--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the West, it's just a given that art…" description: "\"In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this high-class place. But in Japan, there's no high class. The minute you come out, you're low class..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png" --- # In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this… ![“In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this high-class place. But in Japan, there's no high class. The minute you come out, you're low class.” quote by Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png) > “In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this high-class place. But in Japan, there's no high class. The minute you come out, you're low class.” [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Japanese art lacks hierarchical class distinctions, emphasizing egalitarian creation. **In simple terms:** Art in Japan is seen as classless. Key Takeaway Value inclusive artistic expression. Themes art class culture egalitarianism Mood critical thoughtful Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - public art - education programs Key Concepts sociology cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How does class perception affect artistic value? - Can art truly be classless? A Different Perspective Class distinctions may still exist informally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-class/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Japan High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan-high-2000828/) [Low Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-class-489732/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Place Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-japan-2000829/) ## Related quotes > [“Compromise is low class. I don't have anything against the poor, but being low class is the root of all evil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novala-takemoto/compromise-is-low-class-i-don-t-have-anything-against-the-poor-but/) [Novala Takemoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novala-takemoto/) > [Drag wasn't really on Broadway. It was considered low-class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/drag-wasn-t-really-on-broadway-it-was-considered-low-class/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) > [It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one's time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea shops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bramah/it-is-a-mark-of-insincerity-of-purpose-to-spend-one-s-time-in-looking/) [Ernest Bramah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bramah/) > [“Anker's was low-class enough so that the drinks were cheap, but high-class enough so that you didn't have to worry about someone picking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/anker-s-was-low-class-enough-so-that-the-drinks-were-cheap-but-high/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Best part of growing up as low class is accepting the past and enjoying your success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/best-part-of-growing-up-as-low-class-is-accepting-the-past-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got to be high class... Which is sad, because I like bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/i-ve-got-to-be-high-class-which-is-sad-because-i-like-bars/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/i-spent-33-years-and-four-months-in-active-military-service-and/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [Neurosis is just a high-class word for whining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/neurosis-is-just-a-high-class-word-for-whining/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People will always respond to high-class drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-peake/people-will-always-respond-to-high-class-drama/) [Maxine Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-peake/) > [“Yeah, she must work round here. Lot of high class escorts i. this area. And traffic wardens, too. She's probably one or the other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-wallace/yeah-she-must-work-round-here-lot-of-high-class-escorts-i-this-area/) [Danny Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-wallace/) > [You hear how high class of an organization the Giants is, and then you get here and you get to experience that and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/you-hear-how-high-class-of-an-organization-the-giants-is-and-then-you/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [“I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-spent-thirty-three-years-and-four-months-in-active-military-service/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [Excellence means that you're prospering spiritually, mentally, physically and in every area of life. What does it mean to prosper? It means to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/excellence-means-that-you-re-prospering-spiritually-mentally/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [ \[it is\] a high class kind of subversion, very high class. We're not second story burglars. We go right in the front door. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gorman/it-is-a-high-class-kind-of-subversion-very-high-class-we-re-not/) [Mike Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gorman/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## More by Takashi Murakami > [The concept of minimalism is to relax. Like a Zen monk in training, it is something that brings equilibrium to the heart. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/the-concept-of-minimalism-is-to-relax-like-a-zen-monk-in-training-it/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I'm always very interested in breeding. Raising cacti is breeding. My lotus plant collection is breeding. The insects are breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-m-always-very-interested-in-breeding-raising-cacti-is-breeding-my/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Manga uses Japanese traditional structures in how to teach the student and to transmit a very direct message. You learn from the teacher by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/manga-uses-japanese-traditional-structures-in-how-to-teach-the/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I don't think it's an unnatural thing at all for my collaborations or projects to be seen as art but entertainment at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-don-t-think-it-s-an-unnatural-thing-at-all-for-my-collaborations-or/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Every day, I have new ideas. It makes my brain tired, so I spend time taking care of company quality, finding new artists, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/every-day-i-have-new-ideas-it-makes-my-brain-tired-so-i-spend-time/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Like many other kids, I liked watching anime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/like-many-other-kids-i-liked-watching-anime/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I've been immersed in manga since I was a kid. I grew up with this culture. So I started to think about how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-ve-been-immersed-in-manga-since-i-was-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-this/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I don't always enjoy curating, but I do believe it's part of my job. It's a good exercise for my brain, like warming up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-don-t-always-enjoy-curating-but-i-do-believe-it-s-part-of-my-job-it/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Japanese people accept that art and commerce will be blended; and, in fact, they are surprised by the rigid and pretentious Western hierarchy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/japanese-people-accept-that-art-and-commerce-will-be-blended-and-in/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I tried to teach myself to draw anime, but I was so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-tried-to-teach-myself-to-draw-anime-but-i-was-so-bad/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [It's true that I pick up many ideas from different Japanese things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/it-s-true-that-i-pick-up-many-ideas-from-different-japanese-things/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I stopped worrying about competition in contemporary art. It feels a little bit more pure. That's where I am, one step back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-stopped-worrying-about-competition-in-contemporary-art-it-feels-a/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I would like to live to 120, because conceptually, people can survive to 120. Every 20 years, it changes. So maybe, in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-would-like-to-live-to-120-because-conceptually-people-can-survive/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I've been immersed in manga since I was a kid. I grew up with this culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-ve-been-immersed-in-manga-since-i-was-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-this-2/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [As a young artist in New York, I thought about postwar Japan - the consumer culture and the loose, deboned feeling prevalent in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/as-a-young-artist-in-new-york-i-thought-about-postwar-japan-the/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) [Explore all 45 Takashi Murakami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this high-class place. But in Japan, there's no high class. The minute you come out, you're low class.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Takashi Murakami" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-exists-in-this-high-class/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-exists-in-this-high-class/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/takashi-murakami-14892_art_in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-e_987432.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the West, it's just a given that art exists in this high-class place. But in Japan, there's no high…” — Takashi Murakami", "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": "Takashi Murakami", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the West, it's just a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-exists-in-this-high-class/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/in-the-west-it-s-just-a-given-that-art-exists-in-this-high-class/#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 } } ] } ```