Iconography, often convoluted and abstruse, is a more prominent element in the Mannerist styles. The second sense of "obscurantism" denotes making knowledge abstruse, that is, difficult to grasp. Subjects were shown in a direct and dramatic fashion, with relatively few abstruse allusions. In these contexts, "xuan" may be translated as "abstruse", "obscure" or words to that effect. Godghate's poetic style is known to be abstruse. Maria Hsia Chang regards Li's teachings on these subjects "abstruse". This is an aspect of category theory, and has a reputation for being abstruse. Younger religious brother, were you stirred by abstruse thoughts? The song is often cited as one of Amos's least abstruse and most traditional ballads. The webcomic "Abstruse Goose" has a strip which is a parody of the book.