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> Maybe JRR Tolkien just wanted to write a great story! Maybe, but an author is not somehow magically insulated from their own context and cultural experience

> Maybe JRR Tolkien just wanted to write a great story! Maybe, but an author is not somehow magically insulated from their own context and cultural experience. We can explore, for example, how an author's life experiences affect(ed) their work - even if that author didn't put those effects in intentionally. I find it interesting (and, admittedly, frustrating) that a community like HN that likes to think of itself as being intellectually curious will at the same time insist on only the most surface-level art analysis. 'Cause I guess if it's not software it's not worth thinking deeply about.

wolverine876 5y ago
> I find it interesting (and, admittedly, frustrating) that a community like HN that likes to think of itself as being intellectually curious will at the same time insist on only the most surface-level art analysis. Lots of people like to think of themselves as intellectually curious, including me and you! Let's not look at the mote in our HN neighbor's eye ... :) Art challenges norms and people instinctively reject things that challenge their norms. On top of that, extreme reactionary culture is very 'normalized' now, so being closed-minded is legitimized rather than being seen as an embrace of ignorance.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  I'm not talking about rejecting things that challenge my norms. I'm talking about people finding pictures in clouds.
- fknorangesite 5y ago
  > Let's not look at the mote in our HN neighbor's eye Hah fair enough. I may not be an art critic, but my point is that I try not to just outright dismiss the entire field the way I often see in tech communities. (Also, aside: I've really appreciated your contributions in this thread.)
WalterBright 5y ago
If I ever write a novel, I guarantee it will not come from an agenda or have deep meaning. I'd write it for fun, and would be pleased if other people enjoyed reading it. > if it's not software it's not worth thinking deeply about I'm not offended if people don't think deeply about D. It's designed to be fun and highly useful. If somebody wrote an essay about D having some metaphysical deep meaning, I'd probably have a good laugh!

wolverine876 5y ago

> I find it interesting (and, admittedly, frustrating) that a community like HN that likes to think of itself as being intellectually curious will at the same time insist on only the most surface-level art analysis. Lots of people like to think of themselves as intellectually curious, including me and you! Let's not look at the mote in our HN neighbor's eye ... :) Art challenges norms and people instinctively reject things that challenge their norms. On top of that, extreme reactionary culture is very 'normalized' now, so being closed-minded is legitimized rather than being seen as an embrace of ignorance.

WalterBright 5y ago
I'm not talking about rejecting things that challenge my norms. I'm talking about people finding pictures in clouds.
fknorangesite 5y ago
> Let's not look at the mote in our HN neighbor's eye Hah fair enough. I may not be an art critic, but my point is that I try not to just outright dismiss the entire field the way I often see in tech communities. (Also, aside: I've really appreciated your contributions in this thread.)

WalterBright 5y ago

If I ever write a novel, I guarantee it will not come from an agenda or have deep meaning. I'd write it for fun, and would be pleased if other people enjoyed reading it. > if it's not software it's not worth thinking deeply about I'm not offended if people don't think deeply about D. It's designed to be fun and highly useful. If somebody wrote an essay about D having some metaphysical deep meaning, I'd probably have a good laugh!