for·mal·ism 
(fôrmə-lĭz′əm)
(fôrmə-lĭz′əm)n.
1. Rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms, as in religion or art.
2. An instance of rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms.
3. A method of aesthetic analysis that emphasizes structural elements and artistic techniques rather than content, especially in literary works.
formal·ist adj. & n.
for′mal·istic adj.
for′mal·isti·cal·ly adv.