They also bring to mind what sometimes seems to be a rapt…
““They also bring to mind what sometimes seems to be a rapt predilection of small but influential cults of intellectuals or esthetes for what is generally regarded as perverse dispirited or distastefully unintelligible. The award of a Nobel Prize in literature to Andre Gide who in his work fervently and openly insists that pederasty is the superior and preferable way of life for adolescent boys furnishes a memorable example of such judgments. Renowned critics and some professors in our best universities reverently acclaim as the superlative expression of genius James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake a 628page collection of erudite gibberish indistinguishable to most people from the familiar word salad produced by hebephrenic patients on the back wards of any state hospital.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Some intellectual circles prize obscure, challenging works that may seem nonsensical, exemplified by controversial literary awards.
In simple terms: Elite circles sometimes glorify difficult, obscure literature.
Key Takeaway
Question the value of obscurity in art.
Themes
literature
culture
elitism
controversy
award
censorship
intellectualism
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
Books:1
Nobel prize:1
Way of life:0
Andre Gide:1
James Joyce:1
Pederasty:1
Regarded Perverse:0
Insists Pederasty:0
Intellectuals Esthetes:1
Pederasty Superior:0
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- book clubs
- literary criticism
- award committees
Key Concepts
aesthetics
critical theory
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do some value complexity over clarity?
- What impact do awards have on literary standards?
A Different Perspective
Obscure works may alienate broader audiences.