Ideal way to experience?
March 7th 2010 04:56
Shampoo might smell nice when lathered into your hair, but fail to please when sniffed directly -- the scent is too strong, or unbalanced, or too chemical.
Music might be absolutely brilliant in the background while you're working -- the occasional hook that grabs you. You might be so enthusiastic as to go and buy the entire album -- and then realize that it's not so great when you can understand what the singer is singing.
Some foods taste better when you're rushing -- they taste better than would other foods under similar circumstances, and the rushing itself seems to heighten the experience.
And conversely some foods are designed for lingering and are by their nature subtle. They best yield their value when you ponder them, and you mightn't have given them a second glance if you'd met them in passing.
Two thoughts: --
Firstly, the notion of "appreciation" -- not just a matter of understanding the constraints of an artform and the intention of an artist, but of finding the right way to experience to derive the most value.
Secondly, the infinity of possible richness, to match the infinity of possible experience. Consider, for instance, the variety of ways to experience a book -- reading it on the bus, reading it in the bathroom, reading it before sleeping, skim-reading it, memorizing it...
Music might be absolutely brilliant in the background while you're working -- the occasional hook that grabs you. You might be so enthusiastic as to go and buy the entire album -- and then realize that it's not so great when you can understand what the singer is singing.
Some foods taste better when you're rushing -- they taste better than would other foods under similar circumstances, and the rushing itself seems to heighten the experience.
And conversely some foods are designed for lingering and are by their nature subtle. They best yield their value when you ponder them, and you mightn't have given them a second glance if you'd met them in passing.
Two thoughts: --
Firstly, the notion of "appreciation" -- not just a matter of understanding the constraints of an artform and the intention of an artist, but of finding the right way to experience to derive the most value.
Secondly, the infinity of possible richness, to match the infinity of possible experience. Consider, for instance, the variety of ways to experience a book -- reading it on the bus, reading it in the bathroom, reading it before sleeping, skim-reading it, memorizing it...
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