Earlier this month I read The Intimate Resistance, an essay about becoming an authentic person through proximity. Dan Fox’s Pretentiousness: why it matters is also an essay about being an authentic person, but this time through pretentiousness.

In the English language to call someone pretentious is an insult, especially in the art world where it is an indication of an artist’s ambition surpassing the actual art. Dan Fox does present arguments that this is not necessarily a bad thing and that pretention is essential for growth.

The book begins with the more classic meaning of pretentiousness, which is ‘pretending to be someone you are not’ thus the acting world is pretentious, however a lot of professions stemmed out of the acting world where the person has to put on an act – this means law , education and entrepreneurship. Without pretension these jobs would take on a different shape.

I have already mentioned pretention in the arts, Fox does state that it is tied up with social class. Those musicians who took art in different directions such as David Bowie, Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry all came from a working class background, making art their only way of escaping the confines of their upbringing. Dan Fox also notes that concepts of pretention change over time, as an example David Bowie was seen as pretentious in his day but now he’s seen as a trailblazer. Hence why pretention matters. It’s the artists with lofty ideas which break through and change the norm.

Dan Fox concludes with the importance making overt tributes to books and films within an album title. Sure it sounds pretentious but it is an artists’ way of paying tribute that we may later discover. I’ll be honest and state that a lot of supposedly pretentious references helped me find out about a lot certain novels and movies : Lotus Plaza’s Spooky Action at a Distance album helped me find out about the quantum physics theory, Radiohead’s Fitter, Happier lead me on to my favourite book of all time, What a Carve Up! etc etc. Wherever pop (in the broadest sense) goes, pretention follows.

As one can see I enjoyed reading this essay. Dan Fox’s style is accessible and witty. I like the mixed media approach and I could relate to what was written. There were many times I said inwardly ‘yeah that’s true’ – especially at the section where he states that we are quick to call others pretentious without saying that we are all pretentious in our own way.

Anyway if you’ve wanted to record that album about a diseased tightrope walking elephant named Ned who has an existential crises – here’s your chance – you may pave the way for others.