Algernon Charles Swinburne, 'Ave Atque Value' (1871), stanza III, Fortnightly Review (January 1868; later published in Swinburne's Poems and Ballads, Second Series (1878)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote reflects on the power of sensual domination in art, seeking to intoxicate and overwhelm the audience.
- In plain terms
- Artists aim to control emotions through intense, sensual experiences.
- What can you take from it?
- Use vivid, sensory language to engage and influence audiences.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can art inspire without overwhelming?
- When does sensual appeal become coercive?
Another view
Such domination can manipulate rather than enlighten.
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Dieu serait injuste si nous n'etions pas coupables.
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