Attention Quote by Kenneth Goldsmith
“Short attention span is the new avant-garde. Everyone complains that we can no longer intake huge chunks of text. I find that a reason to celebrate. It's something that has deep roots in modernism, stretching from the Futurists' use of typography to Pound's use of ideograms to concrete poetry. David Markson feels particularly relevant now. Twitter is the revenge of modernism.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Avant-Garde of Attention" by Kenneth Goldsmith, 2015
Modern short attention spans reflect a cultural shift toward fragmented, rapid consumption, echoing early 20th‑century avant‑garde experiments with form and meaning.
In simple terms: Short attention is now celebrated as a modern art form.
Key Takeaway
Embrace brevity and experiment with fragmented storytelling.
Themes
modernism
media
attention
culture
technology
Mood
reflective
analytical
optimistic
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- social media content creation
- advertising copy
- educational micro‑learning
- creative writing workshops
Key Concepts
fragmentation
hypertext
celebration of brevity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance quick consumption with meaningful engagement?
A Different Perspective
May brevity sacrifice depth and critical thinking?
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