--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An acquired taste, this dense…" description: "\"An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad is a political allegory about a populace that's been pharmaceutically duped into believing its..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png" --- # An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad… ![“An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad is a political allegory about a populace that's been pharmaceutically duped into believing its wretched world is wonderful.” quote by Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png) > “An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad is a political allegory about a populace that's been pharmaceutically duped into believing its wretched world is wonderful.” [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The film uses complex, nonsensical language to satirize a populace misled by drugs into seeing a bleak reality as wonderful. **In simple terms:** A confusing story critiques a drug‑induced false optimism. Key Takeaway Question the narratives presented by media and authority. Themes media criticism political satire culture psychology Mood skeptical analytical Type critical satirical When to use this quote - film analysis - public discourse - education - health policy Key Concepts propaganda illusion public perception Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports the claim of widespread drug‑induced delusion? - How can we discern truth from seductive narratives? A Different Perspective The allegory may oversimplify complex social issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquired taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-taste/) [Allegory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Dense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dense/) [Dense Jabberwocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dense-jabberwocky-4111865/) [Jabberwocky Ish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jabberwocky-ish-4111866/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Allegory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-allegory-3601324/) [Salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salad/) [Salad Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salad-political-4111864/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Word Salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-salad-918656/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched/) ## Related quotes > [For 'Gender Studies,' I wrote that story in May and June of 2016. People have said to me, 'Oh, it's a political allegory,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/for-gender-studies-i-wrote-that-story-in-may-and-june-of-2016-people/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“There is a thin line between poetry and word salad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carl-evans/there-is-a-thin-line-between-poetry-and-word-salad/) [Richard Carl Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carl-evans/) > [“I have worked locked psych wards and had patients give me stories they wrote or poems and this reminded me of that... Word salad!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montzalee-wittmann/i-have-worked-locked-psych-wards-and-had-patients-give-me-stories/) [Montzalee Wittmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montzalee-wittmann/) > [A superhero is someone who, at some point or in some way, inspires hope or is the enemy of cynicism. Even if you bog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/a-superhero-is-someone-who-at-some-point-or-in-some-way-inspires-hope/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [At least in part, people are attracted to subjects where they can identify at a basic level with the people who do it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/at-least-in-part-people-are-attracted-to-subjects-where-they-can/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [“I'm like kale; you know that leafy green stuff? I'm an acquired taste. You either hate me or love me. Either way, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-callesto/i-m-like-kale-you-know-that-leafy-green-stuff-i-m-an-acquired-taste/) [Nicole Callesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-callesto/) > [“Raw persimmon is an acquired taste," he said, handing me a slice, "but I have a feeling you'll like this one." I resisted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-donohue/raw-persimmon-is-an-acquired-taste-he-said-handing-me-a-slice-but-i/) [Meg Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-donohue/) > [One of my favorite Japanese foods is called natto. It's fermented soybeans. I grew up in Japan eating natto. It's definitely an acquired taste.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/one-of-my-favorite-japanese-foods-is-called-natto-it-s-fermented/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [“I'm not a purist. Coffee drinking minus cream and sugar is an acquired taste. I'm still not sure it isn't like telling chefs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sinnott/i-m-not-a-purist-coffee-drinking-minus-cream-and-sugar-is-an-acquired/) [Kevin Sinnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sinnott/) > [Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived. The truth is too complex and frightening; the taste for the truth is an acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived-the-truth-is-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [ I guess, as they say, I never acquired a taste for \[caviar\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-guess-as-they-say-i-never-acquired-a-taste-for-caviar/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I know I'm an acquired taste - I'm anchovies. And not everybody wants those hairy little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-know-i-m-an-acquired-taste-i-m-anchovies-and-not-everybody-wants/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I have always loved blizzards, if only because of the driving experience - which is definitely an acquired taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-always-loved-blizzards-if-only-because-of-the-driving/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Maybe you could put it out there that I don't have a built-in dislike of ballads. That was kind of the reputation I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/maybe-you-could-put-it-out-there-that-i-don-t-have-a-built-in-dislike/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [“I'm an acquired taste, he assured her, displaying one dimple, but addictive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-bond/i-m-an-acquired-taste-he-assured-her-displaying-one-dimple-but/) [Stephanie Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-bond/) ## More by Manohla Dargis > [The movie industry is failing women. And until the industry starts making serious changes, nothing is going to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/the-movie-industry-is-failing-women-and-until-the-industry-starts/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [In scene after scene, meaning sneaks in and sometimes roars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/in-scene-after-scene-meaning-sneaks-in-and-sometimes-roars/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Ben Stiller isn't funny - honest. Ben Stiller is very funny, and smart, and cute, too, in a neurotic, New York kind of way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/ben-stiller-isn-t-funny-honest-ben-stiller-is-very-funny-and-smart/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [There isn’t anything good to say about Kick-Ass 2, the even more witless, mirthless follow-up to Kick-Ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/there-isn-t-anything-good-to-say-about-kick-ass-2-the-even-more/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Moment by moment, with a twitch, a shudder, a look, it's Mr. Hardy who movingly draws you in, turning a stranger's face into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/moment-by-moment-with-a-twitch-a-shudder-a-look-it-s-mr-hardy-who/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [In 1963 ... The Vatican condemned Dr. No as a 'dangerous mixture of violence, vulgarity, sadism and sex.' Ka-ching!