Cultism and conceptism are two literary styles which were much explored in the period of baroque. While the first values textual form, the second values content.
Cultism
Cultism means “word play”. It is also called gongorism, as it was inspired by the texts of the Spanish poet Luis de Góngora (1561-1627).
This style uses description, cultured terms (vocabulary preciosity), elaborate and ornamental language to express ideas.
In addition to the use of these terms, cultism values details and textual form. It is common to use several speech figures (hyperbole, synesthesia, antithesis, paradox, metaphor, etc.).
To better understand this literary trend, see below a sonnet by the baroque writer Gregory of Matos:
The sun rises, and it doesn't last more than a day,
After the Light follows the dark night,
In sad shadows beauty dies,
In continual sadness, joy.
But if the sun ends, why did it rise?
If the Light is beautiful, why doesn't it last?
How is beauty thus transfigured?
How does the pen taste like that?
But in the Sun, and in the Light, the firmness is lacking,
In beauty, don't be constant,
And in joy, feel sadness.
The world finally begins by ignorance,
And have any of the goods by nature
Firmness only in inconstancy.
conceptism
Conceptism means “game of ideas”. It is also called Quevedism, as it was inspired by the poetry of the Spanish poet Francisco de Quevedo (1580-1645).
In this literary aspect, the improved rhetoric as well as the imposition of concepts is notorious, which is produced through the presentation of several ideas.
Thus, conceptism is defined by the use of rational arguments, that is, logical thinking, always valuing textual content.
The main aim of the conceptist writers was to convince the reader in addition to instructing him through various arguments.
In relation to cultism, which prized description and exaggeration, conceptism preferred conciseness.
In addition to logical reasoning, two important features of this style were:
- Syllogism: based on deduction, the syllogism presents two premises that generate a third logical proposition.
- Sophistry: Based on the logical argument, sophistry generates an illusion of truth. That's because it's associated with something misleading that looks real since it uses true arguments.
Understand more about this literary style with the example below where Father Antônio Vieira criticizes the cultist style:
“(...) Is it perhaps the style that is used in pulpits today? A style so clumsy, a style so difficult, a style so affected, a style so found in all of art and in all of nature? This is also a good reason. The style must be very easy and very natural. That is why Christ compared preaching to sowing. (...) God did not make heaven in chess of stars, as preachers do the sermon in chess of words. If one part is white, the other must be black (...). Suffice it to see a two-word sermon in peace? Must all be always bordering on their opposite? (...) What will the words be like? Like the stars. The stars are very distinct and very clear. That is how the style of preaching must be, very distinct and very clear.”
(“Sermon of the Sixtieth” by Father Antônio Vieira)
Want to know more about Baroque? Read the articles:
- Baroque
- Baroque in Brazil
- Baroque in Portugal
- Baroque style
- Baroque Poetry
- The Language of Baroque
- Baroque Characteristics
- Exercises on Baroque
