Accord Quote by William S. Burroughs
“Life is a cutup. And to pretend that you write or paint in a timeless vacuum is just simply . . . not . . . true, not in accord with the facts of human perception.”
About This Quote
Life is chaotic; claiming artistic creation occurs in a timeless vacuum ignores human perception and reality.
In simple terms: Art cannot ignore lived experience.
Key Takeaway
Creativity is rooted in temporal reality.
Themes
art theory
philosophy
perception
Mood
provocative
introspective
Type
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- designing a product
- performing improvisational theater
Key Concepts
ontological realism
Practical Applications
- ground creative work in personal experience
- acknowledge cultural context
Questions to Reflect On
- How does acknowledging temporality shape artistic authenticity?
- Can structure coexist with the notion of life as a 'cutup'?
A Different Perspective
Emphasizing chaos may undervalue disciplined craft.
![“[Arab peoples] are stuck back thousands of years and they think they're going to get out with a TV set.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/108/william-s-burroughs-528_arab_arab-peoples-are-stuck-back-thousands-of_102726.jpg)