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/in-1963-the-vatican-condemned-dr-no-as-a-dangerous-mixture-of/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Dancer, bride, runaway wife, radical filmmaker and pioneer - Shirley Clarke is one of the great undertold stories of American independent cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/dancer-bride-runaway-wife-radical-filmmaker-and-pioneer-shirley/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [The New World is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). There is some intense, bloodless violence and the beautiful underage lead actress (15-year-old Q'orianka Kilcher)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/the-new-world-is-rated-pg-13-parents-strongly-cautioned-there-is-some/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Created for MTV in 1990, the sharply observed, pop-conscious Ben Stiller Show - featuring its star's lacerating impersonations of Bono, Tom Cruise, and Eddie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/created-for-mtv-in-1990-the-sharply-observed-pop-conscious-ben/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [ The great irony is that women are accused of making romantic comedies, as if it's a bad thing, but \[(500) Days of Summer\] Marc… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/the-great-irony-is-that-women-are-accused-of-making-romantic-comedies/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [American commercial cinema has long been dominated by men, but I don’t think there has ever been another time when women have been as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/american-commercial-cinema-has-long-been-dominated-by-men-but-i-don-t/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [NOTHING SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN 'EVERYONE ELSE,' WHICH IS AT ONCE LAID-BACK AND RIGOROUSAbout the world we create when we fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/nothing-should-be-taken-for-granted-in-everyone-else-which-is-at-once/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [In truth, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” isn't about Sept. 11. It's about the impulse to drain that day of its specificity and turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/in-truth-extremely-loud-incredibly-close-isn-t-about-sept-11-it-s/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [André Bazin wrote that art emerged from our desire to counter the passage of time and the inevitable decay it brings. But in “Boyhood,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/andr-bazin-wrote-that-art-emerged-from-our-desire-to-counter-the/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Paprika is evidence that Japanese animators are reaching for the moon, while most of their American counterparts remain stuck in the kiddie sandbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/paprika-is-evidence-that-japanese-animators-are-reaching-for-the-moon/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) [Explore all 22 Manohla Dargis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) ## More Acquired taste quotes > [“I'm an acquired taste, he assured her, displaying one dimple, but addictive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-bond/i-m-an-acquired-taste-he-assured-her-displaying-one-dimple-but/) [Stephanie Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-bond/) > [Maybe you could put it out there that I don't have a built-in dislike of ballads. That was kind of the reputation I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/maybe-you-could-put-it-out-there-that-i-don-t-have-a-built-in-dislike/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [I have always loved blizzards, if only because of the driving experience - which is definitely an acquired taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-always-loved-blizzards-if-only-because-of-the-driving/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I know I'm an acquired taste - I'm anchovies. And not everybody wants those hairy little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-know-i-m-an-acquired-taste-i-m-anchovies-and-not-everybody-wants/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [ I guess, as they say, I never acquired a taste for \[caviar\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-guess-as-they-say-i-never-acquired-a-taste-for-caviar/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived. The truth is too complex and frightening; the taste for the truth is an acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived-the-truth-is-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“I'm not a purist. Coffee drinking minus cream and sugar is an acquired taste. I'm still not sure it isn't like telling chefs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sinnott/i-m-not-a-purist-coffee-drinking-minus-cream-and-sugar-is-an-acquired/) [Kevin Sinnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sinnott/) > [One of my favorite Japanese foods is called natto. It's fermented soybeans. I grew up in Japan eating natto. It's definitely an acquired taste.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/one-of-my-favorite-japanese-foods-is-called-natto-it-s-fermented/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [“Raw persimmon is an acquired taste," he said, handing me a slice, "but I have a feeling you'll like this one." I resisted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-donohue/raw-persimmon-is-an-acquired-taste-he-said-handing-me-a-slice-but-i/) [Meg Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-donohue/) > [“I'm like kale; you know that leafy green stuff? I'm an acquired taste. You either hate me or love me. Either way, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-callesto/i-m-like-kale-you-know-that-leafy-green-stuff-i-m-an-acquired-taste/) [Nicole Callesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-callesto/) > [At least in part, people are attracted to subjects where they can identify at a basic level with the people who do it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/at-least-in-part-people-are-attracted-to-subjects-where-they-can/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [Twombly, frankly, was an acquired taste. I was not in love with Twombly the first time I saw one of his paintings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/twombly-frankly-was-an-acquired-taste-i-was-not-in-love-with-twombly/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [money is an acquired taste that grows as it is fed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccloy/money-is-an-acquired-taste-that-grows-as-it-is-fed/) [Helen McCloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccloy/) > [“Why do we experience such difficulty even imagining a different sort of society? Why is it beyond us to conceive of a different set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/why-do-we-experience-such-difficulty-even-imagining-a-different-sort/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“I'm an acquired taste. I'm anchovies. If I was potato chips I could go more places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-an-acquired-taste-i-m-anchovies-if-i-was-potato-chips-i-could-go/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) [Browse all 63 Acquired taste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-taste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad is a political allegory about a populace that's been pharmaceutically duped into believing its wretched world is wonderful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Manohla Dargis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky-ish-word-salad-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquired taste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky-ish-word-salad-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/manohla-dargis-26275_acquired-taste_an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky_1276833.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish word salad is a political allegory about a populace that's…” — Manohla Dargis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Manohla Dargis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An acquired taste, this dense Jabberwocky-ish...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky-ish-word-salad-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/an-acquired-taste-this-dense-jabberwocky-ish-word-salad-is-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```