--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An improper art aims at exciting in the…" description: "\"An improper art aims at exciting in the way of comedy the feeling of desire but the feeling which is proper to comic art is the feeling of joy.\" — Jame..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/james-joyce-281_aesthetics_an-improper-art-aims-at-exciting-in-the_1207280.jpg" --- # An improper art aims at exciting in the way of comedy the… ![“An improper art aims at exciting in the way of comedy the feeling of desire but the feeling which is proper to comic art is the feeling of joy.” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/james-joyce-281_aesthetics_an-improper-art-aims-at-exciting-in-the_1207280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/james-joyce-281_aesthetics_an-improper-art-aims-at-exciting-in-the_1207280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/james-joyce-281_aesthetics_an-improper-art-aims-at-exciting-in-the_1207280.jpg) > “An improper art aims at exciting in the way of comedy the feeling of desire but the feeling which is proper to comic art is the feeling of joy.” [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comic art should provoke desire, yet its proper feeling is joy, not the base lust that other arts may evoke. **In simple terms:** Comedy aims for desire but should end in joy. Key Takeaway Seek joy, not mere desire, in humor. Themes art humor desire Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing comedy - stand‑up performance - satirical cartoons - creative workshops Key Concepts comedy psychology emotion Questions to Reflect On - What makes humor feel genuine? - When does desire become a distraction in comedy? A Different Perspective Joy can be fleeting if desire dominates, making humor shallow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesthetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetics/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-feeling-811344/) [Art is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-is/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-feeling-1172580/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-art/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Feeling Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-joy-398364/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Improper Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improper-art-3645472/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Proper Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proper-comic-3645473/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The underlying goal of comedy is feeling not-alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/the-underlying-goal-of-comedy-is-feeling-not-alone/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [So much of comedy is feeling comfortable with the point of view coming at you. 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