Nonpersonification refers to the absence or rejection of personification in a literary or artistic context. Personification is a literary device where human qualities, characteristics, or actions are attributed to inanimate objects, abstract concepts, or animals. Nonpersonification, on the other hand, is the deliberate choice of authors or artists to avoid this poetic technique.
In literature, nonpersonification entails keeping objects, ideas, or animals in their original form, devoid of human attributes. Instead of attributing human qualities to nature or objects, nonpersonification allows them to retain their inherent characteristics, thereby maintaining their unique identities and properties.
This concept can also be explored in visual arts, where artists choose not to ascribe human attributes or characteristics to objects, animals, or abstract concepts represented in their artwork. Nonpersonification in visual arts can be observed through the use of literal or realistic depictions, without any metaphorical or symbolic associations that may turn the subject into a personified entity.
The purpose of nonpersonification can vary depending on the context. It may be used to uphold realism, maintain the intrinsic essence of the subject matter, or to avoid any romanticizing or sentimental portrayals. By eschewing personification, nonpersonification can emphasize objectivity, keep a literal representation, or provide a contrast to personifying elements within a larger piece of work.
