--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got…" description: "\"'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture at some level in order to have a life of its own. Then it'll be judged, and it'll either liv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/shane-carruth-11440_color_upstream-color-in-particular-it-s-got-to_875883.jpg" --- # 'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture… ![“'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture at some level in order to have a life of its own. Then it'll be judged, and it'll either live or it won't by its own merit, and history will decide whether it's relevant however long into the future. I think that's more than enough to hope…” quote by Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/shane-carruth-11440_color_upstream-color-in-particular-it-s-got-to_875883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/shane-carruth-11440_color_upstream-color-in-particular-it-s-got-to_875883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/shane-carruth-11440_color_upstream-color-in-particular-it-s-got-to_875883.jpg) > “'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture at some level in order to have a life of its own. Then it'll be judged, and it'll either live or it won't by its own merit, and history will decide whether it's relevant however long into the future. I think that's more than enough to hope for.” [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art must resonate culturally to survive; its lasting relevance is judged by merit and historical perspective. **In simple terms:** Art needs cultural impact to endure. Key Takeaway Create work that engages society. Themes art culture legacy Mood thoughtful optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - film festivals - gallery exhibitions - media criticism Key Concepts cultural influence longevity critical reception Questions to Reflect On - What makes art timeless? - How does audience shape artistic value? A Different Perspective Cultural relevance is subjective and may be fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Upstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upstream/) ## Related quotes > [I can honestly say, there was a moment when I was writing 'Upstream Color' where I fell so hard for what it was becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-can-honestly-say-there-was-a-moment-when-i-was-writing-upstream/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I don't believe any color in particular can bring good luck. I think it's just a coincidence that I was introduced in white costumes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajal-aggarwal/i-don-t-believe-any-color-in-particular-can-bring-good-luck-i-think/) [Kajal Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajal-aggarwal/) > [A guy can try something and not be successful, and it's just about him. But when you're a person of color, when you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/a-guy-can-try-something-and-not-be-successful-and-it-s-just-about-him/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [I think I'm going to be making country records for as long as I can see into the future. It's much more down-home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-think-i-m-going-to-be-making-country-records-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [All of my experiences as a singer will be of good use long into the future, when I get old enough to finally train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boa/all-of-my-experiences-as-a-singer-will-be-of-good-use-long-into-the/) BoA > [History has shown us that the past lives too long, and the future dies too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-has-shown-us-that-the-past-lives-too-long-and-the-future-dies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/as-long-as-you-have-a-garden-you-have-a-future-and-as-long-as-you/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [As long as one has a garden, one has a future. As long as one has a future, one is alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/as-long-as-one-has-a-garden-one-has-a-future-as-long-as-one-has-a/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [But the past is long, and the future is short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/but-the-past-is-long-and-the-future-is-short/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [I picture several reviewers of my own books as passing a long future lodged between Brutus and Judas in the jaws of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-picture-several-reviewers-of-my-own-books-as-passing-a-long-future/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I hope I have a long future here with Everton. It is a daily task to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/i-hope-i-have-a-long-future-here-with-everton-it-is-a-daily-task-to/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [“f You Live Long Enough, The Future Will Catch Up With You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-stephenson/f-you-live-long-enough-the-future-will-catch-up-with-you/) Laurie Stephenson > [Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/learning-is-like-rowing-upstream-not-to-advance-is-to-drop-back/) Chinese Proverbs > [There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/there-comes-a-point-where-we-need-to-stop-just-pulling-people-out-of/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I have always liked working "upstream" long before health problems hit the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/i-have-always-liked-working-upstream-long-before-health-problems-hit/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) ## More by Shane Carruth > [I never set out to make a movie that was everything to everybody; if that were the case, we could all just take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-set-out-to-make-a-movie-that-was-everything-to-everybody-if/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I feel like we want to compartmentalise things and say, 'Well, that's emotional, artistic and subjective, while this is intellectual, objective and measured.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-feel-like-we-want-to-compartmentalise-things-and-say-well-that-s/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I never got into 'MacGyver,' but 'All the President's Men' and 'The Conversation' were big for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-got-into-macgyver-but-all-the-president-s-men-and-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I've always been anxious about 'Primer.' There's good things about it, but all I've seen for a long time is the flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-ve-always-been-anxious-about-primer-there-s-good-things-about-it/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [Going to grocery stores is almost my favorite thing to do to calm myself down. There's something about just walking aisle after aisle making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/going-to-grocery-stores-is-almost-my-favorite-thing-to-do-to-calm/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [All I know is that as an audience member, I am less and less inclined to go to the theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/all-i-know-is-that-as-an-audience-member-i-am-less-and-less-inclined/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I don't read books on how to write screenplays just because I'm stubborn. So it's all sort of made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-don-t-read-books-on-how-to-write-screenplays-just-because-i-m/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [Probably the TV show I've watched the most is 'How It's Made' on the History Channel. I could watch 24 hours of 'How It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/probably-the-tv-show-i-ve-watched-the-most-is-how-it-s-made-on-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [My favorite films are the ones that I walk away from and I know I saw a story. I saw the core part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/my-favorite-films-are-the-ones-that-i-walk-away-from-and-i-know-i-saw/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [In school, when I got into upper-level math, there would be times when I would wake up from a dream and have - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/in-school-when-i-got-into-upper-level-math-there-would-be-times-when/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I find 'Fatal Attraction' really romantic. I really like the seduction. Almost every time I see it, I'm surprised when it goes dark. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-find-fatal-attraction-really-romantic-i-really-like-the-seduction/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I don't believe that narrative works when it's trying to teach a lesson or speak a factual truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-don-t-believe-that-narrative-works-when-it-s-trying-to-teach-a/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I got a degree in math, from not a good school in Texas, and then I went to work as a software engineer. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-got-a-degree-in-math-from-not-a-good-school-in-texas-and-then-i/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [As a viewer, that's work I respond to - work that I know is singular in some way. If I'm being challenged by something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/as-a-viewer-that-s-work-i-respond-to-work-that-i-know-is-singular-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) [Explore all 60 Shane Carruth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) ## More Color quotes > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The color of somebody's skin or the way he wears his hair or clothes has nothing to do with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-color-of-somebody-s-skin-or-the-way-he-wears-his-hair-or-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Orange is my favorite color overall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/orange-is-my-favorite-color-overall/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We have to keep in practice like musicians. Besides, there are still potentialities to be realized in color film. To us, it's just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/we-have-to-keep-in-practice-like-musicians-besides-there-are-still/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) [Browse all 5,594 Color quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture at some level in order to have a life of its own. 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