8 1/2

8 1/2 Glossary

The Cure

A mineral treatment at a spa. In Guido's case, holy water used to treat bodily ills.

Marxism

An ideology that proposes Communism as a means of eliminating class inequalities, developed by nineteenth-century thinker Karl Marx.

Pragmatism

A theory wherein the truth of principles or theories is judged by how effective they are when applied to real life.

Realism

An artistic movement and/or ideology that advocates for the realistic representation of subjects, though what is meant by "realistic" is subject to interpretation. The artistic Realism movement of the nineteenth century rejected the Romanticism that had dominated art and literature for years.

Mise-en-abyme

Refers to art having infinite representations of itself within itself. For example, a film within a film (8 1/2), or a picture within a picture.

Absurdist

Something intentionally surreal or absurd, especially in art.

Stream of Consciousness

A style of narration structured to mimic a character's thoughts and reactions in real time, as opposed to narration that strives to present plot information in an ordered, intelligible way.

Director's Block

The film director's version of "writer's block," a sensation wherein a writer feels unable to think of new ideas or conquer the blank page.

Pornography

Art, especially film and video, depicting sexual acts. Largely considered more vulgar than sex scenes in regular film, even though the former often resembles the latter.

Squalid

Dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of neglect or poverty.

Escapist

Designed to avoid dealing with reality

Gratuitous

Uncalled for, unrelated

Superfluous

Unnecessary, or more than enough

Faithful

Loyal to

Drained

Deprived of strength

Devour

To consume avidly and wholly

Salvation

Deliverance from harm or pain

Authentic

Genuine or real

Lucid

Intelligible, clear

Bitter

Resentful at being treated unfairly

Dream Logic

Illogical logic that guides dreams but would not pass for logic in waking life

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