Who wouldn’t love this jargon we dress common sense in…
““Who wouldn’t love this jargon we dress common sense in: "formal innovation is no longer transformative, having been co-opted by the forces of stabilization and post-industrial inertia," blah, blah. But this co-optation might actually be a good thing if it helped keep younger writers from being able to treat mere formal ingenuity as an end in itself. MTV-type co-optation could end up a great prophylactic against cleveritis—you know, the dreaded grad-school syndrome of like "Watch me use seventeen different points of view in this scene of a guy eating a Saltine." The real point of that shit is "Like me because I’m clever"—which of course is itself derived from commercial art’s axiom about audience-affection determining art’s value.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The overuse of jargon and formal innovation can become a self‑serving display, but when co‑opted by mainstream forces it can prevent pretentiousness and protect against overly clever writing.
In simple terms: Jargon and flashy style can be harmful, yet mainstream adoption can curb excess.
Key Takeaway
Balance originality with humility.
Themes
literature
culture
creativity
criticism
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- academic publishing
- media analysis
Key Concepts
post‑modernism
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- When does innovation become self‑indulgent?
- How can mainstream culture preserve artistic integrity?
A Different Perspective
The critique may ignore the value of genuine innovation and the role of audience taste.