Away Quote by Walter Kirn
“Literary dementia seems dated now, but there was a time when a month in the funny farm was as de rigueur for budding writers as an M.F.A. is now. To be sent away was a badge of honor; to undergo electroshock, a glorious martyrdom.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2004
Literary circles once prized wild experiences like institutionalization, but now academic credentials dominate creative validation.
In simple terms: Old wild experiences replaced by degrees.
Key Takeaway
Value authentic growth over status symbols.
Themes
literature
validation
culture
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
cultural
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing programs
- creative retreats
- academic publishing
Key Concepts
sociology
institutional critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly nurtures creative talent?
- How do credentials influence artistic freedom?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing past hardships can ignore their harm.
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
