Artworks in traditions governed by craft mastery and prescribed iconographic programs—Byzantine icons, Noh theatre—succeed precisely by fulfilling determinate purposes without generating imaginative surplus.

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Byzantine icons(historical example of art governed by rigid iconographic rules): Religious paintings created in the Byzantine Empire (centered around Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul) that followed strict rules about how to depict holy figures and scenes.
Craft mastery(describing how certain art traditions prioritize technical skill): Skill developed through disciplined practice and training in a particular technique or art form, where excellence comes from following refined methods that have been perfected over time.
Iconographic programs(explaining the structured rules governing Byzantine icons and similar art forms): A system of predetermined symbols, images, and visual rules that artists follow to communicate specific religious or cultural meanings in their work.
Imaginative surplus(contrasted with artworks that deliver exactly what they're designed to deliver without leaving room for extra imagination)

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