Austerity Quote by Quentin S. Crisp
“I don't know if Britain ever really achieved that much glamour. We had post-war austerity rather than post-war prosperity, and our cultural products of the time include some pretty dour kitchen-sink dramas of the A Kind of Loving variety. (This kind of film seems disillusioned with the sixties before they've even really begun.)”
About This Quote
Source Essay: British Cinema Post-War, 1970s
The quote reflects on Britain’s post‑war cultural climate, noting austerity over glamour and the bleak tone of contemporary films.
In simple terms: Britain was austere, not glamorous, in post‑war cinema.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how economic context shapes artistic expression.
Themes
culture
history
film
post‑war
austerity
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
historical
When to use this quote
- film analysis
- historical study
- media criticism
Key Concepts
British cinema
social realism
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How did economic conditions influence film narratives?
- Can we find examples of post‑war British glamour?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook pockets of optimism or successful productions of the era.
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![“This is the strange thing about existing in time. As [Philip] Larkin puts it, "truly, though our element is time, we are not used to the strange perspectives open at each moment of our lives" - something like that.” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/351/quentin-s-crisp-4149_elements_this-is-the-strange-thing-about-existing_83503.jpg)
![“[william] Burroughs, incidentally, took up the slogan that we are "Here to go", which contradicts the tendency in Eastern mysticism to advocate staying where you are because there's nowhere to go anyway. I feel conflicted on this one.” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa0/quentin-s-crisp-4149_burroughs_william-burroughs-incidentally-took-up-t_122911.jpg)
![“I also remember a line from a song by Smog [Bill Callahan], which seems to describe the experience of a town-dweller moving to the country: "I was raised in a pit of snakes/Blink your eyes - I was raised on cake."” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/950/quentin-s-crisp-4149_bills_i-also-remember-a-line-from-a-song-by-sm_299534.jpg)
