The word "imagist" is spelled with the letter "i" followed by "magist." The "i" is pronounced with a short "ih" sound, represented in IPA as /ɪ/. The "m" in "magist" is pronounced with a regular "m" sound, represented in IPA as /m/. The "a" is pronounced with a short "uh" sound, represented in IPA as /ə/. The "g" is pronounced with a hard "g" sound, represented in IPA as /ɡ/. The "ist" is pronounced with a short "ih" sound followed by a regular "s" sound, represented in IPA as /ɪst/.
An imagist refers to a person who is associated with the literary movement known as imagism. Imagism emerged in the early 20th century, particularly around 1912-1917, as a reaction to the traditional poetry prevalent at the time. The imagist movement aimed to emphasize concise, vivid, and precise imagery within poetry, rejecting flowery language and excessive sentimentality.
As an artistic philosophy, imagism sought to capture the essence of a subject or idea by using precise and evocative language, often resembling snapshots or visual images. Imagists placed a strong emphasis on visual clarity, economy of words, and sharpness of image, drawing inspiration from Japanese haiku and Chinese classical poetry.
The imagist movement consisted of a diverse group of writers, including some notable figures such as T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, H.D. (Hilda Doolittle), and F.S. Flint. Their poetry often embraced themes of nature, urban life, and personal experiences, presenting them in a direct and vivid manner.
Overall, imagism revolutionized the craft of poetry by discarding unnecessary ornamentation and focusing on the power of imagery. Imagists sought to capture the essence of their subjects in a fresh and immediate way, encouraging readers to engage with the world through their senses and perception.
The word "imagist" originates from the noun "image" combined with the suffix "-ist". The noun "image" traces back to the Old French word "image" and the Latin word "imago", meaning a representation or likeness. The suffix "-ist" is derived from the Latin suffix "-ista" or the Greek suffix "-istēs", indicating a person who practices or possesses a particular quality or skill. Therefore, an "imagist" refers to a person who practices or adheres to the principles of imagism, a movement in poetry that emphasizes precise, vivid, and often minimalistic imagery. The term was coined by poet T.E. Hulme and later promoted by poets such as Ezra Pound and F.S. Flint in the early 20th century.