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Pretentiousness
Pretentiousness: Why It Matters | Dan Fox
9 posts | 7 read | 36 to read
Pretentiousness is for anyone who has braved being different, whether that's making a stand against artistic consensus or running the gauntlet of the last bus home dressed differently from everyone else. It's an essential ingredient in pop music and high art. Why do we choose accusations of elitism over open-mindedness? What do our anxieties about "pretending" say about us? Co-editor of frieze, Europe's foremost magazine of contemporary art and culture, Dan Fox has authored over two hundred essays, interviews, and reviews and contributed to numerous catalogues and publications produced by major international art galleries and institutions.
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review
MrBook
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Pickpick

Well, this was a fine essay! I was gifted this little book which I've thoroughly enjoyed. Very philosophical & esoteric, Fox discusses the qualities of pretentiousness, which boils down to: we're all pretentious, but we say everyone else is instead. He brings fine art, film, music, literature, engineering, architecture, history, philosophy, politics, & more to bear to make his case. Loved it! #PairWith: Johnny Walker Blue (gotta be pretentious 😂)

Alfoster Haha😜😜Love those pretentious crystal bottles too!! 8y
MrBook @Alfoster 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
124 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MrBook
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment this frigid, snow-free night: Polish kielbasa, red roasted potatoes in garlic, and sweet corn, with Coke. MMMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

Jamesmelvinmitchell Yummy 😋 8y
Bookgirl Now I'm hungry... 8y
MyNamesParadise Looks delicious!! 8y
See All 6 Comments
ReadingRover Mmmm kielbasa! 8y
SaraFair The men at my house would love the kielbasa. 8y
MrBook @Jamesmelvinmitchell Delectable 😎👍🏻! @Bookgirl Come on over 😊👍🏻! @MyNamesParadise It was 😁👏🏻! @ReadingRover We bought a bunch during a big sale. Haven't regretted it 😂👏🏻. @SaraFair 😎👌🏻 8y
137 likes6 comments
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MrBook
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#BookNDinner! Steamed and buttered clams, teriyaki wings & garlic parm wings with ranch, & Coors Light on draft. MMMmmm 😋! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

BookishMarginalia Looks lovely! Enjoy! 8y
LilMamaMastro Ohhhhh, clams!💗 8y
MrBook @BookishMarginalia Thank you ☺! @LilMamaMastro You a fan too 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻?! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😁👍🏻 8y
117 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MrBook
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What do you think about this quote? (I love books, constantly making us think! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻)

StacksNShelves One of my favorite Whit Stillman films! 😂 8y
Zelma I like it. Snarky and yet honest and self-aware. 8y
MrBook @StacksNShelves 😎👌🏻🙌🏻! @Zelma Aye 😊👍🏻! 8y
See All 9 Comments
Abailliekaras Love it! A bad person not being true to themselves isn't going to end well though, surely?! 8y
mcipher It's cute and feels a little sharp, too. Good to think about. 8y
monkeygirlsmama Thought provoking! 8y
MrBook @Abailliekaras Surely 😉. @mcipher ☺👍🏻! @monkeygirlsmama Indubitably 😊👍🏻. 8y
LauraBeth Being a bad person usually never begets being truthful but instead begets dishonesty. A bad person will never be truthful to himself. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
95 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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smccallum
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Mehso-so

Interesting premise and some lovely moments but on the whole very uneven and the line of thought doesn't seem to progress that much. I'm glad I read it but don't think I'll remember much from it.

Simone_Gibson That's a pretty cover tho 8y
41 likes1 comment
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smccallum
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About 2/3 of the way through this and finding it very interesting!

49 likes3 stack adds
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smccallum
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Mixing it up this evening with some nonfiction

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MAKeliher
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Pretentious "is the engine oil of culture; every creative motor needs it in order to keep running"--Dan Fox

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Obviousstate
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“If each poet, musician, dancer, florist and pastry chef had been told, early in their lives, that it was pretentious for them to take an interest in literature, music, theater, gardening or cooking... then millions of imaginations and minds would have been stunted…"

53 likes20 stack adds