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When you start to think of the arts as not this thing that is going to get you somewhere in terms of becoming an artist or becoming famous or whatever it is that people do, but rather a way of making being in the world not just bearable, but fascinating, then it starts to get interesting again.
Lynda Barry
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The arts should be appreciated for their intrinsic value and ability to enrich life, rather than for fame or success.

Lynda Barry highlights the importance of viewing the arts as a means of enhancing our existence rather than a pathway to fame or recognition. By shifting our perspective to see art as a valuable tool for making life more intriguing and enjoyable, we can rediscover the true essence and power of creative expression.

Themes

ArtLifeCreativityPerspectiveExpression

In practice

Example use cases

A motivational speech at an art college to inspire students to pursue their creative passions.

More from Lynda Barry

In my writing class, we never, ever talk about the writing - ever. We never address a story that's been read. I also won't let anyone look at the person who's reading. No eye contact; everybody has to draw a spiral. And I would like to do a drawing class where we could talk about anything except for the drawing. No one could even mention it.
Lynda BarryRead
The radio was on and that was the first time I heard that song, the one I hate. Whenever I hear it all I can think of is that very day riding in the front seat with Lucy leaning against me and the smell of Juicy Fruit making me want to throw up. How can a song do that? Be like a net that catches a whole entire day, even a day whose guts you hate? You hear it and all of a sudden everything comes hanging back in front of you, all tangled up in that music.
Lynda BarryRead
The groove is so mysterious. We're born with it and we lose it and the world seems to split apart before our eyes into stupid and cool. When we get it back, the world unifies around us, and both stupid and cool fall away. I am grateful to those who are keepers of the groove. The babies and the grandmas who hang on to it and help us remember when we forget that any kind of dancing is better than no dancing at all.
Lynda BarryRead
The minute you understand racism, you're responsible for being racist. It's like eating from the tree of knowledge.
Lynda BarryRead
I believe a kid who is playing is not alone. There is something brought alive during play, and this something, when played with, seems to play back.
Lynda BarryRead
Playing and fun are not the same thing, though when we grow up we may forget that and find ourselves mixing up playing with happiness. There can be a kind of amnesia about the seriousness of playing, especially when we played by ourselves.
Lynda BarryRead

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