you don't have to get it // reasons to read
Summary
TLDRThe speaker reflects on the joy of consuming art without needing to fully understand it, using the album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' as an example. They discuss the pressure to analyze every piece of art deeply but argue that sometimes the experience and personal connection are enough. Drawing from their own love for 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and the impact of 'Huckleberry Finn', they encourage embracing the art for what it is, even if it's not fully comprehended, and not letting the fear of misunderstanding prevent enjoyment.
Takeaways
- 😀 Loving an album or a book without fully understanding it is perfectly fine.
- 📚 Consuming art for its vibe and emotional impact, rather than its deep meaning, is valid.
- 🎨 Not everything you enjoy needs to be deeply analyzed or understood.
- 📝 It's okay to appreciate a story, music, or artwork without being able to explain or interpret every aspect of it.
- 📖 The Count of Monte Cristo is an example of a complex story that can still be deeply enjoyed without full comprehension.
- 🛒 Choosing books based on aesthetic appeal or curiosity, without worrying about deep analysis, is encouraged.
- 🤔 You don't need to remember every character or detail to appreciate a story.
- 🔍 Resources like analyses and interviews are available if you want to dive deeper, but they're not mandatory for enjoyment.
- 👶 Many impactful books from childhood were enjoyed without understanding every nuance.
- ⏳ Time and experience might eventually reveal deeper meanings in the art you consume.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' by Bon Iver?
-The album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' is known for its emotional depth and intimate songwriting, often evoking a sense of solitude and introspection. The specific themes may vary per song, but the overall vibe is what the speaker appreciates, even without fully understanding the lyrics.
Why does the speaker feel nervous about not understanding the lyrics of the album?
-The speaker feels nervous because they believe there might be an expectation to understand and explain the art they consume, and they worry that not being able to do so might make them seem less knowledgeable or a 'hack' in their appreciation of the album.
What does the speaker suggest about the necessity of understanding art deeply?
-The speaker suggests that while deep understanding of art can be rewarding, it is not a requirement for appreciation. Art is meant to be consumed and interpreted by the individual, and not understanding every detail does not diminish the value of the experience.
What book does the speaker mention as their favorite and why is it their favorite?
-The speaker's favorite book is 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. They love it for its engaging story that includes elements of injustice, revenge, romance, and adventure, and they appreciate it even without fully understanding or remembering every detail.
Why did the speaker continue reading 'The Count of Monte Cristo' even after realizing its length?
-The speaker was too invested in the story by the time they realized the book's length. They had started reading it as an eBook and had gotten far enough into the story that they decided to finish it, despite the initial plan to wait for the physical copy from the library.
What is the speaker's opinion on the necessity of understanding symbolism in literature?
-The speaker believes that understanding symbolism is not always necessary for enjoying literature. They argue that one can appreciate a book for its story and impact without needing to analyze every symbol or character's name.
What are the alternatives the speaker considers for dealing with difficult books?
-The alternatives considered are going back to school, only reading books they are sure they can interpret on their own, stopping reading entirely due to the fear of not understanding, or continuing to read without the pressure of understanding everything as a research paper.
What does the speaker suggest as a way to enhance understanding of a difficult book?
-The speaker suggests looking up analyses or interpretations online, such as on YouTube, or seeking out interviews with the author to gain more insight without having to go back to school or overanalyze the text.
How does the speaker relate the experience of reading 'Huckleberry Finn' to the idea of art impacting before being understood?
-The speaker relates 'Huckleberry Finn' by stating that the book taught them about and helped them imagine a world they knew before they could have known it was doing so. This suggests that the greatness of art can be felt and internalized before one can articulate or understand it critically.
What is the speaker's experience with 'Blood Meridian' by Cormac McCarthy and what did they take away from it?
-The speaker found 'Blood Meridian' confusing and violent, often needing to read summaries to understand the plot. Despite not fully 'getting' the book, they appreciated it as a piece of art and were glad to have experienced it, even if they couldn't articulate its deeper meanings.
What advice does the speaker give regarding the consumption of art and literature?
-The speaker advises not to let the fear of not fully understanding art or literature be a barrier to consumption. They encourage embracing the experience and enjoying art for what it is, even if one cannot analyze or explain every aspect of it.
Outlines
🎶 Embracing Art Without Full Understanding 🎶
The speaker begins by reflecting on their love for the album 'For Emma Forever Ago' by Bon Iver, despite not fully understanding its lyrics or the intricacies of its creation. They express a moment of self-doubt, questioning whether it's acceptable to enjoy art without being able to analyze it in depth. The paragraph emphasizes the idea that it's not necessary to dissect every piece of art like a scientific paper, and that personal interpretation and the emotional impact of art are valid and valuable. The speaker uses 'The Count of Monte Cristo' as an example of a book they love without being able to fully articulate why, highlighting the joy of consuming art for its own sake. They also touch on the idea of seeking external help, like professors or online analysis, when trying to understand more complex works, but ultimately argue that the pursuit of complete understanding should not hinder the enjoyment of art.
