The only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is…
“The only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is by finding an "objective correlative"; in other words, a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events which shall be the formula for that particular emotion; such that when the external facts, which must terminate in sensory experience, are given, the emotion is immediately evoked.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Art evokes emotion by linking sensory details to a specific feeling, creating an objective correlative that triggers the intended response.
In simple terms: Use concrete images to convey feelings.
Craft scenes that embody the emotion you want to express.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing
- visual arts
- theatre
- therapy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you discover natural correlatives?
- When does symbolism become cliché?
Finding a perfect correlative can be challenging and may feel forced.