Laurie Anderson: Art as Hobby

Laurie Anderson Money Quote saying she didn’t have hobbies, but the IRS said you gotta call it a hobby because you aren’t earning from it. Laurie Anderson said:
 

 

“I’ve never really had a hobby, unless you count art, which the IRS once told me I had to declare as a hobby since I hadn’t made money with it” — Laurie Anderson

This quote from artist Laurie Anderson suggests that while art may be a deeply meaningful creative pursuit, it is not always financially lucrative. The best interpretation is that the IRS did not consider Anderson’s art a true profession since she had not derived taxable income from it at that point.

However, to Anderson, her art was clearly much more than just a casual hobby or pastime. The quote highlights the challenge many artists face in having their vocation recognized as real work even if it does not immediately generate earnings.

It also comments on the sometimes arbitrary nature of designating an endeavor as an occupation versus an avocation based solely on its profitability rather than the passion, effort and importance involved. So in essence, the quote speaks to the difficulty of reconciling artistic passion with practical financial realities.

Laurie Anderson: Visa Card Worship

Laurie Anderson Money Quote saying credit cards can inspire devotion and require worship. Laurie Anderson said:
 

 

“My parents didn’t raise me to be religious. The closest we come to worship is the Trinity of Visa, MasterCard, and American Express” — Laurie Anderson

In this quote, Laurie Anderson is commenting wryly on consumerism and materialism replacing traditional religion in modern American culture. She notes that rather than being brought up with spiritual faith, her parents instead instilled the “worship” of credit cards and consumer spending as the holy trinity.

Anderson suggests that for many, the pursuit of goods, services and experiences purchased on credit has taken the place that religion and worship may have occupied in previous generations. The quote offers a critique of secular consumer capitalism as a quasi-religion, where brands like Visa, MasterCard and American Express function as the objects of reverence.

Overall, Anderson is satirizing how rampant spending and debt have become quasi-spiritual practices for some in contemporary society.

Laurie Halse Anderson: Admit Failure, Divide Money

Laurie Halse Anderson Money Quotation saying we could have an alternative Christmas if we simply admit failure and divide the dough and split. Laurie Halse Anderson said:
 

 

It’s a shame we just can’t admit that we have failed at family living, sell the house, split up the money, and get on with our lives. Merry Christmas” — Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson is suggesting that instead of struggling through family problems at Christmas, it may be better to admit failure, sell your family home, split up any money from the sale, and move on with your separate lives. The quote is using a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone to say that dealing with family issues can ruin the holidays, so it may be preferable to end the family living situation and divide assets instead of continuing to have problems.

Anderson suggests selling the family home and splitting up the money from the sale because she feels that continuing to live together in the family home if there are ongoing family problems will only lead to continued issues during holidays like Christmas. By selling the home and dividing the money, each family member could move on separately and avoid struggling through more family conflicts at Christmas.