Analyzing analysis
Nov. 28th, 2007 03:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vvvexationMy dad, in a recent email (slightly paraphrased):
"My students are frustrating. If they DO like a movie, then they feel they own it and should not be forced to discuss it because it's not an academic subject, but rather their private treasure. If they don't like it, then it's an academic subject, which proves that academic subjects are not likable."
I answered: "I can sympathize somewhat with your students, as I've had several books ruined for me by overanalysis. The trick, I guess, is discussing them just the right amount."
And he replied: "With age, overanalysis bothers one less. On the other hand, the arbitrariness of fiction bothers one more, so that overanalysis functions as a kind of flying buttress for the crumbling pleasure of reading."
I definitely hadn't thought of that before. However, not only do I suspect he's right, I suspect this effect begins to set in before one actually gets all that old.
See, this would explain why I spend so much time dissecting Harry Potter. Among other things.
"My students are frustrating. If they DO like a movie, then they feel they own it and should not be forced to discuss it because it's not an academic subject, but rather their private treasure. If they don't like it, then it's an academic subject, which proves that academic subjects are not likable."
I answered: "I can sympathize somewhat with your students, as I've had several books ruined for me by overanalysis. The trick, I guess, is discussing them just the right amount."
And he replied: "With age, overanalysis bothers one less. On the other hand, the arbitrariness of fiction bothers one more, so that overanalysis functions as a kind of flying buttress for the crumbling pleasure of reading."
I definitely hadn't thought of that before. However, not only do I suspect he's right, I suspect this effect begins to set in before one actually gets all that old.
See, this would explain why I spend so much time dissecting Harry Potter. Among other things.
