In my mind, the word "conceit" always meant something along these lines: "A favorable and especially unduly high opinion of one's own abilities or worth." Now I come to screenwriting and see "a conceit" in reviews of scripts and movies. I get the dictionary-meaning difference, but I'm still puzzled by what it's supposed to mean.
Sure, I can see "a conceit" being used as a clinical description, neither good nor bad - though, I don't get the point of it being used that way. I figure, almost any thought is a conceit at some level. However, my brain struggles to separate the facial meaning of "a conceit" from the negative connotation of "conceit" as in, "He's conceited."
So in the movie-making context, is "a conceit" generally negative? Is it akin to "too clever by half" or "too cute"? Do you see it used regularly in a neutral way? Ever with a positive connotation?
Sure, I can see "a conceit" being used as a clinical description, neither good nor bad - though, I don't get the point of it being used that way. I figure, almost any thought is a conceit at some level. However, my brain struggles to separate the facial meaning of "a conceit" from the negative connotation of "conceit" as in, "He's conceited."
So in the movie-making context, is "a conceit" generally negative? Is it akin to "too clever by half" or "too cute"? Do you see it used regularly in a neutral way? Ever with a positive connotation?
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