Perjorative designation for an art object, gesture, attitude, etc, that the critic perceives as existing outside the continuum of judgement: neither lowbrow nor highbrow, fauxbrow indicates a perception that the object of criticism has lost its way via pretense, ideology, dogma, etc. The defining of fauxbrow is itself an example of fauxbrow.
'Anatomy of Hell'? Fauxbrow. The Prime Minister of Australia's foreign policy? Fauxbrow. The Raelians? Utterly fauxbrow. Michel Houellebecq's body of work? Though in places fauxbrow, his most visceral moments are the edifice of a genius.
by Dan Disney June 08, 2006