Art is what you can get away with, said somebody or other, which makes it sound like shoplifting or some other minor crime. And maybe that's all it ever was, or is: a kind of stealing. A hijacking of the visual.
by Margaret Atwood
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In Margaret Atwood's novel "Cat's Eye," a thought-provoking quote suggests that art is about what one can successfully do or challenge within the bounds of society. It evokes the notion of pushing limits, much like shoplifting, where the act of creation can resemble taking something that doesn't belong to you. This perspective prompts us to reconsider the nature of artistic expression, as it can be seen as a form of theft—ambition to claim and interpret the visual world around us.

This idea presents art as a provocative act, one that involves negotiation with cultural norms. The metaphor of hijacking the visual underlines how artists may take inspiration or elements from their surroundings, reshaping them into something new. Atwood's reflection encourages readers to think about the complexities behind artistic creation and the sometimes blurred lines between inspiration and appropriation.

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February 13, 2025

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