literalism

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

literalism
    n 1: the doctrine of realistic (literal) portrayal in art or
         literature
    2: a disposition to interpret statements in their literal sense

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Literalism \Lit"er*al*ism\ (l[i^]t"[~e]r*al*[i^]z'm), n.
   1. That which accords with the letter; a mode of interpreting
      literally; adherence to the letter.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Fine Arts) The tendency or disposition to represent
      objects faithfully, without abstraction,
      conventionalities, or idealization.
      [1913 Webster]