contextualism in American English
(kənˈtekstʃuːəˌlɪzəm)
noun1. (in motion-picture criticism) the theory that all incidents in a film must be viewed in the social, political, and cultural context with which the film concerns itself and in which it was made
2. Architecture the aesthetic position that a building or the like should be designed for harmony or a meaningful relationship with other such elements already existing in its vicinity
Derived forms
contextualist noun or adjective
Word origin
[1925–30;
contextual +
-ism]