"Our photographs are filthier and our stories are more disgusting. We make no effort to be artistic"

This quote by Al Goldstein speaks with the concept that modern society is becoming increasingly desensitized to the explicit and typically shocking content that is offered to us. He is suggesting that our pictures and stories are becoming increasingly more repulsive, which we are no longer making an effort to be creative or artistic in our expression. This could be viewed as a commentary on the state of modern-day media, which often depends on shock worth and sensationalism to draw attention. It could likewise be translated as a criticism of the absence of creativity and originality in our culture, as we are most likely to be drawn to the most outrageous and explicit content. Ultimately, this quote speaks with the concept that our society is becoming progressively desensitized to specific material, and that we are no longer making an effort to be innovative or creative in our expression.