"Pearl is a disease of oysters. Levant is a disease of Hollywood"

The quote by Kenneth Tynan, "Pearl is a disease of oysters. Levant is an illness of Hollywood", wields metaphor and wit to communicate incisive commentary on culture and industry.

Initially, comprehending Tynan's mention of "Pearl" being a disease of oysters includes understanding that pearls, while gorgeous and valuable, are formed as a defense reaction against irritants in the oyster's environment. Pearls are basically the result of a pest or foreign compound, such as a grain of sand, that gets into the oyster. The oyster's nacre secretion layers over this irritant, slowly forming it into a pearl. This improvement of an irritant into an object of beauty and worth mirrors how certain aspects in society, although at first disruptive or uncomfortable, are eventually commemorated or commodified.

Transitioning to Tynan's referral to "Levant" as an illness of Hollywood needs understanding the context and likely topic, Oscar Levant, a well-known American pianist, author, and actor understood for his flamboyant personality and caustic wit. His track record was one of a dazzling yet struggling individual, typically acting as a sardonic commentator on the flaws and excesses intrinsic in Hollywood. By calling Levant "a disease of Hollywood", Tynan recommends that Levant, with his sharp insights and unrestrained criticisms, exposes the superficialities and hypocrisies of the entertainment industry. Like an irritant, Levant, through his commentary and existence, prompts pain that unveils facts about Hollywood's nature.

Hence, Tynan positions both Pearl and Levant as irritants within their particular realms, revealing appeal and truth. Pearls signify improvement emerging from inflammation, while Levant embodies the idea of the disruptive thinker who, through his criticisms and eccentricities, lays bare the weaknesses and absurdities of the Hollywood machine. In both cases, Tynan provides a view that acknowledges the complexity of charm and critique, where what at first vexes can eventually lead to much deeper understanding or appreciation.