A pastiche is a creative work that deliberately imitates the style of another artist, writer, or time period, usually as a form of tribute or playful homage rather than mockery. When a musician creates a pastiche of 1920s jazz, they're carefully copying the instruments, rhythms, and feeling of that era. When an author writes a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes stories, they try to capture Arthur Conan Doyle's voice and Victorian atmosphere.

The key difference between pastiche and simply copying is intention: a pastiche celebrates the original style rather than pretending to be original. Think of it like a skilled artist painting in the style of Van Gogh for an art show, clearly labeling it as “in the style of” rather than claiming they discovered a lost Van Gogh painting.

Pastiche is also different from parody, which exaggerates and makes fun of its subject. A pastiche of a superhero movie would lovingly recreate the heroic music, dramatic poses, and noble speeches. A parody would make those same elements seem ridiculous.

The word can also describe something that borrows from many different styles at once. A building might be called a pastiche if it mixes Greek columns, Gothic arches, and modern glass in one design, though this usage can suggest the combination doesn't quite work together.