"Remember I'm an artist. And you know what that means in a court of law. Next worst to an actress"

The quote by Joyce Cary, "Remember I'm an artist. And you know what that suggests in a law court. Next worst to an actress", provides a layered commentary on societal understandings of artists and starlets, particularly in legal contexts. It highlights a historic stereotype that calls into question the reliability and credibility of those in creative occupations, often viewed as less grounded in truth and more vulnerable to psychological or theatrical behavior.

At its surface, the quote reflects a specific cynicism about how artists and starlets are seen, particularly in official settings like law courts, where neutrality and rationality are valued. The expression recommends that an artist, much like an actress, may be seen as an unreliable witness whose testament might be considered exaggerated or mentally driven. In the early to mid-20th century, when Cary was writing, this stereotype was more pronounced. Artists, by virtue of their craft, were often seen as eccentric or detached from social norms, which might result in distrust or skepticism about their character.

Digging much deeper, the quote could also be analyzed as a review of social standards that underestimate or misunderstand the artistic and emotional intelligence required for both art and acting. This termination or skepticism may indicate a wider social reluctance to understand and accept the subjectivity and reflective nature intrinsic in creative occupations.

Furthermore, the contrast to a starlet specifically highlights the gendered element of this apprehension. Actresses, being mostly ladies, dealt with additional biases, as females in the public eye were often unfairly judged on their viewed morality or psychological stability. This implicitly ties into wider gender stereotypes and predispositions that extended beyond the courtroom.

Eventually, Cary's quote succinctly captures a historic predisposition against creative occupations, welcoming reflection on the continuous battle for artists, and especially women artists, to be taken seriously in spheres controlled by standard, frequently manly, worths of rationality and unbiased fact.