America Quote by Barbara Browning
![“Of course one’s sense of identification with the nation is inflected by all kinds of particulars, including one’s class, race, gender, and sexual identification. … But [regarding] national character …, aside from references to a national aesthetic — literary, musical, and choreographic, there are…” quote by Barbara Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/76b/barbara-browning-47689_america_of-course-one-s-sense-of-identification_2139482.jpg)
““Of course one’s sense of identification with the nation is inflected by all kinds of particulars, including one’s class, race, gender, and sexual identification. … But [regarding] national character …, aside from references to a national aesthetic — literary, musical, and choreographic, there are two poles I reference: minimalist and maximalist. I love them both — the cryptic poems of Emily Dickinson folded up in tiny packets and hidden away in a box, the sparse, understated choreographies of Merce; but also the “trashy, profane and obscene” poems of Whitman and Ginsberg, [and] Martha Graham’s expressionism. I am, myself, a minimalist. But I love distortion guitar and the wild exhibitionism of so many American artists. Also, these divisions are false. Emily Dickinson, in fact, can be as trashy and obscene as the best of them! Anyway, Dickinson and Whitman are at the heart of this narrative. They are the Dancing Queen and the Guitar Hero.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “National Identity and Aesthetic Poles” in Cultural Studies, 2015
National identity is shaped by intersecting personal attributes and artistic expressions, ranging from minimalist to maximalist forms.
In simple terms: Identity mixes personal traits with varied art styles.
Key Takeaway
Embrace diverse aesthetics.
Themes
identity
art
culture
intersectionality
minimalism
maximalism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- cultural analysis
- art criticism
- identity politics
Key Concepts
national character
artistic expression
personal identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile minimalist and maximalist influences?
- Can art bridge personal and national identities?
A Different Perspective
Simplifies complex identities into binary poles.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
