W.h. AudenThe identification of fantasy is always an attempt to avoid one's own suffering: the identification of art is the sharing in the suffering of another.
About This Quote
The great psychoanalyst C. G. Jung once said, “The identification of fantasy is always an attempt to avoid one's own suffering: the identification of art is the sharing in the suffering of another.” As human beings, we are always looking for ways to feel connected to others, especially those who are not alive anymore. When we come across a piece of art that speaks to us, it’s often because it reminded us of someone else’s pain or longing. It speaks to us about our shared humanity; it’s an act of cathartic healing that allows us to feel connected with someone else.
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