Appearing Quote by John Dos Passos
“The man who invented Eskimo Pie made a million dollars, so one is told, but E.E. Cummings, whose verse has been appearing off andon for three years now, and whose experiments should not be more appalling to those interested in poetry than the experiment of surrounding ice-cream with a layer of chocolate was to those interested in soda fountains, has hardly made a dent in the doughy minds of our so-called poetry lovers.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Cultural Commentary, 1950
Commercial success does not guarantee artistic impact; experimental poetry often remains underappreciated despite innovation.
In simple terms: Money doesn’t equal artistic influence.
Key Takeaway
Value artistic merit over commercial gain.
Themes
art
commercialism
innovation
culture
recognition
Mood
reflective
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- literary festivals
- media reviews
- academic curricula
Key Concepts
Literary criticism
market dynamics
creative risk
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do audiences favor familiar over experimental?
- How can experimental art gain wider acceptance?
A Different Perspective
Popular works can dominate while groundbreaking art stays obscure.
