I have a friend who always challenges my knowledge of so-called “classic” or “meaningful” movies and books. He was appalled, for example, when I was unaware of the theme of Machiavelli’s “The Prince” or just which movies Tom Hanks has starred in.
Even worse, I foolishly admitted to him that I wasn’t sure who Tom Hanks actually was. To this day, I still confuse him with Bill Murray. The two are one and the same to me.
The difference between then and now is that back then I was actually disturbed by my ignorance. After all, even if I don’t keep up with the number and names of the kids Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt adopt, shouldn’t I, as an English major, be well-versed in the meanings behind the most of those novels and movies which are considered classics? Am I missing out on a vital part of American existence? The answer is no.
I love the Harry Potter franchise. I can rewatch Disney movies again and again. My favorite books are usually adventure-romance novels, not “Moby Dick” or “Catcher in the Rye.” As much as I admire her, anything by Jane Austen puts me to sleep within minutes. Most shocking of all, I even enjoy several of the “Twilight” books. And there is nothing wrong with that.
An innate part of our humanity is the urge to be entertained. We must be doing things all the time to keep our minds occupied. This does not necessarily mean that our minds need to expand as well. Sometimes we should take things at face value, instead of searching for a deeper meaning and trying to make every work of art, literature, or film into something it’s not.
Not every movie is making a discreet yet profound comment on society. Not every book is mirroring the life of the Savior — whether in a positive or negative manner. The chances of the book you’re reading right now becoming the next great American novel are slim to none. Stop trying to make popular entertainment into something it’s not, and just go along for the ride.