Tracing Quotations
Gore Vidal? Andy Warhol? Peter Conrad? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A U.S. intellectual once offered the following remarkably harsh assessment of a famous pop-artist: He is the only genius with an IQ of 60. Reportedly, the verbal sharpshooter was Gore Vidal, and the visual artist was Andy Warhol. The precise number specified for the …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: He Is the Only Genius with an IQ of 85”
Daniel J. Boorstin? Andy Warhol? Charles Godfrey Leland? Marshall McLuhan? Raquel Welch? David Brinkley? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Achieving fame required some significant accomplishment or impressive quality in the past. Now it seems that people are deemed notable for absurd reasons. Here are three phrases describing the self-referential nature of modern celebrityhood: This concept …
Andy Warhol? Sylvia Miles? Wayland Flowers? Jack O’Brian? Rex Reed? Olivia Goldsmith? Ivana Trump? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The opening of an exciting theatrical production or an innovative art museum can be a prestigious event with an impressive guest list. Yet, many openings are weary exercises in public relations with unremarkable attendees. A self-promoter …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: We Attend the Openings of Envelopes”
Banksy? Andy Warhol? John Leland? Graham Greenleaf? John Hilvert? Neal Gabler? Question for Quote Investigator: The rise of the hacktivist group “Anonymous” reminded me of an artwork I saw by the graffiti provocateur Banksy. He (or she, or they) created a pink television set with a screen that displayed this message: In the future everyone …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: In the Future Everyone Will Be Anonymous for Fifteen Minutes”