Art should be appreciated with passion and violence, not with a tepid, depreciating elegance that fears the censoriousness of a common room.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
They hear it come out, but they don't know how it got there. They don't understand that's life's way of talking. You don't sing to feel better. You sing 'cause that's a way of understanding life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that expression through music helps individuals understand their experiences and emotions.
Ma Rainey highlights the idea that singing is not merely a form of entertainment or a mechanism for feeling better; rather, it is a profound means of making sense of one's existence and experiences. The act of singing represents a deeper communication of life’s complexities, allowing individuals to convey feelings and insights that might otherwise remain unexpressed.
Themes
MusicLifeExpressionUnderstandingEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion on the therapeutic benefits of music at a mental health conference.
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