--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An American critic wrote that she would…" description: "\"An American critic wrote that she would rather be forced to read the New York telephone directory three times than watch the film A Zed and Two Noughts..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/peter-greenaway-2444_compliment_an-american-critic-wrote-that-she-would_69454.jpg" --- # An American critic wrote that she would rather be forced… ![“An American critic wrote that she would rather be forced to read the New York telephone directory three times than watch the film A Zed and Two Noughts, a third of which was a homage to Vermeer. Conceivably, if you are a list-enthusiast like me, the New York telephone directory might be…” quote by Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/peter-greenaway-2444_compliment_an-american-critic-wrote-that-she-would_69454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/peter-greenaway-2444_compliment_an-american-critic-wrote-that-she-would_69454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/peter-greenaway-2444_compliment_an-american-critic-wrote-that-she-would_69454.jpg) > “An American critic wrote that she would rather be forced to read the New York telephone directory three times than watch the film A Zed and Two Noughts, a third of which was a homage to Vermeer. Conceivably, if you are a list-enthusiast like me, the New York telephone directory might be fascinating, demographically, geographically, historically, typographically, cartographically; but I am sure no compliment was intended.” [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The critic expresses disdain for the film, preferring the tedium of repeatedly reading a telephone directory over watching it, highlighting perceived pretentiousness and lack of engagement. **In simple terms:** Critic prefers dull reading to watching film. Key Takeaway Film seen as pretentious and unwatchable. Themes art criticism film reception cultural elitism aesthetic judgment humor Mood ironic skeptical wry Type sarcastic remark cultural commentary When to use this quote - film review writing - academic discussion of cinema - personal taste debates - media analysis Key Concepts film criticism director reputation audience expectation Practical Applications - evaluating film quality - informing audience choices Questions to Reflect On - Why might a critic use hyperbole to convey disdain? - How does referencing a mundane object like a telephone directory affect the critique? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Homage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homage/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Vermeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vermeer/) ## Related quotes > [“I can't help but recall, at this point, a horribly elitist but very droll remark by one of my favorite writers, the American "critic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-hofstadter/i-can-t-help-but-recall-at-this-point-a-horribly-elitist-but-very/) [Douglas R. 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