academism

noun

Meaning

Strict adherence to traditional, conventional, or formal artistic and academic standards at the expense of originality or creativity.

Examples

  • His early work was praised for its innovation, but he soon fell into a trap of dry academism.
  • The movement emerged as a direct rebellion against the stifling academism of the national art school.

Synonyms: formalism, conventionality, traditionalism, pedantry