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About this quote

What does it mean?
Art should not chase popularity; instead, the public should strive to become artistic themselves.
In plain terms
Art need have be popular; people should become artistic.
What can you take from it?
Encourage personal creativity over mass appeal.

Where it applies

  • social media trends
  • community workshops

Putting it to work

  • hosting participatory art events
  • teaching creative skills

Questions to consider

  • How can we balance artistic integrity with reaching an audience?
  • What does it mean for the public to be artistic?

Another view

Popularity can bring resources that enable artists to create more work.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.

    Permalink to quote #201
  2. The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.

    Permalink to quote #203
  3. Closed eyes listen, afraid to see on their own. Easily influenced and simply conformed.

    Permalink to quote #200

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