Exactly. And it often has the effect of policing a young beginners artistic ambitions, which is an awful thing to do. Just because the person in question is wearing an odd hat or whatever.
Thank you, Tom! Most of your essays resonate with me but this particular piece Is very spot on (because I am going to publish something pretentious tomorrow).
When I write something I always think about how authentic it is. “Can I use this reference?”, “Is this word used by no one? I found it in a book and quite like it”, “Am I competent enough to write about this?”, “Am I a trembling creature or do I have the right..?” (was it pretentious?) – and other things like that. They have some resemblance with impostor syndrome (is it related somehow with pretentiousness?), at least in my mind. Thus I ended up not writing under my legal name and now I don’t care (almost). Is using a pseudonym considered pretentious? At least it frees me from that kind of feelings (almost). Maybe it helps to break “the wall”? Just thinking out loud.
One question I have been thinking about for the last few months, and perhaps now it’s a good time and place to ask it. Do you think self-irony (with no depreciation) and pretentiousness are related? Does self-irony require being a bit pretentious? Maybe I don't get it
My take with pretentiousness and writing is that you don’t want to necessarily alienate anyone but you also don’t want to be a part of the lowest common denominator by not taking risks or going against the grain or be willing to make certain references.
In fact, scratch that, maybe it is better to err on the side of alienating some people if they can’t keep up, so to speak. A thing I have been thinking a lot about recently is how Web 2.0 has led to the atrophying of audiences in terms of attention span and the depth and breadth of references and ideas they are able to tolerate and understand. I think this is why I moan about ‘content’ and also why I stress the importance of self-education.
Art needs good audiences. Good audiences make real demands on the artists talent. The virtuous circle can only be rekindled if we as writers up our game (even if the present culture doesn’t incentivise that extra effort and skill) and attempt to bring at least some people along with us.
So yeah, be as pretentious as you feel is necessary with what you publish. I look forward to it.
It can be a lonely road, and it can be dispiriting to see something that you have careful crafted and that is objectively very good get ignored while people make fortunes from cat videos and reaction videos.
Only this morning I was worrying that mentioning Dostoevsky to my in-laws on the way to the beach was ... pretentious. But I love his stuff! I think that's where perceived pretentiousness is excusable or maybe even fools the sensors - if you own it, love it, etc. Then "pretentious" is indeed a pejorative.
There is definitely an attempt to police people with the accusation of pretentiousness. Sadly I suspect that a lot of people are discouraged from wholeheartedly pursuing their art and ‘weird’ interests out of fear of being so labelled.
As much as I value authenticity, I've always been a bit pretentious.
I realised a while back that my frustration towards society came from its insistence on seriousness. My natural playfulness is considered childish and my creativity foolish. Oh well. I've come to love those traits regardless of what others might think.
I'm off to fish out my beret and head to the local gallery. Cheers!
I must admit I gobbled this up quick. There are certain accusations that make me question if a crime has been committed. Pretentiousness being one, immaturity being the other.
You may be like me and find yourself accused of "thinking too much about things".
What people call pretentiousness is their own fear of shallowness projected onto you. People read a book or watch a film and return a verdict of "It was good" that being the beginning and ending of their analysis. Pretensious people use deep consideration when it comes to knowing what they like.
Pretensious people, to borrow a phrase from money twitter, "niche down". They know what they like and will not tolerate that which they do not.
Thank you for articulating those invisible feelings Thomas. Fantastic piece.
Good point that what people call pretentious is often simply a case of someone exploring an interest at depth. And what could be more ‘authentic’ than that?
I could’ve spent all day going into the weeds trying to define and dissect different types of pretentiousness, so this essay (like all of them) was always going to be incomplete in a sense. I get what you mean though. I think the accusation of pretentiousness can really discourage the young artist and lead to that ‘Wall In The Head’ mentality. But. Some forms of pretentiousness are just cringe-inducing self-important awfulness as you say
How to get rid of the one without the other, that’s the question. Which I have no answer for.
Pretentiousness says more about the person providing the insult.
Exactly. And it often has the effect of policing a young beginners artistic ambitions, which is an awful thing to do. Just because the person in question is wearing an odd hat or whatever.
