Highbrow Art Quotes

Is the opposite of light entertainment meant to be dark and heavy?

I like the elitism of the art world. I think art for the people is a terrible idea.

I think it's always hard for people to get their head around the fact that populist, commercial films can also actually be great works of art.

Nothing is more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity.

I actually want to write a treatise in defence of pretension. I think the word 'pretension' has become like the word 'ironic' - just this catch-all term to distance people from interesting experiences and cultural engagement and possible embarrassment.

Too often, it is presumed that young people will only like art that they can immediately relate to. Working-class students may be steered towards popular culture like hip-hop, new media and film on the basis that they will find older art forms such as opera or ballet irrelevant.

Hollywood has always seen Sondheim as a caviar brand unsuitable for a popcorn industry.

As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand.

Coming out of school, sometimes people can be theater snobs. I only wanted to do theater, highbrow stuff. But what I learned very quickly is there can be good material in every genre.