hysterical realism
n.— «It was, he argued, a textbook example of a particular brand of contemporary fiction that [James] Wood has labelled “hysterical realism”, which indulges in glib cultural commentary at the expense of a more substantial engagement with the nuances of character. The defining feature of the genre is its bombastic quality: its fondness for cartoonish description, fantastic coincidences and smart but shallow allusiveness.» —“Shalimar the Clown” by James Ley Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Sept. 29, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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