Sentimentalism

Sentimentalism is an excessive display of tender feelings, characterized by an exaggerated emotional response to everyday situations, objects, or experiences. It often involves a heightened sensitivity to beauty, suffering, or nostalgia, sometimes to the point of being perceived as insincere or contrived. It's the indulgence in feelings for their own sake, rather than as a means to understanding or action. It can manifest in literature, art, or everyday interactions, often emphasizing idealized versions of reality or human nature. It can also be used to manipulate emotions and evade genuine connection.

Sentimentalism meaning with examples

• The Victorian novel was often criticized for its sentimentalism, with characters breaking into tears at the slightest provocation and dwelling on moralizing pronouncements. Critics felt the emotional intensity overshadowed the plot. The excessive display of feeling and dramatic pronouncements were seen as inauthentic, which ultimately undermined the message and created a sense of unrealistic storytelling.
• His poem was pure sentimentalism, laden with cliches about lost love and idealized landscapes. It felt contrived rather than sincere. The reader struggled to connect with the emotion, finding the imagery and language overblown and lacking genuine insight. His overuse of flowery language and overly dramatic phrasing made it difficult to experience a true connection.
• The movie's soundtrack, full of swelling strings and heart-wrenching melodies, leaned heavily on sentimentalism. It attempted to force emotion rather than earn it through the narrative. The audience found the emotional manipulation distracting and ultimately ineffective, noticing the lack of the character’s emotional connection. This constant appeal was often shallow.
• Her social media posts were a masterclass in sentimentalism, sharing highly curated images accompanied by overly emotional captions. While beautiful to look at and easy to read, people sensed the posts’ dishonesty. People were confused by the performative nature of the shared content and questioned the sincerity of the feelings it expressed, even if it was nice to look at.
• The charity campaign employed sentimentalism by showing emotionally charged images of suffering children. The intent was noble, but the use of such imagery raised questions of exploitation. The viewers felt manipulated into donating by preying on their emotions, prompting debate about the ethical boundaries of fundraising and the long-term benefits of sentimental approaches.