Why I read what I read
I finished Infinite Jest in January and, at the behest of a certain someone, recently picked up Thomas Pynchon’s Against the Day. Once again, I find myself meandering through a lengthy postmodern tome, this time set in a reimagined version of turn of the century America. There are windships and æther, anarchists and Nikola Tesla, tunnels through the Earth and gnomes underground.
When I reveal the fact that I’ve decided to go off on another trek into a lengthy, labyrinthine novel, most of my friends give me a bewildered look (or, as one friend calls it the “Oh Jesse” look). This isn’t unusual. It’s something I’ve come to expect when I discuss what kind of media I like to digest. Similarly, I encounter few people who share my sentiments on what makes a good movie. And my taste in music is appreciated by only a handful of my friends. My choice of entertainments is eclectic.
Most people respond with cynicism when I discuss my preferred films, books, and movies. It is the era of the hipster, where people like things because it will make them seem somehow different, disengaged from the hive mind and mapping out barely-explored regions of the cultural geography. Their disillusion is understandable because, hey, doing things merely because they’re different lacks that sense of self-awareness that has become the essence of hip these days. The thing is, I really, genuinely enjoy this stuff.
In an effort to disassociate myself from being branded with the scarlet letter of hipsterdom, though, I’ve been trying to get to the root of why, precisely, I enjoy the things that I do. After a few discussions with my friends, I think I’m getting close to understanding things.
I’ve found that, by and large, people see entertainment as a device that allows them to escape from reality, disengage their mind, and go on a mental vacation. Popular novels. Sitcoms. Blockbuster films. In the event that I’m faced with such things, I latch onto what I can and start analyzing it, combing through pop entertainment in hopes of stumbling upon an insightful cultural criticism. If given a choice, though, I’ll opt for the challenging, involved, difficult media that is less common but far more rewarding.
In short, I prefer media that engages me. Whereas your average person prefers the entertainment equivalent of slurping oysters on the halfshell while lounging a Mexican beach, I like media that makes me feel like I’m harvesting a pearl, prying and working and dedicating my full attention to the matter. I feel as if I should have to work—that I owe this to the creator of whatever media I’m taking in. To ask an author, musician, or other artist to strip their work of nuance and subtlety to make it easier for me seems insulting to both of us.
And this is why I choose the media that I do. It has nothing to do with a deep-seated desire to be the pioneer of cool things, to come across as edgy and avant garde to my peers. It has everything to do with taking an active role in the process of entertaining myself. Your average experience on television tonight is the entertainment equivalent of a lapdance—the artist does their damnedest to make the audience feel wanted and desired and the audience passively stands by and waits for stimulation. I prefer to take a more active role in my entertainment experience, though, and will happily lend a hand in reaching entertainment euphoria.
Filed under: culture, literature, movies, music by Jesse
Yeah I totally know what you mean. By the time I reached the ripe age of 15 I could no longer stand those big budget Will Smith flicks or slap-stick Adam Sandler comedies. It just happened naturally, and most people probably think I’m pretentious for liking very little media. If you haven’t seen the movie Waking Life, you’ll want to check it out.
On a side note I’ve been reading your blog off and for awhile now, and I’m always throughly entertained. I actually have three very close friends that are moving from Ohio to Albuquerque next month. Two of which will be entering New Mexico University’s (I think that’s the name of the college) masters program in philosophy. If you’re down for meeting more like minded people let me know.
Those above (or perhaps even below) the trend are the trend setters. As opposed to taking whatever the environment pushes their way, these “individuals” seek out abstract and unpopular things because the popular media/popular society fail to meet their expectations.
Waxing and waning with time, these peoples’ interests will become DANGEROUSLY HIP for brief periods; after which they will seek out something new, disappear from the cultural limelight, and leave a trend for the masses to suckle on.
The only problem with being a “hipster” is that one will oftentimes outright reject popular things solely on the basis that it is pop, and not even consider it;, instead of personally critiquing it for possible merit.
Truly you are correct about the simplification (dumbing down?) of various mediums to appeal to mentally stagnant mass populace; but some things are popular because they really are good.
Ryan—I sent you an email response. I have seen Waking Life and remember enjoying it, although it has been some time since I last viewed it.
Jakefunc—I agree that some things are popular because they are good and, if you look again, I think you’ll notice that our views are fairly consistent. What’s troubling to me is that what is popular currently sets the bar, making the breakthrough for talented artists even more difficult, since their fighting a tide of mediocrity. In many ways, the “pop” is self-perpetuating and tends to alienate things that are not like it.
But of course. Why do you think I read stuff with you?
Jess-
I find myself frustrated with all the meta-caring I’ve done this summer since I’ve gotten back, specifically concerning the sujective abyss of wondering if we do things because they’re hip or if things are hip because we do them. Because I like to think that my life is among the few elites which actually demand postmodern thoughts and buzzwords, that I buy books and computers because I “need” them, and even that it’s this demand (not desire) that has shoved me into the blog world of unending space for self proclamation- What’s worse is that it’s not just out of expression either, but maybe for understanding and even “engaging.”
My only question is- In our guilt-free, streamlined, Mexican beach lapdance media environment we’ve gotten so used to, Where’s the shame?
Can we admit to ourselves that we might like it when other people think we’re cool or ahead of things without becoming this guy?
http://hipstersblog.spaces.live.com/
Or are we stuck in a perpetual power struggle through all time to find out if we or the trends are the real bitches?
whatevs though- I gots to check my gmail and ilife- or elife, I forgot.
maybe McLife
Mike—I understand and appreciate your concern about the meta-caring. I’ve moved beyond the point where I feel as if what I’m doing is “good” or even necessary. Moreover, I’ve stopped thinking about the question of hip. I read what I read and listen to what I listen to because that’s precisely what I want to do. Period. This tends to double back on itself when I feel the need to rationalize my preferences to others.
As for the question of where’s the shame…I’m not sure what you mean. Why should we feel shameful? I’m not particularly sure what you’re getting at here.
I’m not really hellbent on being the pioneer of cool. I enjoy sharing new things with my friends and exposing myself to new things, but I’ll unabashedly embrace my failure to stumble upon the cool before it becomes mainstream. For instance, I just read Alan Moore’s Watchmen for the first time. Apparently it’s been floating around in some circles for some time. Now that I’ve read it, I’m not going to pretend that I’ve loved it forever. I missed the bus. Now I’m trying to catch up and enjoying it nonetheless. That’s it.
Trends? Fuck that. I like what I like. The rest of you bastards be damned.
I was going for a sarcastic- things are hip because I do them. But I meant to ask, in this lap-dance place that is so readily available, where´s the shame in doing things because we think they´re hip? I think we´re all guilty of it. And I don´t think it makes us bitches (as long as we´re not THAT guy). Sorry I wasn´t too clear. I was at work (the trendy granola co-op) fake smiling all day.
I think you should change the title of this entry to: Trends? Fuck that. I like what I like. The rest of you bastards be damned.
And maybe include a picture.
At the new urban outfitters.
Please excuse my absence from the blogging world, yet another site is up and running (Whirlwinds went down seven or eight months ago by the way).
I salute your resolve to like what you like, I too finished Watchmen about seven months ago and found it very good but also do not pretend that I’ve loved it forever (or other graphic novels for that matter).
Your post catches my sentiments spot on as I feel the need to justify what I like in order to “appear cool.” Fuck that, I want to like what I like and not give a damn that I enjoy reading some fantasy and sci-fi while still appreciating (and enjoying) Shakespeare. Maybe Harold Bloom would condemn my choices in literature, but I don’t care anymore.