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Is there a tendency to regard books which make us feel bad as "better" than ones which don't? (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by emma@beehaw.org to c/literature@beehaw.org

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I'm dragging myself through an "award-winning" "best-selling" "recommended" book I got from the library and wishing I hadn't. (Yes I know those phrases mean little and I can stop, though I'm nearing the end after hoping it would stop being so hopeless. Yes I can be naively optimistic ;) .) The characters and story are all stereotypes and clichés. It's not realistic or slice of life.
The Korean drama I'm watching is top rated on MyDramaList and is well done but it also tells a sad story every episode. I'm halfway through and I don't think it's that much better than some lower rated ones with more moments of happiness.
Anyway, this has me thinking about whether there's a general trend to regard books - stories of any kind really, including real life ones - as "better" if they upset us.

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[–] influence1123@psychedelia.ink 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think it could be that we relate more deeply to characters who struggle through difficult situations just as we struggle through difficult situations in life. Also how a character deals with or overcomes difficult/painful situations defines them and gives them depth. Thats my two cents anyway.

[–] emma@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why though? Maybe it's more conditioning than anything inherent? That we're fully capable of relating deeply to joy as well. Happiness can be shallow but doesn't have to be, like when we open ourselves to love and a relationship. Why do we tend to not see that as having depth as well?

[–] influence1123@psychedelia.ink 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That's true. Maybe because you can't really know happiness or appreciate it without having pain and sadness to compare it to. So like reading about sad or painful things also helps us appreciate things more. Like waking up from a nightmare and realizing it wasn't real. It's a relief. Or maybe it's just schadenfreude.

[–] emma@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Maybe it's how far along I am in life, but I certainly have plenty of pain and sadness for comparison purposes already.
I don't really do schadenfreude, but clearly other people do, so I suppose maybe that's part of it? Bit scary if it is, if seeing other people in pain is a positive experience for many.
Either way, this is different to the idea of "better". Yes, books about difficult things are important. They're part of how we learn about ourselves and each other. I think we've gone too far in that direction and we really need more emphasis on models of positive emotions and interactions.

[–] influence1123@psychedelia.ink 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah I agree. I've often thought it would be cool to see a really good utopian novel rather than the usual dystopian.