--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Folk art has never been much about…" description: "\"Folk art has never been much about politics; it's about action and utility.\" — Cass McCombs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/cass-mccombs-7112_about_folk-art-has-never-been-much-about-polit_2829367.jpg" --- # Folk art has never been much about politics; it's about… ![“Folk art has never been much about politics; it's about action and utility.” quote by Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/cass-mccombs-7112_about_folk-art-has-never-been-much-about-polit_2829367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/cass-mccombs-7112_about_folk-art-has-never-been-much-about-polit_2829367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/cass-mccombs-7112_about_folk-art-has-never-been-much-about-polit_2829367.jpg) > “Folk art has never been much about politics; it's about action and utility.” [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Folk art focuses on practical use and action rather than political statements. **In simple terms:** Folk art is about usefulness. Key Takeaway Value function over ideology. Themes craftsmanship pragmatism culture Mood thoughtful grounded Type cultural practical When to use this quote - community building - public installations - educational workshops - social projects Key Concepts utilitarianism folk tradition Questions to Reflect On - When does art become a tool for activism? - How can utility and message coexist? A Different Perspective May ignore the power of art to inspire political change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-politics-583308/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk/) [Folk art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk-art/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-action-3646526/) [Utility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utility/) ## Related quotes > [As in nature, so in politics: Every action has a reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/as-in-nature-so-in-politics-every-action-has-a-reaction/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [The novel is the first art form that is an honest-to-god commodity. That's what makes it different from both high art and folk art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-fiedler/the-novel-is-the-first-art-form-that-is-an-honest-to-god-commodity/) [Leslie Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-fiedler/) > [Hip-hop is the last true folk art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/hip-hop-is-the-last-true-folk-art/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I absolutely love American folk art, can't get enough of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-spencer/i-absolutely-love-american-folk-art-can-t-get-enough-of-it/) [Lara Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-spencer/) > [As artists, we must not go down to the level of the masa; we should bring them up, intellectualize our languages, create classics out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/as-artists-we-must-not-go-down-to-the-level-of-the-masa-we-should/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Folk rock was my real roots. I did a few gigs as a folk artist, in the style of Fairport Convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parsons/folk-rock-was-my-real-roots-i-did-a-few-gigs-as-a-folk-artist-in-the/) [Alan Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parsons/) > [I would love to do something with Mohit Chauhan and other folk artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-bhasin/i-would-love-to-do-something-with-mohit-chauhan-and-other-folk-artists/) [Neha Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-bhasin/) > [Real popular culture is folk art - coalminers' songs and so forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/real-popular-culture-is-folk-art-coalminers-songs-and-so-forth/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I really don't like being referred to as a folk artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-martyn/i-really-don-t-like-being-referred-to-as-a-folk-artist/) [John Martyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-martyn/) > [People still kind of think of me as like a folk artist, but on the first record, I truly was deferring to other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/people-still-kind-of-think-of-me-as-like-a-folk-artist-but-on-the/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [Everything that has ever been called folk art has always reflected domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/everything-that-has-ever-been-called-folk-art-has-always-reflected/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [I'm actually really obsessed with folk art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-m-actually-really-obsessed-with-folk-art/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [The only thing I collect is art. I collect it because I like looking at it. A lot of it is really personal stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/the-only-thing-i-collect-is-art-i-collect-it-because-i-like-looking/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [Photography is the dominant and fascinating and only authentic folk art of the twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rothenstein/photography-is-the-dominant-and-fascinating-and-only-authentic-folk/) [John Rothenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rothenstein/) > [In spite of their obvious differences, folk art and popular art have much in common; they are easy to understand, they are romantic, patriotic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-seldes/in-spite-of-their-obvious-differences-folk-art-and-popular-art-have/) [Gilbert Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-seldes/) ## More by Cass McCombs > [People expect not just songwriters but all personalities to pontificate about their egos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/people-expect-not-just-songwriters-but-all-personalities-to/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I've always thought about myself as somewhat of a folk musician. I just write words. I don't think I'm even a musician. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-ve-always-thought-about-myself-as-somewhat-of-a-folk-musician-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-just-write-songs-whenever-i-feel-like-it-whenever-they-come-to-me/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I think I like singing when I'm singing live. It's just in the studio when it's a drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-think-i-like-singing-when-i-m-singing-live-it-s-just-in-the-studio/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It's not my way to talk about my feelings. They're impudent to myself, so it wouldn't make any sense if I tried to explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-s-not-my-way-to-talk-about-my-feelings-they-re-impudent-to-myself/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Thank God we don't know a lot about Shakespeare or Moses or Homer or Lautreamont. These are the best guys we got, and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/thank-god-we-don-t-know-a-lot-about-shakespeare-or-moses-or-homer-or/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [All these biopics and biographies and people gossiping about so-and-so's drug abuse or who's sleeping with who, it's just a bunch of nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/all-these-biopics-and-biographies-and-people-gossiping-about-so-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [A lot of religious texts make for good reading. That's why they hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/a-lot-of-religious-texts-make-for-good-reading-that-s-why-they-hold-up/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Once biographical information contaminates your consciousness, it's impossible to erase it and look at someone's work the same way again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/once-biographical-information-contaminates-your-consciousness-it-s/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't like the word "happy." I wouldn't want to use it that context. I enjoy writing songs, it's a really good challenge, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-like-the-word-happy-i-wouldn-t-want-to-use-it-that-context-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It doesn't mean that I'm overly enthusiastic about much music. Except the people that really touch me. It has to touch me, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-doesn-t-mean-that-i-m-overly-enthusiastic-about-much-music-except/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Music is the marriage of the feelings of the living to the wisdom of the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/music-is-the-marriage-of-the-feelings-of-the-living-to-the-wisdom-of/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't care much about politics. That kind of witchcraft I stay away from because people end up dead. I'd rather die for music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-care-much-about-politics-that-kind-of-witchcraft-i-stay-away/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [When you play with great musicians, whether they're schooled or self-taught, they keep you on your toes. It comes down to people's personalities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/when-you-play-with-great-musicians-whether-they-re-schooled-or-self/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) [Explore all 94 Cass McCombs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. 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