📚 The Freedom to Enjoy Books Without Comprehension 📚
In the second paragraph, the speaker discusses the experience of reading and the freedom to enjoy books without feeling the need to fully understand or analyze them. They recount a moment from 'Huckleberry Finn' that left a lasting impression despite not grasping its full significance as a child. The speaker also shares their recent experience with 'Blood Meridian' by Cormac McCarthy, a book they found confusing and violent, yet still impactful. They admit to relying on summaries to follow the plot and express their appreciation for the moments of profundity amidst the chaos. The paragraph concludes with an encouragement to read and enjoy literature without the pressure of complete comprehension, suggesting that the value of a book can be found in its ability to resonate with the reader, even if its deeper meanings remain elusive.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Album
💡Vibe
💡Lyrics
💡Hackle
💡Interpretation
💡Count of Monte Cristo
💡Symbolism
💡Research Paper
💡Bedtime Story
💡Analysis
💡Huckleberry Finn
💡Blood Meridian
Highlights
The speaker expresses a deep appreciation for the album 'For Emma Forever Ago' by Bon Iver, despite not fully understanding all its lyrics.
The speaker admits to feeling nervous about being a 'hack' for enjoying the album without being able to explain or understand it completely.
The idea that one does not have to fully understand art to appreciate it is introduced, with the encouragement to enjoy the vibe of the album.
The speaker shares their favorite book, 'The Count of Monte Cristo', and how they became invested in it despite not fully understanding it at the time.
The notion of consuming art without the pressure of deep analysis is emphasized, comparing it to reading a book for fun as a child.
The speaker suggests that the emotional impact of a book can be more significant than one's ability to analyze it, using 'The Count of Monte Cristo' as an example.
The speaker discusses the limitations of one's ability to understand and interpret everything, proposing alternatives to the pressure of full comprehension.
The idea of seeking out analysis or interpretations of art, such as looking up 'For Emma Forever Ago' on YouTube, is presented as a potential way to deepen understanding without the need for personal analysis.
The speaker reflects on the benefits of having someone guide you through difficult books, as they did in college, but acknowledges that such guidance is not always available.
The speaker encourages the audience to continue reading and consuming art, even if they don't fully understand it, by using the example of 'Blood Meridian' by Cormac McCarthy.
The concept of allowing art to 'wash over' you without the need for complete understanding is suggested as a valid way to engage with literature.
The speaker shares an anecdote about reading 'Huckleberry Finn' as a child and how it impacted them, even though they couldn't articulate why at the time.
The importance of the moment in 'Huckleberry Finn' where Huck decides to do what he believes is right, despite societal norms, is highlighted as a powerful example of art's impact.
The speaker discusses the potential for art to teach and inspire before one is consciously aware of its influence, using Wendell Berry's essay as a reference.
The speaker concludes by reassuring the audience that it is okay to enjoy art without fully understanding it, and that the desire to analyze everything can be a barrier to consumption.
Transcripts
recently I was thinking about the album
for Emma Forever Ago by bony ver and how
much I love it and how much I also don't
get it I know maybe a tenth of the
lyrics I know a little bit about the
album's creation process but for the
most part I just love it for the vibe
but then I started thinking I got a
little nervous like am I a hack for
liking this album so much and putting it
on my lists of favorite albums but not
being able to like explain or understand
it and that's what inspired reasons to
read number six you don't have to get it
now don't get me wrong I think it's
awesome when you're able to do a deep
dive and totally understand the
nitty-gritty of how something was made
and what the artist intended but you
can't do that for everything so I think
there's definitely a case to be made for
consuming art and not worrying about
whether you get it or not you're not
reading a scientific paper you are
consuming something that was made to be
artistic and interpreted by you so I
think even if you just walk away from
something and go wow that was crazy that
that might be enough my favorite book of
all time is the count of mon Christo
I've read it front to back twice and
then little Snippets here and there I
read it for the first time in high
school and I didn't know how long it was
when I started it I started Ed reading
it as an ebook while I waited for it to
come from the library and by the time it
came and I realized oh my gosh I should
not be reading this I was too far in and
I was too invested so I ended up
finishing it and it's now my favorite
book okay so pivoting back to you let's
say you're at Barnes & Noble or a thrift
store or the airport right before you
get on a really long flight and you see
this really cool book and you think wow
that looks so pretty and the cover is so
interesting and I like feels kind of
nice when I hold it and it's by that
dust resi guy and I think I'm going to
really like it and then you think you
know last time I read a book it was Nam
English class and my teacher made me
annotate and highlight all the pages and
look for symbolism and I I didn't really
get that and I don't really want to do
symbolism today been a long day you know
I don't think I'll get it you don't have
to get it like entirely on every level
heck forget forget symbolism you don't
even have to remember who all the
characters names are I've read the count
of mon kristo twice and there are Still
Moments where if you ask me hey what do
you think about this character I'd be
like who what were when were they in the
book or like I don't know how to
pronounce almost anyone's names I'm not
even going to try here but I'll put them
on the screen they're all French so they
all have these crazy names I can't say
uh I never took a class that discussed
this book so I'm sure there are really
important parts I'm missing and it's
