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'''Didacticism''' is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in ] and other types of ]. Didactic art should not primarily "]" or pursue the subjective goals of the artist. '''Didacticism''' is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in ] and other types of ]. Didactic art should not primarily "]" or pursue the subjective goals of the artist.


In this sense, the ] is didactic because it offers guidance in moral, religious, and ethical matters. It tells stories of the lives of people that followed ] teachings, and stories of people that decided to go against ] and the consequences that they faced. Another example is ]'s '']'', which offers a range of criticism and advice. In this sense, the ] is didactic because it offers guidance in moral, religious, and ethical matters. It chronicles what happens to those who love and obey God in accordance with ] teaching, and what happens to those who forsake God. Another example may be found in ]'s '']'', which offers a range of criticism and advice.


The term "didactic" also refers to texts (and by extension, media, such as film or television) that are overburdened with instructive, factual, and/or otherwise "educational" information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's (or viewer's) enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive/educational. The term "didactic" also refers to texts (and by extension, media, such as film or television) that are overburdened with instructive, factual, and/or otherwise "educational" information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's (or viewer's) enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive/educational.

Revision as of 07:17, 31 March 2007

Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. Didactic art should not primarily "entertain" or pursue the subjective goals of the artist.

In this sense, the Bible is didactic because it offers guidance in moral, religious, and ethical matters. It chronicles what happens to those who love and obey God in accordance with Judeo-Christian teaching, and what happens to those who forsake God. Another example may be found in Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism, which offers a range of criticism and advice.

The term "didactic" also refers to texts (and by extension, media, such as film or television) that are overburdened with instructive, factual, and/or otherwise "educational" information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's (or viewer's) enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive/educational.

Some have suggested that nearly all of the best poetry is didactic. Contrarily, Edgar Allan Poe called didacticism the worst of "heresies" in his essay The Poetic Principle.

Other examples of didactic literature include:

Didactic plays teach the audience through the use of a moral or a theme.

A good example of didactism in music is the chant Ut queant laxis, which was used by Guido of Arezzo to teach solfege syllables.

See also

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