition of social realism, the rich tension between her natural cynicism and a desire for empathy.

From Los Angeles Times

Now the formally restless Susan Choi turns to social realism in her beguiling if baggy “Flashlight,“ mapping a family’s journey among political autocracy and personal pain, from Midwestern cornfields to the Pacific Rim.

From Los Angeles Times

And I think that I started to gravitate to Italian neorealism, British social realism.

From Los Angeles Times

For most of its run time, Bird offers social realism, excellent acting performances, moments of humour and complicated characters - not least the caring but flawed Bailey.

From BBC

Gunn goes for a gritty, dim look to give the film the air of authentic social realism.

From Seattle Times