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• n  the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented
• n  (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications
• n  the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms

• In 1948 the first severe crash occurred in my life when Stalin put out his decree on "formalism.
• My other works embrace a pure formalism, but at the same time they're embedded in the landscape, so they're tapping into a very different psychology within us than artworks that .
• He turned the lens of mathematics on itself and hit upon his famous "incompleteness theorem" driving a stake through the heart of formalism.

• imitation

News & Articles

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• China's Xi in 'thorough clean-up' of party: media
  Beijing (AFP) June 18, 2013 President Xi Jinping is to launch a "thorough clean-up" of the ruling Communist Party, state media reported Tuesday, the latest strongly-worded anti-corruption drive to be enacted by China's new leader. The "upcoming year-long campaign" will target what the Xinhua news agency described as "undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucratism, laxity and ...
  June 19, 2013 - Space War
• Xi Pledges Cleanup in China’s Campaign Against Party Misbehavior
  Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged a “thorough cleanup” of the ruling Communist Party as part of a yearlong campaign aimed at ridding its ranks of formalism, bureaucracy and extravagance.
  June 18, 2013 - Bloomberg

Quotes

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• Gerardo Sandoval in Fog City Journal
  I know that in my heart that if this commentary was directed at the Chinese-American community or the Asian community, you would not be resorting to this empty and rigid formalism on your part,Sandoval said.
• Wen Jiabao in International Herald Tribune
  We must respect farmers' wishes and avoid formalism and coercive orders,Wen said.
• James Gray in PR Newswire (press release)
  His work, though formal and precise, displays an exceptional understanding of the limits and uses of formalism and precision,said Gray.