I don't know what it is about sadness, but there is something quite attractive about it. Most of my favorite movies are ones that either end sadly or are generally depressing. I guess that ties in with Friday's question of optimism. Does anyone else feel that slight draw towards depression?
I think that "liking feeling emotional" is definitely part of it. I think that almost any piece of art that I have ever really loved has been in some sense heartbreaking, or depressing. Sometimes they are redemptive, sometimes not.
Perhaps it is because what is really sad, really depressing is what feels or seems meaningful. Rarely do I feel "deep" or have great understanding when I am happy. Though, I will say that the rare times that I do . . . it is a thousand times more lovely and meaningful than the sad times and in those times it almost feels appropriate to say that it breaks my heart, because there is nothing else to compare it to but to the meaning that seems to be help in depressing and sad stories.
"Though, I will say that the rare times that I do... it is a thousand times more lovely and meaningful than the sad times"
I definitely agree. I think that we are designed for joy, but grief and depression are more prevalent in our current state, so we respond to them more easily. At least, some of us do. The pessimistic ones. I am learning to (in my life, not necessarily in the stories I read/watch/listen to) let go of the sad and hold onto joy wherever I can find it. While I think that there is wisdom in accepting pain in life, I find that I dwell on it far too much.
This reminds me of a Daniel Handler quote. To paraphrase:
"I'm not a very sad person, but I enjoy sadness the same way many non-Italians enjoy Italian food."
A Year Of Questions is a project begun on March 22, 2010, by seven teens who want to be better at asking questions and articulating answers. This blog exists to make it easier to discuss these questions (because a 500 character limit on YouTube comments is rather limiting). Enjoy!
3 comments:
I don't know what it is about sadness, but there is something quite attractive about it. Most of my favorite movies are ones that either end sadly or are generally depressing. I guess that ties in with Friday's question of optimism. Does anyone else feel that slight draw towards depression?
I think that "liking feeling emotional" is definitely part of it. I think that almost any piece of art that I have ever really loved has been in some sense heartbreaking, or depressing. Sometimes they are redemptive, sometimes not.
Perhaps it is because what is really sad, really depressing is what feels or seems meaningful. Rarely do I feel "deep" or have great understanding when I am happy. Though, I will say that the rare times that I do . . . it is a thousand times more lovely and meaningful than the sad times and in those times it almost feels appropriate to say that it breaks my heart, because there is nothing else to compare it to but to the meaning that seems to be help in depressing and sad stories.
"Though, I will say that the rare times that I do... it is a thousand times more lovely and meaningful than the sad times"
I definitely agree. I think that we are designed for joy, but grief and depression are more prevalent in our current state, so we respond to them more easily. At least, some of us do. The pessimistic ones. I am learning to (in my life, not necessarily in the stories I read/watch/listen to) let go of the sad and hold onto joy wherever I can find it. While I think that there is wisdom in accepting pain in life, I find that I dwell on it far too much.
This reminds me of a Daniel Handler quote. To paraphrase:
"I'm not a very sad person, but I enjoy sadness the same way many non-Italians enjoy Italian food."
Something to that effect.
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