Language in fiction is made up of equal parts meaning and music. The sentences should have rhythm and cadence, they should engage and delight the inner ear.
I wanted to play roles which offered new ways of viewing black women and black people in general- and I have done that. And I have always, whether I needed to pay the rent or not, I've always turned down roles which I thought were stereotypical. And so when I look at my body of work in that respect, I am really happy. Because I feel my work does say something positive and that was what I always set out to do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the importance of representation and choosing artistic roles that challenge stereotypes of black women and people.
Naomie Harris expresses her commitment to portraying black women and people in diverse and empowering ways through her work. She emphasizes that despite financial pressures, she has consistently declined roles that perpetuate stereotypes, valuing her contribution to positive representation in the arts over mere commercial success. This dedication to meaningful roles not only shapes her career but also contributes to a broader narrative about the importance of diversity and authenticity in storytelling.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about diversity in film, this quote exemplifies the commitment to breaking stereotypes.
Similar quotes
The whole world of publishing is moving to electronic, but when you put a poem on a screen and you increase the type size, the shape of a poem changes.
It's not a matter of learning lines. It's a matter of getting into the ideas and the will of the person. It's a matter of, 'What does he want to do? What does he want to achieve?'
Forcing yourself to use restricted means is the sort of restraint that liberates invention. It obliges you to make a kind of progress that you can't even imagine in advance.
The artist part of me always wants to be appreciated. I read every review. But I never wanted to seek validation by awards or anything controlled by politics.
There's nothing worse than sitting down to write a novel and saying, 'Well, okay, I'm going to do something of high artistic worth.'