Remembering the Happy
Sometimes, I'll experience a thing and enjoy it at the time. Then, later, I'll come to the conclusion that whatever it was is crap. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is an example. Twilight is another. I enjoyed both of these things when I was first exposed to them. When I subsequently concluded that they were both garbage, I became, if not ashamed, then certainly chagrined at my initially favorable impression. But that's stupid. There's little enough pleasure in the world without invalidating past enjoyment based on how I think I "should" have felt.
So, yes, I enjoyed the hell out of Twilight when I read it. I ranked Phantom Menace above Jedi on my way out of the theatre from watching it the first time.
Let's be clear: They both suck. But that doesn't mean they didn't make me a little bit happy for a brief period. There's real value in remembering the happy, regardless of its source.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
Yes. My girlfriend has this same attitude, particularly towards music, and it’s always a good refresher for me. I am quick to criticize something lousy but she has the ability to be completely un-self-conscious when it comes to music and can appreciate any song for what it is, no matter how cheesy or poppy. And she’s pretty much always right.
However, ranking Phantom Menace above Jedi, even fresh out of the theater, is just plain silly.
(Then again, I particularly like Jedi. And I liked Attack of the Clones so much after the first viewing that I skipped work one day to go see it again.)
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
un-self-conscious. That’s an excellent way to describe it.