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FORMALIST

                                             January 31, 2022

                                           MOIRA_GRAPH

One of Raymond Williams picks for a "keyword"-- meaning a word
critically important in intellectual history-- is "formalist".

He makes the point that for much of the word's history there
was a dismissive, perjorative connotation about the term--
it suggests a concern with outward forms as opposed to the
inner spirit.

I expected that Williams would make the point
that this connotation has faded somewhat in
recent decades, but he doesn't go there --       Or at least, I *think*
                                                 he doesn't go there:
   In the world of the sciences,                 for someone deeply
   to my ear, a "formalism" has a                concerned with words
   positive ring, it sounds like                 his writing can be
   something done *correctly*                    awfully murky and hard
   perhaps something derived by                  to follow in places.
   techniques that are standard in
   a given field.


      One might compare this to "formulaic",
      though that has a perjorative
      connotation in literary criticism,
      suggesting a lack of creativity, and
      perhaps pandering to an audience.

          Though you know, if the formula were
          any good, being "formulaic" might be          ANASTRUCTING
          thought of in a more complimentary way.



                                             (March 07, 2022)

I want to quote some passages
from Raymond Williams, "Keywords"
to give a feel for the text,
but it's not at all easy.

From "Formalist" (with my own linebreaks added):

    "Two senses of "formalist" appeared in English from eC17,

    (i) an adherent of the 'mere forms' or 'outward shows' of
    religion.  'formalists and time-servers' (1609);
                                                                 RITUAL_DISPLAY
    (ii) one who explains a matter from its superficial rather
    than it's substantial qualities: 'it is a ridiculous thing...
    to see what shiftes theis Fromalists have... to make su
    perficies to seeme body, that hath depth and bulk' (Bacon,
    1607-12).

    These uses, and some of the intricate confusions of more
    recent usage, can be understood only by reference to the
    complicated development of "form" itself.  From fw _forme_,
    oF, _forma, L - shape, "form" repeated in English the
    complications of its Latin development, of which two are
    principally relevant:

    (i) a visible or outward shape, with a strong sense of the
    physical body: 'an angel bi wai he mette, In mannes fourn,
    (c. 1325); 'forme is most frayle, a fading flattering
    showe' (1568);

    (ii) an essential shaping principle, making indeterminate
    material into a determinate or specific being or thing: 'the
    body was only matter, of which (the soul) were the fourme'
    (1413); 'according to the diversity of inward forms, things of
    the world are distinguished int their kinds' (Hooker, 1594).

    It is clear that in these extreme sense form spanned the whole
    range from the external and superficial to the inherent and
    determining."


The entry for "formalism" goes on like this much longer.
That's less than a third of the total.




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