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James Kelman Quotes

My culture and my language have the right to exist, and no one has the authority to dismiss that.

My culture and my language have the right to exist, and no one has the authority to dismiss that.

James Kelman
Culture, Language, Authority
1994 Speech at the Booker Prize award ceremony, 11 Oct.

Ninety-nine per cent of traditional English literature concerns people who never have to worry about money at all. We always seem to be watching or reading about emotional crises among folk who live in a world of great fortune both in matters of luck and money; stories and fantasies about rock stars and film stars, sporting millionaires and models; jet-setting members of the aristocracy and international financiers.

James Kelman
Stars, Reading, Emotional
James Kelman (2012). “And the Judges Said&…: Essays”, p.56, Birlinn

Creativity is not passive, I don't see the creation of art as passive.

James Kelman
Art, Creativity, Creation
Source: www.3ammagazine.com

The beauty of prose fiction that I see is simply that in order to create something you need only pay attention to personal exigency.

James Kelman
Order, Needs, Attention
Source: www.3ammagazine.com

Theoretical webs, dirty webs, fusty webs, old and shrivelling away into nothingness, a fine dust.Who needs that kind of stuff. Far far better getting out into the open air and doing it, actually doing it, something solid and concrete and unconceptualisable.

James Kelman
Dirty, Air, Dust
1989 A Disaffection.

In prose fiction the freedom to work honestly exists, although you may have to fight for it. In those other areas of literature, I mean drama, there is only silence. That sort of aesthetic integrity does not exist in radio and television, and seldom on film.

James Kelman
Integrity, Drama, Mean
Source: www.3ammagazine.com

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