still my favorite book why um it's a
it's a good story it's a great story I
won't I won't spoil it but there's
Injustice there's swords betrayal
there's Revenge there's romance like
it's got It's got everything and you
don't have to have a PhD to understand
this is a terrific book think of it as
the world's best bedtime story this was
not supposed to be a kind of mon
Chrystal plug but I it's not in the
script but I I can't stop now okay back
to the script so there's a there's a
huge benefit if you do have somebody to
maybe walk you through a difficult book
like I had the benefit in College of
having some professors break down some
really heavy books I would probably
never have read let alone understood but
you know I don't have that now so what
are my Alternatives a I go back to
school which you know maybe that would
actually be kind of fun B I only read
books I'm 100% sure I can 100% interpret
on my own C I stop reading entirely
because you know I don't want to risk
not understanding something or D I just
keep reading and I'm okay if not
everything I do is a research paper I
can look it up if I want more details I
can do that taking it back to for Emma
forever ago if you go on YouTube and
look up for Emma Forever Ago analysis
there are dozens of breakdowns there's
breakdowns of specific songs I'm sure
there are interviews with the artist
explaining it and I'm sure they're
awesome but there's no end to it right
you could continue researching the same
thing over and over and over again to
come to a potentially complete
understanding of something which you
can't do I just want to reassure you and
myself that you are not a hack if you
just consume art and think about it and
think that it's great and don't write a
research paper about it that's fine
right didn't you ever read a book as a
kid for fun and it was super impactful
on your life even though you didn't have
the words to express why and you
certainly couldn't break the book down
uh the author Wendel Barry did and he
writes about it in his essay collection
what are people for uh specifically in
the essay writer in region and he says I
first read Huckleberry Finn when I was a
young boy it was the Webster Edition
with ew kemble's illustrations my mother
may have told me that was a classic but
I did not know that it was for I had no
understanding of that category and I did
not read books because they were
Classics I don't remember starting to
read Huckleberry fin or how many times I
read it I can only testify that it is a
book that is to me literally familiar
involved in my family life my point is
that Huckleberry fin is about a world I
know or knew which it both taught me
about and taught me to imagine that it
did this before I could have known that
it was doing so and certainly before
anybody told me to expect it to do so so
suggests its greatness to me more
forcibly than any critical assessment I
have ever read he's reading Huckleberry
Finn he can't remember the first time he
picked it up and now as an accomplished
author he's able to analyze his thoughts
but your thoughts can impact you before
you understand them I read Huckleberry
Finn as a boy probably a little too
young to read it definitely too young to
understand it but I read it many times
there's some moments in that book that
just stick with you there's a moment
where Huck has been helping his friend
Jim who is enslaved but has escaped and
at some point in the book he has a
conflict of conscience and he thinks
what I'm doing is wrong cuz he's been
conditioned to believe that helping a
slave Escape is is wrong so he's
thinking I I've got to return him I got
to do the right thing so he writes a
note and he tells the owner that where
Jim is and then he looks at the note and
then he thinks about it for a minute and
he says all right then I'll go to hell
and he rips it up and it's a wild moment
it's I remember reading that as a kid
and I couldn't have explained it but it
stuck with me all of these years and
just the thought of sometimes you know
know deep down the right thing to do
even though the world outside is not
telling you that but I'm so glad I read
that book before I could get it a more
recent example for me is this year you
know as a grown adult I just read Blood
Meridian by cormack McCarthy and man I
did not get that book at all if you're
not familiar it's a very violent Western
that's that's all you need to know for
now and it's so confusing at least well
maybe if you got it I'm embarrassed but
to me it was so confusing I was
listening to the Audi book every two
chapters I would just go on to LIT
charts and I would just read the summary
not to understand the symbolism mind you
I was reading the summary just to
understand what the heck happened in the
chapter like I knew there was a fight
but I couldn't remember with who there's
no dialogue attribution so basically
people just start talking but they don't
say who's saying it so you kind of have
to guess every paragraph someone is
killed or is brutally disfigured and you
don't want to root for anybody and also
there's a character called the judge
who's like 300 lb and doesn't have any
hair and he's super brutal but he's also
like the resident philosopher of the
book so sometimes he'll just say
something profound and then he'll kill
somebody there were some really poignant
moments like where I thought I kind of
get something but I would absolutely not
say I quote unquote get what K McCarthy
was trying to say and you though maybe
he wasn't trying to say anything maybe
he was just I I don't know I haven't
looked it up I would be fascinated to
take a course on this book if it was
offered and I was still at school but
I'm very glad I read it and just let it
wash over me as a piece of art I really
don't know what I got out of it yet
maybe someday I will maybe someday I'll
revisit it or reread it or I'll find a
friend who's actually read it and then
we can talk about it and unlock it a
little bit that's super fun when that
gets to happen but my time is limited
your time is limited you can't analyze
break down and research everything so
don't let that be a barrier to you
starting reading especially books that
are longer or Classics that are kind of
guaranteed to have something to say even
if you don't understand it yet you don't
have to get it see you next time in
reasons to read number seven
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