---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What sometimes annoys me about the arts…"
description: "\"What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.\" — Zawe Ashton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg"
---

#  What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly…

![“What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.” quote by Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg)

> “What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.”

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker critiques the growing expectation that artistic works must feature actual individuals, suggesting it can limit creative abstraction and authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Art is being forced to use real people, which can be restrictive.

Key Takeaway

Real-person casting may constrain artistic expression.

Themes

authenticity representation creative freedom media expectations identity

Mood

critical contemplative skeptical

Type

observation critique commentary

When to use this quote

- theatrical productions
- film casting decisions
- advertising campaigns
- documentary filmmaking
- virtual reality experiences

Key Concepts

artistic integrity performance visual storytelling cultural commentary

Practical Applications

- rethink casting practices
- explore abstract representation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does using real people affect audience perception?
- What alternatives exist to convey authenticity without literal representation?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a really good format to have, to go back to theatre and build yourself as an actor. I think it's a great skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/it-s-a-really-good-format-to-have-to-go-back-to-theatre-and-build/)

[Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/)

> [Something I've always known about the screen is that if it's anything in the world, it's literal. It's so literal that there's a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/something-i-ve-always-known-about-the-screen-is-that-if-it-s-anything/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. Tragedy is easier on the screen... oddly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-think-comedy-s-harder-to-pull-off-on-the-screen-than-on-the-stage/)

[Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/)

> [You are working on bringing life to a character whether it's on screen or on stage; only the technicalities are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/you-are-working-on-bringing-life-to-a-character-whether-it-s-on/)

[Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/)

> [When people come into the theater, whether it's the screen or the stage, they've gotta be transported and transformed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-people-come-into-the-theater-whether-it-s-the-screen-or-the/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [It's human nature for people to expect people to be what they see on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/it-s-human-nature-for-people-to-expect-people-to-be-what-they-see-on/)

[Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/)

> [It's more interesting to see new people on the screen when you go to the cinema. I don't want to see the same old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/it-s-more-interesting-to-see-new-people-on-the-screen-when-you-go-to/)

[Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/)

> [I would say, if we're going to see more trans people on screen, then really they don't have to be playing trans parts. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-root/i-would-say-if-we-re-going-to-see-more-trans-people-on-screen-then/)

[Rebecca Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-root/)

> [There are people who you see on screen and think, 'Wow, that's a slim person,' and in the flesh they look nearly dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/there-are-people-who-you-see-on-screen-and-think-wow-that-s-a-slim/)

[Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/)

> [Street art is about as religious as I get - that's my faith, that even if people screen it out and didn't think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-drooker/street-art-is-about-as-religious-as-i-get-that-s-my-faith-that-even/)

[Eric Drooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-drooker/)

> [If I just wanted to put clean, perfect images of black people on the screen for an hour and a half, first of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/if-i-just-wanted-to-put-clean-perfect-images-of-black-people-on-the/)

[Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/)

> [Deaf fans are not satisfied, they need more. We want to see more deaf people on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ridloff/deaf-fans-are-not-satisfied-they-need-more-we-want-to-see-more-deaf/)

[Lauren Ridloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ridloff/)

> [I have to keep explaining to people that screen kissing isn't quite the same; it's close, but it isn't quite the same as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-have-to-keep-explaining-to-people-that-screen-kissing-isn-t-quite/)

[Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/)

> [The more disabled people there are on screen, the more likely that is to have a bigger impact in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/the-more-disabled-people-there-are-on-screen-the-more-likely-that-is/)

[Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/)

> [People see you on screen and they like you, but they never really get a chance to meet you. When you're doing music, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-benjamin/people-see-you-on-screen-and-they-like-you-but-they-never-really-get/)

[Andre Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-benjamin/)

## More by Zawe Ashton

> [No-one tells you about being in episodic television and it ending. No-one tells you how painful it is. How bizarre it is when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/no-one-tells-you-about-being-in-episodic-television-and-it-ending-no/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [One of the first plays I ever did was at the Royal Court Theatre in London; it was the first play I got after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/one-of-the-first-plays-i-ever-did-was-at-the-royal-court-theatre-in/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [Relief is not a word that ever enters my mind, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/relief-is-not-a-word-that-ever-enters-my-mind-about-anything/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I'm not really sure what defines 'success in the real world' to be honest! It's so objective once you graduate, some people work, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-m-not-really-sure-what-defines-success-in-the-real-world-to-be/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [Some people shun the idea of role models but I think it's one of the most important things people have in life - role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/some-people-shun-the-idea-of-role-models-but-i-think-it-s-one-of-the/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I love the visual medium of film and TV. I love the science of it, working with the sound and the lighting and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-love-the-visual-medium-of-film-and-tv-i-love-the-science-of-it/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I've had doors slammed in my face, I've been shouted at in my face in meetings when I've stood up for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-ve-had-doors-slammed-in-my-face-i-ve-been-shouted-at-in-my-face-in/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I prefer to avoid the phrase 'strong women' when talking about female characters and the lack thereof or the need therefore, because it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-prefer-to-avoid-the-phrase-strong-women-when-talking-about-female/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I don't want to be 'de-ethnicised.' I hate it when people say, 'Oh I don't even think of you as a woman,' or, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-don-t-want-to-be-de-ethnicised-i-hate-it-when-people-say-oh-i-don-t/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [If I was someone who wanted to do just love-interest roles then I'd be in a difficult position. But thankfully I'm someone who likes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-i-was-someone-who-wanted-to-do-just-love-interest-roles-then-i-d/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I've never lived in north or west London, so I'd like to come out of my comfort zone for a bit. But Stoke Newington…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-ve-never-lived-in-north-or-west-london-so-i-d-like-to-come-out-of/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I know I'm different and I don't fit in to any kind of generic mould.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-know-i-m-different-and-i-don-t-fit-in-to-any-kind-of-generic-mould/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [The widespread shame of motherhood is criminal, and it needs to stop. The world can never improve if you disrespect the people that bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/the-widespread-shame-of-motherhood-is-criminal-and-it-needs-to-stop/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I'm someone who likes to explore the complexities in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-m-someone-who-likes-to-explore-the-complexities-in-people/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I hate when there's a band that you've loved and you go and see them and it's like only the really new experimental stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-hate-when-there-s-a-band-that-you-ve-loved-and-you-go-and-see-them/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

[Explore all 99 Zawe Ashton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zawe Ashton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts-is-increasingly-that-we-have/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts-is-increasingly-that-we-have/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/zawe-ashton-6505_about_what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts_8962.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.” — Zawe Ashton",
                "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": "Zawe Ashton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What sometimes annoys me about the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts-is-increasingly-that-we-have/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts-is-increasingly-that-we-have/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
