The public parts of my notebook.
This is probably a shallow observation. It is probably also mostly incorrect. Pure symbols in art are worthless. Their value increases as they become less symbolic and more representational. The pebble in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit represents only what the author imbues it with. Its properties are divorced from its meaning. It is divorced from real life. Which means it is impossible to relate to viscerally. The Broken Circle Breakdown has a pervasive theme of cover-ups: tattoo cover-ups, painting over the dead daughter’s wallpaper, putting bird silhouettes on windows so real birds don’t mistake them for air. Though the cover-up is also a symbol, it is founded on real acts that are driven by the desires of the characters. It is representational, and, thus, meaningful.
#notebook