I've recently noticed a certain trend happening in all forms of media lately. Our current authors, directors, musicians, and the creative engines of our society in general have taken it upon themselves to create a new class of intelligentsia where everything is subjective.
I was tired of it when I first heard about a painter who would take hours to create something that could be replicated by giving a tantrum-throwing four-year-old a paintbrush and a few paint cups. I was told that it was "genius" and that the paintings were being sold for thousands of dollars. I was confused so I asked my mom, who told me the story, if it was really true. She told me of course it was, beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway. But it wasn't beautiful, and no one has given me a reason for why a random spattering of paint was put under the facade of genius.
A different type of horror is arising as well, though it's in the same vein. There's an enormous amount of art that doesn't even have a meaning. But it does, or at least we're told it does. With these last two stories we've read I had to wonder, why? Why did someone write these stories? What purpose do they serve? What message do they send? And maybe the second one is part of a larger purpose, we didn't get the full story after all. But the first one was presented as a whole story, but I couldn't find the meaning to it. Sure the father refused to let go of the past, and the child was torn between pleasing his father and facing the consequences of his actions. But those ideas were only gotten after we tore the story to shreds trying to find meaning. What's preventing authors from just telling their story? Why are we entering this trend of layering everything until it seems as though there is no meaning at all? Why do we assume meanings are more meaningful when they're hidden?
I've seen such an occurance with other types of media as well. I recently finished an extremely well designed game, but the story and gameplay were held in seperate rooms, where you could only look at the story through a small hole and there was a curtain in the way. The creator attempted to justify himself by saying that the game was deeper than saving the princess. He tried to say it was about loss and regret, but only those taking shots in the dark are barely grasping the surface of his true "meaning". Why are creators so obsessed with hiding their meaning? If you have something good to say, or something meaningful to say you're shouting it from the rooftops, not hiding it in the sewars.
The only reason to hide something is if you're not proud of it, you stole it or it's not good in the first place.
Why wouldn't an author be proud of his work?
Why would an author steal work and pretend it's his own?
Why would an author publish something that doesn't have a good message?
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6 comments:
In my humble opinion, stories that don't lay their message out are better. They push the reader to look deeper into the story, in order to extract the real meaning.
I agree that in some stories it is better to have the meaning be real obvious, such as a book you're reading just for fun, for relaxation. But when you are close reading a story, it is better to have to look deeper and work harder to find the meaning. When you have to work for it, it becomes more personal to you.
If the meaning is obvious, what's the point in reading the story closely? What would stop you from skimming it, without really reading it? That's what these stories are all about. The stories we have read so far were given to us, so we could think for ourselves and find the meaning that we see. Then we could share our personal meanings and grasp a greater understanding of the story.
Why not hide the meaning?
What's wrong with making the reader work harder for the message and learn more from the story?
Two words: replay value
I have to say that agree with some stuff written in your blog about how the media has fallen into this trend of always hidding the true meanings of stories,movies, and other works of art. However when you asked the questions, "Why did someone write these stories? What purpose do they serve?" I feel I need to step in. Someone wrote these stories because for some reason or another the story was important to them. It had enough meaning and importance to them that they felt they had to write about whatever it is. Also, even if the purpose isn't apparent, to others it is probably as clear as day; especially to the writer. I feel that people are sometimes to quick to judge something they don't understand.
I agree with you to some extent. I feel that in some cases the "true meaning" in stories, movies, songs, art...ect can be just as good unsaid. That way each person can get their own meaning out of it. It connects the text to the viewer.
Also define beautiful. Maybe you're not to fond of paint splattered on a canvas, but that can be seen as something amazing to another.
I myself might not buy that type of artwork, but to me art, stories, movies....ect in any shape or form has it's own meaning, and wether it's said or left unsaid, the meaning which one gets out of it is what's important.
i agree with your statement and totally see the same trend and stuff. Also, what game are you refering to in the blog? K thx. Dominate that singing and dancing stuff tomarrow man, break some legs and stuff. ;]
I have a theory (that came to me spontaneously, so let me know if you find holes in it) about your observation that recently artists seem to have become obsessed with hiding the meaning in their work--if there is a meaning in it at all, which I believe can be in anything, since just sharing a story could be the point of a piece. Maybe this recent trend is a challenge to modern society, which is always demanding efficiency and immediate gratification. Maybe some artists are trying to send a message by creating work that requires people to slow down and consider it in order to find a meaning. They could be implying that people need to take more time to think and find meaning in art and life.
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