Difference between revisions of "Didactic"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
[[Greek]] ''didaktikos'', from ''didaskein'' to [[teach]] | [[Greek]] ''didaktikos'', from ''didaskein'' to [[teach]] | ||
| − | *[ | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1658] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1a : designed or intended to teach | *1a : designed or intended to teach | ||
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*2: making [[moral]] [[observations]] | *2: making [[moral]] [[observations]] | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Didacticism''' is an artistic [[philosophy]] that emphasizes [[Pedagogy|instructional]] and informative [[qualities]] in [[literature]] and other types of [[art]]. The term has its [[origin]] in the [ | + | '''Didacticism''' is an artistic [[philosophy]] that emphasizes [[Pedagogy|instructional]] and informative [[qualities]] in [[literature]] and other types of [[art]]. The term has its [[origin]] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Ancient Greek] word διδακτικός (''didaktikos''), "related to [[education]]/[[teaching]]." Originally, signifying [[learning]] in a [[fascinating]] and intriguing [[manner]]. |
| − | Yet the [[intention]] of didactic art was to present a [[profound]] lesson, not merely to [[entertain]]. Didactic plays, for instance, were intended to convey a [[moral]] theme or other rich [[truth]] to the [[audience]]. An example of didactic writing is [ | + | Yet the [[intention]] of didactic art was to present a [[profound]] lesson, not merely to [[entertain]]. Didactic plays, for instance, were intended to convey a [[moral]] theme or other rich [[truth]] to the [[audience]]. An example of didactic writing is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pope Alexander Pope]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Essay_on_Criticism ''An Essay on Criticism''] (1711), which offers a range of [[advice]] about critics and [[criticism]]. An example of didactism in [[music]] is the [[chant]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ut_queant_laxis ''Ut queant laxis''], which was used by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_of_Arezzo Guido of Arezzo] to teach [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solf%C3%A8ge solfege] syllables. |
| − | Around the 19th century the term didactic came to also be used as a [[criticism]] for work that appears to be overly burdened with instructive, [[factual]], or otherwise [[educational]] [[information]], to the detriment of the enjoyment of the [[reader]] (a [[meaning]] that was quite foreign to [[Greek]] [[thought]]). [ | + | Around the 19th century the term didactic came to also be used as a [[criticism]] for work that appears to be overly burdened with instructive, [[factual]], or otherwise [[educational]] [[information]], to the detriment of the enjoyment of the [[reader]] (a [[meaning]] that was quite foreign to [[Greek]] [[thought]]). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe Edgar Allan Poe] even called didacticism the worst of "heresies" in his essay [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poetic_Principle ''The Poetic Principle'']. |
[[Category: Languages and Literature]] | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:56, 12 December 2020
Origin
Greek didaktikos, from didaskein to teach
Definitions
- 1a : designed or intended to teach
- b : intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment <didactic poetry>
- 2: making moral observations
Description
Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. The term has its origin in the Ancient Greek word διδακτικός (didaktikos), "related to education/teaching." Originally, signifying learning in a fascinating and intriguing manner.
Yet the intention of didactic art was to present a profound lesson, not merely to entertain. Didactic plays, for instance, were intended to convey a moral theme or other rich truth to the audience. An example of didactic writing is Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism (1711), which offers a range of advice about critics and criticism. An example of didactism in music is the chant Ut queant laxis, which was used by Guido of Arezzo to teach solfege syllables.
Around the 19th century the term didactic came to also be used as a criticism for work that appears to be overly burdened with instructive, factual, or otherwise educational information, to the detriment of the enjoyment of the reader (a meaning that was quite foreign to Greek thought). Edgar Allan Poe even called didacticism the worst of "heresies" in his essay The Poetic Principle.
