Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that true art elicits emotions rather than focusing on superficial beauty.
Rainbow Rowell's quote reflects the idea that art transcends conventional beauty and instead evokes deep emotions and thoughts in the viewer. Eleanor's unique appearance is likened to art, suggesting that like art, she may not conform to societal standards of attractiveness, but has a profound impact that resonates with authenticity and raw emotion.
In practice
In a discussion about unconventional beauty in art, this quote can illustrate how deeper feelings matter more than surface appearances.
He knew why he wanted to kiss her. Because she was beautiful. And before that, because she was kind. And before that, because she was smart and funny. Because she was exactly the right kind of smart and funny. Because he could imagine taking a long trip with her without ever getting bored. Because whenever he saw something new and interesting, or new and ridiculous, he always wondered what she'd have to say about it--how many stars she'd give it and why.
How do you project a character if you don't have a sense of where she is from? I've always just gotten on a plane to go to the area to get a sense of what it is like, to smell it, feel the earth, hear people talk, go to the marketplaces.
The important thing is not to be too comfortable when you're writing. Noise in the street? That's good. The computer goes down? That's good. All these things are good. It has to be a little bit of a struggle.
Photography is about being exquisitely present.
The Actor should make you forget the existence of author and director, and even forget the actor.
Fashion needs fresh blood, and London is the most creative place for that.
I think there is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity; in clarity, in efficiency. True simplicity is derived from so much more than just the absence of clutter and ornamentation. It's about bringing order to complexity.
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