Why Reading Slumps Happen: Understanding Attunement and Attachment

Summary

This video delves into the common yet often overlooked issue of 'reading slumps,' where personal taste clashes with a book's content. It explores the concept of attunement, drawing parallels between literature and other art forms like music. The speaker discusses how societal expectations and media influence can create a disconnect between what we think we should enjoy and what we genuinely like. The video suggests overcoming reading slumps by experiencing books firsthand, unfiltered by external opinions, to find true literary enjoyment.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses the common issue of 'reading slumps', where readers find themselves unable to enjoy a book as expected.
• 🤔 A reading slump often occurs due to a mismatch between a reader's expectations and the actual content of the book.
• 🎶 The concept of attunement is introduced, illustrating how it applies to various forms of art and media, not just literature.
• 🎵 Attunement to music can happen quickly or develop over time, and is compared to the process of becoming attuned to a book.
• 👩‍🎓 The video references Zadie Smith's experience with Joni Mitchell's music, highlighting how personal and societal influences can affect attunement.
• 📖 The act of reading involves interpretation, which can create a barrier to attunement compared to more direct media like music.
• 📚 The book 'Hooked on Art and Attachment' by Rita Felski is mentioned, providing insights into the psychology behind attunement to art.
• 🌐 The shift from a 'reading public' to a 'media public' is discussed, noting how it affects the way we engage with books.
• 🔍 The video suggests that overexposure to media can create expectations that lead to reading slumps, by judging books before experiencing them.
• 💡 A solution proposed is to resist media influence and read books without preconceived notions to find genuine attunement and enjoyment.
• 🔗 The video ends with a sponsorship message for brilliant.org, promoting their platform for learning critical thinking and AI.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the problem of a reading slump, which is a situation where a book lover finds themselves unable to enjoy their current read and is unsure whether to continue or pick up something else.

What causes a reading slump according to the video?

A reading slump is caused by a mismatch between the reader's expectations of a book and the book itself, often stemming from a tension between what one thinks they want to read and what they actually want to read.

How does the video relate the concept of 'attunement' to reading slumps?

The video suggests that 'attunement' is a process where one becomes connected to a piece of work, and a lack of attunement can lead to a reading slump. It involves a personal alignment with the material that may not always align with external factors like bestseller lists or popular opinion.

What is the role of personal taste in experiencing a reading slump?

Personal taste plays a significant role in reading slumps as it determines what a reader genuinely connects with. If the book does not align with the reader's personal taste, it can lead to disengagement and a reading slump.

Why does the video mention the works of Zadie Smith and her experience with Joni Mitchell's music?

The video mentions Zadie Smith's experience to illustrate how attunement can change over time and that initial resistance to a piece of art can eventually transform into appreciation, which is relevant to the discussion of reading slumps.

What does the video suggest as a solution to overcome a reading slump?

The video suggests resisting the influence of media and preconceived notions about a book and instead, to immerse oneself in the reading experience without prior judgments or expectations.

How does the video connect the concept of attunement to other forms of media besides literature?

The video connects attunement to music, suggesting that the process of becoming attuned or attached to a piece of music is similar to that of literature, and this concept can be extended to other forms of media as well.

What is the role of the media public in influencing our reading choices, as discussed in the video?

The media public influences our reading choices by providing immediate access to images, sounds, and reviews, which can create a gap between our expectations of a book and the actual reading experience, potentially leading to reading slumps.

Why does the video recommend reading a book without prior knowledge of its content?

Reading a book without prior knowledge allows for a more authentic attunement to the material, free from external influences like reviews or marketing, which can skew one's perception and enjoyment of the book.

What is the significance of the book 'Hooked on Art and Attachment' by Rita Felski in the video?

The book 'Hooked on Art and Attachment' is significant as it provides theoretical insights into the concept of attunement and attachment to art, which the video uses to explore and explain the phenomenon of reading slumps.