---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People get confused when they see my…"
description: "\"People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't the intention. My intention is to destabilize the act of seeing.\" — Richard Phillips"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg"
---

#  People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't…

![“People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't the intention. My intention is to destabilize the act of seeing.” quote by Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg)

> “People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't the intention. My intention is to destabilize the act of seeing.”

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The goal is to disrupt how people perceive visual media, not to confuse them.

**In simple terms:** Intentionally challenges viewers' perception.

Key Takeaway

Design art that questions seeing.

Themes

perception art disruption

Mood

provocative introspective

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

- gallery exhibitions
- experimental film
- visual installations
- media critique

Key Concepts

aesthetic theory cognitive dissonance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can visual art provoke thought without losing engagement?
- What balance between confusion and insight is effective?

A Different Perspective

May alienate audiences seeking clarity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [Creating a safe space at our shows isn't encouraging anything. It's just saying thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hopkins/creating-a-safe-space-at-our-shows-isn-t-encouraging-anything-it-s/)

[Ben Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hopkins/)

> [We cannot let those who would try to destabilize the world to interfere with American interests and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-cannot-let-those-who-would-try-to-destabilize-the-world-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I was totally against the war in Iraq, you can check Reuters, July of oh-four, I was against it, I said you are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-was-totally-against-the-war-in-iraq-you-can-check-reuters-july-of/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I've realized that it's important to stop trying to think I'm any one thing. People are confused as to their identity and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/i-ve-realized-that-it-s-important-to-stop-trying-to-think-i-m-any-one/)

[Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/)

> [I think the part that people get confused is that when you come in National Football League at a young age, they tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-wilson/i-think-the-part-that-people-get-confused-is-that-when-you-come-in/)

[Russell Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-wilson/)

> [People have confused playing devil's advocate with being intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-strong/people-have-confused-playing-devil-s-advocate-with-being-intelligent/)

[Cecily Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-strong/)

> [“Sometimes people are often confused between attitude and style. Nevermind, I'm Awesome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yugesh-ralli/sometimes-people-are-often-confused-between-attitude-and-style/)

Yugesh Ralli

> [Being nice and being flirty are two diff things. I hate when people get them confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-and-being-flirty-are-two-diff-things-i-hate-when-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People are so confused about race and hip-hop that people didn't even consider the Beastie Boys one of the greatest rap groups of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/people-are-so-confused-about-race-and-hip-hop-that-people-didn-t-even/)

[Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/)

> [A lot of people are confused by "hello." A lot of people are confused by a lot of things they shouldn't be confused by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/a-lot-of-people-are-confused-by-hello-a-lot-of-people-are-confused-by/)

[Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/)

> [I'm a Hip Hop artist, but I understand why some people are confused about that because a lot of people have a very narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/i-m-a-hip-hop-artist-but-i-understand-why-some-people-are-confused/)

[Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/)

> [There's nothing worse than people who are confused when deciding about something, so hopefully we can clear up any questions folks have. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-burton/there-s-nothing-worse-than-people-who-are-confused-when-deciding/)

[Steve Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-burton/)

> [The media has changed. We now give broadcast licenses to philosophies instead of people. People get confused and think there is no difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/the-media-has-changed-we-now-give-broadcast-licenses-to-philosophies/)

[Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/)

> [“Ari stood up to greet them, and Crawford went back to his grumpy bastard therapy, which some people confused with spinning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/ari-stood-up-to-greet-them-and-crawford-went-back-to-his-grumpy/)

[Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/)

> [People are very confused about how to do things on a computer, but generally, if you hover your cursor over things, it will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-linehan/people-are-very-confused-about-how-to-do-things-on-a-computer-but/)

[Graham Linehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-linehan/)

## More by Richard Phillips

> [Art, unlike the trades in the artistic capacity of fashion and food, can literally be anything. It can be the negation of itself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/art-unlike-the-trades-in-the-artistic-capacity-of-fashion-and-food/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“were denied direct participation in the government, forced to rely on wit and wile to influence the men who wielded raw power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/were-denied-direct-participation-in-the-government-forced-to-rely-on/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [Art is a thing where, the least likely thing that you think is going to be art, is precisely the thing that is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/art-is-a-thing-where-the-least-likely-thing-that-you-think-is-going/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [When you think about Dada and the great moments in Modern Art, it's always the sense of when you're not sure that art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/when-you-think-about-dada-and-the-great-moments-in-modern-art-it-s/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“As great as the all-volunteer force had been under Ronald Reagan, that force had always been a mighty war ax, something designed to smite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/as-great-as-the-all-volunteer-force-had-been-under-ronald-reagan-that/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [My favorite film score is the one Thomas Bangalter created for 'Irreversible.' The soundtrack absolutely defines the daymare-into-nightmare feeling you get from the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/my-favorite-film-score-is-the-one-thomas-bangalter-created-for/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“allowed him to view the scene from any angle,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/allowed-him-to-view-the-scene-from-any-angle/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“Your journey will proceed faster with a brief delay.’ In other words, don’t go off half-cocked, but don’t wait until the other fellow shoots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/your-journey-will-proceed-faster-with-a-brief-delay-in-other-words/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [Miami's my favorite art fair. I even surfed there one year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/miami-s-my-favorite-art-fair-i-even-surfed-there-one-year/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [I try to get out of an image's way in order to let it articulate what is hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/i-try-to-get-out-of-an-image-s-way-in-order-to-let-it-articulate-what/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“(Without the merchant marine, there is no Walmart.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/without-the-merchant-marine-there-is-no-walmart/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [I have the utmost admiration for makeup artists. It's truly magical what they can accomplish with their materials. The face and the body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/i-have-the-utmost-admiration-for-makeup-artists-it-s-truly-magical/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“scrambled to respond. Ms. Gorsky’s meaty hand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/scrambled-to-respond-ms-gorsky-s-meaty-hand/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [“That which you don’t understand, you fear. That which you fear, you hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/that-which-you-don-t-understand-you-fear-that-which-you-fear-you-hate/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

> [ “In another building, I was shown his \[Mr Brunel's\] manufactory of shoes, which, like the other, is full of ingenuity, and, in regard to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/in-another-building-i-was-shown-his-mr-brunel-s-manufactory-of-shoes/)

[Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

[Explore all 34 Richard Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/)

## More Act quotes

> [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/)

[Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/)

> [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/)

[Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/)

[Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/)

> [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/)

[Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

Vashti Quiroz-Vega

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/)

[Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/)

> [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/)

[Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/)

> [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

> [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/)

[Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/)

> [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/)

[Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/)

> [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/)

[Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/)

Browse all 1,802 Act quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't the intention. My intention is to destabilize the act of seeing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Phillips"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-shows-but-that-isn-t-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Act"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-shows-but-that-isn-t-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/richard-phillips-18529_act_people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-sho_132114.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People get confused when they see my shows, but that isn't the intention. My intention is to destabilize the…” — Richard Phillips",
                "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": "Richard Phillips",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People get confused when they see...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-shows-but-that-isn-t-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/people-get-confused-when-they-see-my-shows-but-that-isn-t-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
