Film Quote by Dawn Lundy Martin
“I'm interested is the oblique as a concept deeply connected to human lived experience, not separate from it. I was listening to an interview with film director Stephen Frears on NPR the other day and he said, "People's lives are never what you think they are," or something like that. Human lives are oblique. It makes sense to me that attending to them in language is as well.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: NPR conversation with Stephen Frears, 2022
Human experience is indirect and complex; language should reflect that messiness rather than simplify it.
In simple terms: Life is messy; language should capture that.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity in storytelling.
Themes
complexity
obliqueness
human experience
language
artistic truth
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- public speaking
- media analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
literature
film studies
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance nuance with accessibility?
- What does “oblique” mean in your own life?
A Different Perspective
Obliqueness can alienate audiences seeking clarity.
![“[I wanted silence in the flowers, not to not say, but to not have the impulse of saying.]” quote by Dawn Lundy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/018/dawn-lundy-martin-32648_flower_i-wanted-silence-in-the-flowers-not-to-n_223280.jpg)
![“Brad [Dourif] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him a little bit. I just think maybe they have similar voices.” quote by David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cfe/david-kirschner-22403_bits_brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-w_478.jpg)
