Another world Quote by Robert Barry
“A text makes the word more specific. It really kind of defines it within the context in which it is being used. If it is just taken out of a context and presented as a sort of object, which is what - you know, which is a contemporary art idea, you know. It is like an old surrealist idea or an old cubist idea to take something out of context and put it in a completely different context. And it sort of gives it a different meaning and creates another world, another kind of world in which we enter.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art Talk, 1999
Explains that context defines meaning; removing a text from its original setting creates new interpretations, akin to surrealist or cubist techniques.
In simple terms: Context shapes meaning; changing it creates new worlds.
Key Takeaway
Consider context when interpreting or creating works.
Themes
art
language
interpretation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
artistic
theoretical
When to use this quote
- curating exhibitions
- writing
- advertising
- education
- creative writing
Key Concepts
contextualism
semiotics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does context alter your perception of a text?
- When is re‑contextualization beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Changing context can distort original intent or cause misunderstanding.
![“[The Utopia of Rules] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way to get rid of all those hours spent listening to bad call-centre music? Do policemen, academics, teachers and doctors really need to spend half their time filling in…” quote by Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/223/gillian-tett-57286_accepting_the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-chall_39418.jpg)
