Meaning of high-concept | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Of a work such as a book, film, or television programme: based on an appealing and easily communicable idea; also, of or relating to such a work.
   derogatory, sometimes
2. Based on an idea or theme, especially one regarded as highly artistic or intellectual.
   broadly, proscribed, sometimes

Equivalents

Examples

“A high concept show⟳ has something that somebody could recognize in the title and would want⟳ to see⟳. […] Elvis Presley and pills are the highest concept you could get⟳. There are three people who are so high concept that you can live⟳ off them – Elvis, Jackie Onassis and Liz Taylor.”

“One might argue⟳ that Groundhog Day is a "high-concept" film. […] For many, a high-concept film is distinguished by its ease of summary. As Steven Spielberg puts it, "If a person can tell⟳ me the idea in 25 words or less, it's going to make⟳ a pretty good movie. I like⟳ ideas, especially movie ideas, that you can hold⟳ in your hand."”

“Yet for all its casual mayhem, Free Guy turns out to be a rather cuddly crowdpleaser, a high-concept blockbuster trifle with bubblegum ice cream clogging its circuits.”

“I’m not too sure about that new molecular gastronomy restaurant. It seems too high-concept and snooty for me.”

“We've heard of high-concept books and high-concept plays and high-concept television shows and high-concept record⟳ albums and high-concept paintings and high-concept advertising campaigns and, of course, high-concept motion pictures. This is a high-concept magazine article. Why? Because it can be satisfactorily described in a single, simple sentence. Here it is: Ask⟳ people who work⟳ in the glamour business that invented high concept to define⟳ high concept.”

“Are “Lost” and “[Desperate] Housewives” too high-concept? [article title]—ABC's hit shows are eager to avoid⟳ the Twin Peaks curse […] Forget⟳ the predictable crime procedurals. Serialized, slow-burning mysteries are back.”

“I don't need⟳ another movie that's too high-concept for its own⟳ good. I get⟳ it, meaningless movies are unoriginal and worthless, we care too much about the way we look⟳ to other people, and yes, it could be cool if a movie was made about a character who drew another character who directed another character who wrote the first character. Zoom just isn't quite as good as it wants to be de facto originality.”

“The director, Christopher Nolan, favours complicated high-concept plots. His Inception (2010) is about dreams; Memento (2000) plays about with chronology.”

CEFR level