Thank you, Tom! Most of your essays resonate with me but this particular piece Is very spot on (because I am going to publish something pretentious tomorrow).
When I write something I always think about how authentic it is. “Can I use this reference?”, “Is this word used by no one? I found it in a book and quite like it”, “Am I competent enough to write about this?”, “Am I a trembling creature or do I have the right..?” (was it pretentious?) – and other things like that. They have some resemblance with impostor syndrome (is it related somehow with pretentiousness?), at least in my mind. Thus I ended up not writing under my legal name and now I don’t care (almost). Is using a pseudonym considered pretentious? At least it frees me from that kind of feelings (almost). Maybe it helps to break “the wall”? Just thinking out loud.
One question I have been thinking about for the last few months, and perhaps now it’s a good time and place to ask it. Do you think self-irony (with no depreciation) and pretentiousness are related? Does self-irony require being a bit pretentious? Maybe I don't get it
Cheers,
John (am I?)
My take with pretentiousness and writing is that you don’t want to necessarily alienate anyone but you also don’t want to be a part of the lowest common denominator by not taking risks or going against the grain or be willing to make certain references.
In fact, scratch that, maybe it is better to err on the side of alienating some people if they can’t keep up, so to speak. A thing I have been thinking a lot about recently is how Web 2.0 has led to the atrophying of audiences in terms of attention span and the depth and breadth of references and ideas they are able to tolerate and understand. I think this is why I moan about ‘content’ and also why I stress the importance of self-education.
Art needs good audiences. Good audiences make real demands on the artists talent. The virtuous circle can only be rekindled if we as writers up our game (even if the present culture doesn’t incentivise that extra effort and skill) and attempt to bring at least some people along with us.
So yeah, be as pretentious as you feel is necessary with what you publish. I look forward to it.
Thank you, that is all truly inspiring 🙏
It can be a lonely road, and it can be dispiriting to see something that you have careful crafted and that is objectively very good get ignored while people make fortunes from cat videos and reaction videos.
But mastery is its own reward.
Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Cheers, John.
Only this morning I was worrying that mentioning Dostoevsky to my in-laws on the way to the beach was ... pretentious. But I love his stuff! I think that's where perceived pretentiousness is excusable or maybe even fools the sensors - if you own it, love it, etc. Then "pretentious" is indeed a pejorative.
There is definitely an attempt to police people with the accusation of pretentiousness. Sadly I suspect that a lot of people are discouraged from wholeheartedly pursuing their art and ‘weird’ interests out of fear of being so labelled.
As much as I value authenticity, I've always been a bit pretentious.
I realised a while back that my frustration towards society came from its insistence on seriousness. My natural playfulness is considered childish and my creativity foolish. Oh well. I've come to love those traits regardless of what others might think.
I'm off to fish out my beret and head to the local gallery. Cheers!
Nothing more silly than trying to be serious all the time, and conversely there is nothing more serious than trying to have some fun in life.
Us pretentious Tom’s need to stick together on this.
I must admit I gobbled this up quick. There are certain accusations that make me question if a crime has been committed. Pretentiousness being one, immaturity being the other.
You may be like me and find yourself accused of "thinking too much about things".
What people call pretentiousness is their own fear of shallowness projected onto you. People read a book or watch a film and return a verdict of "It was good" that being the beginning and ending of their analysis. Pretensious people use deep consideration when it comes to knowing what they like.
Pretensious people, to borrow a phrase from money twitter, "niche down". They know what they like and will not tolerate that which they do not.
Thank you for articulating those invisible feelings Thomas. Fantastic piece.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Good point that what people call pretentious is often simply a case of someone exploring an interest at depth. And what could be more ‘authentic’ than that?
I think you're thinking too much about this.
Reading too much into minute things is what this newsletter is all about!
I could’ve spent all day going into the weeds trying to define and dissect different types of pretentiousness, so this essay (like all of them) was always going to be incomplete in a sense. I get what you mean though. I think the accusation of pretentiousness can really discourage the young artist and lead to that ‘Wall In The Head’ mentality. But. Some forms of pretentiousness are just cringe-inducing self-important awfulness as you say
How to get rid of the one without the other, that’s the question. Which I have no answer for.
Cheers, Jason.