« Everything in this society – in the way we live – conspires to eliminate all but the most banal level of feelings. » — Susan Sontag

« The new rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile, the nudged ribs, the parody of gifted ironists, the ‘Oh, how banal.’ To risk accusations of sentimentality, melodrama. Of overcredulity. Of softness. » — David Foster Wallace