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About this quote

What does it mean?
She reflects on a youthful desire to awaken audiences through poetry and rock music she felt were dormant.
In plain terms
She thought her job was to wake up sleepy poetry and rock.
What can you take from it?
Artists often aim to reawaken culture.

Where it applies

  • youthful ambitions
  • artistic goals

Putting it to work

  • performing
  • cultural critique

Questions to consider

  • What needs waking up in the world?
  • What did you feel as a young artist?

Another view

Assumes the art forms were truly asleep.

More from Patti Smith

  1. Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the handwriting and t…

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  3. No, my work does not reflect my sexual preferences, it reflects the fact that I feel total freedom as an artist

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