Deserve Quote by Zadie Smith
““But didn't everyone get everything? Hadn't they had enough yet? Everything on earth is tailored for this everyone. Everyone gets all the TV programs, damn near all the cinema, and about eighty percent of all music. After that come the secondary medium of painting and those other visual arts that do not move. Those are generally just for someone and although you always hear people moaning that there isn't enough of them, in truth someone does all right. Galleries, museums, basements in Berlin, studio flats, journals, bare walls in urban centers—someone gets what they want and deserve, most of the time. But where are the things that no one wants? Every now and then Alex would see or hear something that appeared to be for no one but soon enough it turned out to be for someone and, after a certain amount of advertising revenue had been spent, would explode into the world for everyone. Who was left to make stuff for no one?””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The End of the World as We Know It”, 2015
Cultural production is dominated by mass media, leaving little space for niche art that serves no one until it becomes profitable.
In simple terms: Popular media crowds out obscure art.
Key Takeaway
Support diverse creative voices.
Themes
culture
media
art economics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
essay
observational
When to use this quote
- film
- music
- visual arts
- advertising
- gallery curation
Key Concepts
cultural hegemony
market forces
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we value art beyond market success?
- What mechanisms can protect non‑commercial creativity?
A Different Perspective
Economic realities often dictate artistic visibility.
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